Deda Elementi Parabolica Due Clip On Bars

Deda's Parabolica Due clip-on bars are an excellent solution if you want to add an aero position to your bike for whatever reason. They're well made, light and reasonably cheap.

The Parabolica due bars have three main pieces. There's the extension itself, a hollow alloy tube with an S-bend that has a maximum extension from the bars of 290mm and is designed to work with bar-end shifters, if you're going full TT. The extension is attached to your cockpit via an alloy clamp, which is nicely made with smooth edges that should be kind to carbon bars. A steel armrest bolts on to that, and there's a grid of holes for you to fine-tune your arm position. You also get a self-adhesive velcro strip for each side to attach the arm pad. The pads themselves are fairly deep and very comfortable.

I primarily used the Parabolica Due bars as an extra position on an audax setup. That's very useful when you're rolling along the flat, especially into a headwind.

The S-bend bars allow a number of holds. With the middle of your forearm on the pad you can grip the bend, or if you slide your arms forward so you're almost resting on your elbows you can get a bit lower and grab the ends of the bars. There are a couple of positions in between too.

I found the lowest position the best, although I'd like to see end plugs included with the bars to use if you're not fitting shifters, as that would make them more comfortable to hold. If you wanted a bit of extra comfort (and grip) you could always wrap them with bar tape and use the plugs from that.

The Dedas sit above the bars but they're not particularly high and you'll likely be able to get an acceptable aero position on a road bike if you have a couple of spacers below the stem you can swap out.

If you're contemplating a few time trials in the summer and you're not going to go the whole hog and buy a TT bike, fitting clip-on bars (and using them) is the single most effective change you can make to your bike, and an easy one too. The Dedas would be a good choice for that: they're cheap (less than £50 online) and they feel well made and sturdy in use. If the Due curve doesn't suit they're also available in Uno (a single bend at the end) and Zero (completely straight) configurations.

Verdict

Well made aero extensions that are easy to fit, light and comfortable