Time trial on road bike without aero bars

never mind the position - what was the time?
To echo your experience I recently did my first 10 mile TT and fitted some aero bars but used them only about 60% of the time. I found that I was more powerful on the drops which I reckon is down to a) bike setup and b) conditioning - You need to adjust your bike so the aero position is as comfortable / optimal as possible then train yourself to ride in that position so you adapt to it.

Thanks Simon E, that was I think the jist of the comments I heard - I think it was during tour of Beijing as TT specific bikes weren't allowed.

Personally I don't bother with aero bars when I compete in my clubs TT's as its more a challenge against myself (...and yet I still lose most of the time!)

During a eurosport commentary it was mentioned that one of the teams had done wind tunnell testing and found that getting low on the hoods was preferable to using the drops.

In my experience to go faster, in this order:
1. Aerodynamics. Reduce the riders drag - Position (i.e. Aerobars), make yourself less 'draggy' (helmet, tight fitting clothing, shoe covers, loose weight/bulk).
2. Aerodynamics. Then reduce bike drag - get decent rubber, get a deep section front wheel, then finally a disk/deep rear wheel.
3. Mental approach. How far can you push yourself. It will hurt to go fast(er).
4. Power to weight. All things being equal, for the same power a lighter bike+rider will win. Loose weight from yourself (cheap) then the bike. Add power by interval training.

aero position *and* less weight is the ideal, of course. and different components have different weight/aero gain/cost equations.

but tt bars are a complete no brainer. they can save you a minute over a ten-mile TT. a MINUTE.

here's your new tt bike Brad - yeah, sorry it's 1kg heavier than your last one, but don't worry you'll not notice it on the flat!
Without wanting to get in to a big debate, and wanting try and offer this guy some useful advice, the point i am trying to make is that all other things being equal - it's best to ALSO keep weight down. But if we are working on a budget and just want to get that aero position sorted - get your hack saw out, chop your steerer tube so there's no spacers, get a cheap -17 deg stem and get down reeeeeally low.

those cheap ebay ones don't seam a bad weight at about 485g. Just be careful if you get some bargain ones that they don't weigh a ton and offset any gains made by your new aero position - it's all about small fractions especially on a short tt.

Like Dave, i'm not one for spending money on anything I don't feel helps me.

If I was you, I'd get myself a cheap set of clip on bars, then you don't have to worry so much about getting into an "aero" position between hoods and drops

Something like this would do

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XLC-AERO-TIME-TRIAL-TT-TRI-HANDLEBARS-ROAD-TRI...

On the hoods with arms flat behind can be tiring to maintain after a while. I've usually raced in the drops with my elbows in and my nose on the stem if possible, moving to hoods (but still keeping low) for any climbs or corners/junctions.

Either way, if you find a position that you can maintain then you will be able to focus your mind on your effort.

I like my T2 aerobars but riding in the drops didn't stop Alf Engers doing a 49-minute '25' in 1978:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150632666597634&set=a.409805027...

on the flat sections make yourself as aero as you can by bringing your hands in near the stem and your torso as low as possible, small frontal area is the key, hence why people use aerobars. If there are lumpy sections use whatever position you can get the most power out, aerodynamics is less important when you're climbing

I normally switch between drops and parallel hoods

these are the bars i have. As i say, pretty light for the money, very simple design, v easy to fit, and get you v low.
https://wap.ebay.co.uk/Pages/ViewItem.aspx?sid=d4qohmqcjltkw2nhyqzsbuqc&...

i'm not normally an advocate on spending to improve performance - unless you're really serious you'd be better off spending the money trying to get fitter, or lose weight.

that being said, a set of aero bars will give you the single biggest performance gain of any upgrade, and you can have a pair off ebay for £20. so it's worth getting some.

if you have your hands on the drops your arms stick out, but on the hoods or bars you can tuck your arms in line with your body thoeretically creating less drag. Loads of people do tt's on a road bike without bars. I'm not good enough to spend loads of money on a tt bike, but i do have nice clip-on aero bars by Profile Design which are pretty light and not a bad price.

I have always had luck not using the drops, but getting as low as possible on the hoods with the forearms parallel to the ground