Home› General Training Discussions

question about riding in areobars

Christy BealChristy Beal
in General Training Discussions

When I ride in areo position how am I supposed to hold onto the bars? Do I lean my weight on my arms or try to center my weight between the seat and the bars?  I feel like there must be an optimum way to support my weight during long rides, and I have not found it yet. When I just ride I find that my upper back hurts, but when I race my upper back never hurts but my lower back does.  I think I lean on my arms more when I race. Any suggestions?

Christy

Comments

  • HayesSanbornHayesSanborn

    You want your skelton to support your weight at the elbow or near it so none of your muscle are tensed up.

    Have you been fitted to your bike? Is this a road bike with clip on aerobars or a TT bike?

  • dan_forbesdan_forbes

     Yea, +2 on the fitting if you haven't been fitted yet.  My weight is on my elbows with them being directly below my shoulders.  The pressure in my saddle is something that I feel more sitting up than in my aero position.

  • manconamancona
    It is also going to depend on how agressive your position is, the lower you are in the front the more weight that will be on your elbows. As Hayes said though your skelton should support you and it should not take any effort at all to hold yourself in the position.
  • Nemo BrauchNemo Brauch
    +3 on getting the right fit. When it's dialed in correctly you won't really feel like you are holding yourself up or that any part is really taking more weight than any other.
  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    Agree with all on fit. I would also add that strengthening my upper back through the push up challenge and then keeping plank/ pushups and core work as my regular steady routince 2-3x/week has made a noticeable improvement in how much back pain I have after riding.
  • Christy BealChristy Beal
    Thank you all for the quick responses. I got fitted to my bike last year when I bought it, but it took me awhile to get into the aero bars comfortably and actually ride. I guess I need to get another fitting. It always seems more comfortable when I am actually racing, but I am not sure how exactly I am riding differently. Does anyone have a link to the guy that EN uses online?

    I have been taking a 'bootcamp in the park' class that works a lot on core/push up strength for the last four weeks. I hope that it will help with some of my running form as well as general strength. I found I kept falling off of the pushup challenge wagon when no one was watching me. I know that I am pretty weak in general. I will start focusing on the pushups more.
  • Tom GlynnTom Glynn
    go look at ttbikefit.com There are a bunch of videos up there so you get a general idea of how you should be sitting on the bike. (Todd has fit a lot of EN people, including myself)
  • daisymackdaisymack
    Todd is great, highly recommend. You're probably more comfortable in races because you're rested, not fatigued with day after day training, and you've got the benefit of adrenalin, that great analgesic.
Sign In or Register to comment.