Kickstarter for convertible aero bars and seatpost

[Bilsko]

I’m kind of intrigued (as someone who’s never ridden with aero bars)
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redshiftsports/switch-aero-system-one-bike-two-rides

Helpful comments from reddit riders: http://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling/comments/1fky9x/kickstarter_switch_aero_system_one_bike_two_rides/

Topic

[americancyclo]

Pair those up with wireless Di2 brakes and shifters and you have a winner!

[DismalScientist]

From the website:

If you’re going out for a group ride, you can leave the aerobars at home and ride a pure road bike. But if you’re racing in a triathlon or doing a charity ride, you can throw the aerobars on and choose the best position for every climb, flat, and descent.

A question for the ELITE:
Why are aerobars inappropriate for group rides, but appropriate for charity rides?

[Tim Kelley]

@DismalScientist 53989 wrote:

From the website:

A question for the ELITE:
Why are aerobars inappropriate for group rides, but appropriate for charity rides?

Depends on the group ride, how skilled you are, and how comfortable others around you are with you riding in aero.

On the group rides I do, I know most of the people and they are (generally) comfortable with my handling skills. In a pace line, I’ll frequently ride on the hoods until it’s my turn to pull. With charity rides, I think it’s okay to go aero once the crowds have thinned out a little and you self-selected the people you’re pacing with.

[Bilsko]

@Tim Kelley 53992 wrote:

Depends on the group ride, how skilled you are, and how comfortable others around you are with you riding in aero.

On the group rides I do, I know most of the people and they are (generally) comfortable with my handling skills. In a pace line, I’ll frequently ride on the hoods until it’s my turn to pull. With charity rides, I think it’s okay to go aero once the crowds have thinned out a little and you self-selected the people you’re pacing with.

Oh. I just figured it was because on a charity ride you probably don’t really know any of the other riders so its OK to skewer them with your aero horns (errr… bars). On a group ride you probably have some friends and skewering them would be a faux pas…like not taking your turn at the front of the pace line.

[mstone]

@DismalScientist 53989 wrote:

Why are aerobars inappropriate for group rides, but appropriate for charity rides?

Charity rides, like triathlons, have a built-in expectation of people with limited bike handling skills running into each other and falling over. So aerobars are chaotic neutral rather than evil.

(ducks)

[Author]

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