How To Ride On Aerobars | GTN's Step By Step Guide

Published on January 23rd 2018

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Aerobars are designed to make you more aerodynamic and therefore faster. If however you are not confident on them or in the wrong position the benefits become questionable. Getting started on aerobars can be difficult, so here is a step by step guide on how to use them. Subscribe to GTN: http://gtn.io/SubscribetoGTN Check out the GTN Shop: http://gtn.io/6p How To Start Start out on the turbo. This is a safe environment where balance is not a problem. Get a friend or coach to look at your position here as it’s easy to make any adjustments before you head out on the road. Position Start off by making your position comfortable. There will be plenty of time to get more aero and aggressive with your set up. Raising the stem is one way to make it less of a challenging position and tilting the bars upwards can help too. Gradual Progression Changing any position whether that is in swimming, cycling or running takes time for your body to adjust before it feels “normal”. Make sure you have plenty of time to adapt to the bars before you intend to race on them. Step by Step Start by practising taking one hand off the handlebars. Getting confident indicating and drinking whilst cycling along will set you up nicely. Next just practise placing one hand at a time onto the bars keeping your other firmly over the hood. Hold it for longer each time and make sure to alternate on both sides. Once this feels easy it’s time for both. Start with your preferred side, get comfortable then bring the other hand across. Build It Up Keep the time on the bars fairly short to start with. Practising moving into and out of the position as you need to be confident in reaching back to your brakes efficiently and safely. When you’re happy in your new aero position increase your pace and spend more time in it. How To Fuel/Drink Drinking and eating in the aero position is a more advanced skill. Obviously if you’ve got an aero water bottle between your bars you should just have to locate the straw with your mouth whilst keeping both hands on the bars in front of you. If however you've attached a normal drinks bottle between the bars or your using one behind the saddle or on the down tube then it might be necessary to quickly get out of the aero position to take a drink. Stretching Being on the aero bars puts more strain on your lower back and hamstrings and can tighten up your hip flexors a little more. Therefore make sure you keep on top of a regular stretching and conditioning routine to enable you to find that efficient position. If you liked this video, give it a thumbs up and make sure to share it with someone who would find it helpful 👍 If you'd like to contribute captions and video info in your language, here's the link 👍 http://gtn.io/6q Music: Epidemic Sound Don't Stress - Andreas Jamsheree Watch more on GTN... 📹 How To Speak Like A Triathlete | Triathlon Jargon Buster - http://gtn.io/TriJargon 📹 How To Train For Your First Triathlon - http://gtn.io/TrainForFirstTri