Why don't you use your aerobars! (Page 3)

I think it is helpful to have the perspective of people who haven't been doing this so much. I've never gone long without riding in my life, so it's going to be different for someone new or less experienced. And when I do remember what it was like learning something, there is likely a different perspective coming into it as a little kid versus as an adult. I try to take the frame of mind of the other person into account, but can't always do it.

For me, getting used to aero was a rather natural progression and I was very familiar with riding already. Handling in the 30's was fine within a couple rides. And this was on a twitchy road bike with clip-ons. The tri bike was much more stable and took 10-15 minutes to become familiar with.

Also know that being in aero on the descents is not always fastest. I've run away from people with my hands on the hoods (or base bar) because I can drop my body even farther. I can also push more because brake access is that much faster.

1. I only bought the bike to look cool. 
2. They act as a better coat rack then the treadmill.
3. People would look at me funny if I was admiring my guns (biceps) during a race.
4. I thought they were for putting a book on to read while on the trainer.
5. The person who has the most toys wins. 

Raced (well what I call race) NOLA yesterday and 90% of the time on the aero's the rest was sitting and spinning up the couple of bridges and then descending.  Not sure if it was the winds combined with the wheel cover but the bike was very twitchy going down the bridges.  I prefer to live and ride off the aero's for those downhills.  Now last year in Austin I was bombing the downhills in aero.  Same for NOLA last year so really have to figure out why this year was different.

People are pretty worried about what other people spend their money on...

Seems like people cannot come to terms with the fact that...for some people on this forum...dropping $2,000-$5,000 or more on a bike really just is not a big deal in terms of their earning capacity. Not saying I fit into this category, but generally, its no secret that age group triathletes earn really well.

Well, I bet most people find it uncomfortable to start. I know I did. But I started on my hybrid with aero bars added, so I was almost there right from the start with my tri-bike.

It takes practice, which means miles and miles ridden WHILE staying aero. I know sometimes I can hold it for miles, and sometimes only for minutes, depending on how tired/sore I am and how much climbing is involved.

I definitely think a lot of people buy something that is 'the standard' and then don't have the discipline or proper encouragement to USE it the way it was intended. Plenty of people enter races that aren't as prepared as they should be.  I'm going into my third season and I STILL fit that profile myself, as far as actually training for the run anyway...

Question why they waste their money or efforts, and then pass them when you race them.  People have plenty of reasons for doing things differently. Try not to get hung up on the ones that don't affect you.

We're all different.  One of the reasons I love to ride this route

is that I get to do this

During the hairier parts of the descent, I do sit up enough to get my hands on the brakes.  (I can actually do the descent faster on my road bike than I can on my tri bike.)

I don't know if this makes sense, but if a TT bike is poorly fited, or if they are on a roadie with clipons, would they be able to generate more power from the sitting up position?  Maybe that's why when riding into a headwind they are sitting up (to get more power) rather than in aero (to be more aerodynamic)...??  just a thought - I have no idea if there's any substance behind it...

I'm assuming there aren't many turns to negotiate?

What's the difference in the time it takes to climb vs. the time it takes to descend?

I've hit 48 on a road that has a few bends, but you don't need to brake.  I was sh'n my pants.  I was on my road bike as well.  I can tuck much lower, and have easeir access to the brakes.  No way I would go 56 on my aero bars.  I'll gladly wear panties under my bike shorts before I do that. 

Actually there are quite a few turns, but there are a few sections of 1/2 mile or so where you can get up quite a bit of speed before having to brake.  6-8% doesn't sound like a lot (and for shorter distances the grade is higher), but it's enough to grab quite a bit of speed.  That picture was from a couple of years ago (IIRC) after one of my first few times on the route, and I've hit 60+ since then, but that does require (for me, at least) the road bike not the tri bike and braking very very quickly to get around a couple of turns.  Fun times.  It's what I do now instead of self-destructive behavior.

Kathy I want to address the last portion of your post.

I am comfortable in aero assuming reasonable conditions. Winds of 20 mph or greater with gusts will cause me to pop out of aero on my tri bike.

The first aerobars I bought were for my road bike and I had only had the bike for one month. Took one ride in the bars to figure it out then raced with them 1 week later. I was more comfortable in the aero position.

I am still not comfortable descending fast or taking fast corners though. I just did a race yesterday and the course was a rectangle - 8 turns. I hit the brakes on every turn. It is like a reflex. I have fallen (always in the gravel) taking corners and I don't trust myself.

Agree, and want to add if you have suggestions Kathy I'll take them. I like learning new things, I have a safe area I can ride and practice but my instincts to protect myself from myself are always the same!

Your points are really important (and make me regret posting pics of silly high speeds).   I'm not Kathy, obviously, but my suggestion would be to just practice bike handling skills.  This does NOT have to be done at high speeds.  In fact, learning control at very LOW speeds is probably far more important.  Bikes are actually much less stable at very low speeds than they are at high speeds, so learning to control them at very low speeds is a great (and relatively safe) way to get comfortable about cycling at higher speeds.

Here are a couple of links that present ideas and drills that I think are quite useful (I did these sort of things when I started cycling as an adult and found them to help a lot):

http://www.active.com/cycling/Articles/Bike-Handling-Clinic_-Drill-that-Skill.htm

http://www.active.com/cycling/Articles/Learn_to_ride_faster_and_safer_with_bike-handling_drills.htm

Wanted to say thanks for saying this
Regardless of my IM experience, I still struggle occasionally with comfort in aero due to my limited cycling background, and am sympathetic to others with these issues. It does not come natural to me. I still can't stay in aero crossing railroad tracks, on that curve on 77th street, on the hills of the Kansas 70.3 course (or IMMOO or IMLOU). 

I've come a long ways, but there's still progress to make. Onward!

no idea what an aerobar is.  Remind me to show you my front mounted water bottle holder.  its great.

Thanks for this! I will check it out.