Bike Noob

Because I'm Always Learning Something New

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Aerobars on Group Rides = Bad Idea

11.17.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 7 Comments

It seems that whenever I show up for an organized ride, the pre-ride announcements always include a caution not to use aerobars in a group. And then, a few miles into the ride, I usually get passed by riders down on their aerobars. That’s not a great idea, as this video illustrates:

In the slow-motion replay, it’s pretty clear that the rider who crashed was on his aerobars. They gave him a little edge in speed, and he was about to pass the second rider in line when the second rider moved slightly left, to pass the lead rider. Aerobar man couldn’t control his bike and grabbed the drops, but his momentum caused his front wheel to overlap the second rider’s rear wheel, and they touched. The rider behind always comes out worse in these situations than the rider in front.

In this case, Mr. Aerobars almost saved himself. It looks like he got things back under control until he veered off onto the gravel shoulder and did an endo. But that’s not the whole story.

In the slow-mo, we see that the two bikes touched wheels not once, not twice, but three times before the rider slowed enough to separate himself from the other bike. And the force of those touches — especially the third — was enough to do serious damage to the front wheel. Half the spokes on one side of the wheel had broken. In a blowup of the video, we can see how the third touch knocked the wheel askew. The rim is clearly out of line with the hub.

So, two no-nos are apparent after watching this incident:

1. Don’t use aerobars on group rides (or in a paceline).

2. Don’t overlap the rear wheel of the bike in front.

A couple of my biking friends also noted that riders should consider sturdier wheels, too. One suggested 36 spokes on the rear and a minimum of 32 on the front. I don’t know how many fast roadies would go for that, but after seeing the video, I’ll continue to be happy with my relatively heavy rims.

It looks like the rider was not seriously hurt, I’m glad to see.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Categories // Safety, Technique Tags // aero bars, endo, overlap

Comments

  1. Bintang says

    November 18, 2011 at 2:23 am

    It seems to me that Mr Aerobars slowed down enough to make a safe full stop, but that his attempt was hampered by the broken spokes. It looks to me that the broken spokes caused the endo.

    Reply
  2. Richard W. says

    November 18, 2011 at 6:23 am

    Biggest no-no in by book is the group ride to start with. Skip the group, slow down a bit and enjoy the ride and surroundings. Then you don’t have to deal with jokers like AeroMan who chose not to follow the group rules. Haven’t been on a group ride with more than 3 others I’ve enjoyed yet. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Steve says

    November 18, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    Hear,hear! It’s hard to come up with a good defense for sitting on aerobars in tight conditions. Callous disregard for oneself and those around him.

    Reply
  4. bgddyjim says

    January 31, 2012 at 6:09 am

    Thanks for the post… That face plant was AWESOME. Doh!

    Reply
  5. colenso says

    March 14, 2013 at 8:50 am

    Aero bars are used in two disciplines: time trials and triathlons. Time trials and triathlons are different to road racing in a peloton. The focus is on the individual in time trials and triathlons. In road racing, the focus is on the team.

    Wanna road race? Then get yourself a road racing bike that complies with UCI Cycling Regulations. Wanna ride in a peloton on a Sunday morning ride? Then ride your UCI compliant road bike. Don’t ride your tri-bike or your TT bike.

    In any case, group rides are for sissies and bullies like LA. Riders who want to learn how to become a real man should emulate the greatest cyclist of all time, of any sex or gender. Eddie Merck? Nope, her name was Beryl Burton, OBE (12 May 1937 – 8 May 1996).

    Reply
  6. djflkj2 says

    February 28, 2017 at 7:42 am

    Um…there are a lot of things wrong here and you’re blaming it all on the aerobars. The number 1 cause of that bike-to-bike contact was with the forward rider pulling out to pass without checking his blind spot. He pulled out into another bike and would have made contact whether the 2nd rider was in aerobars or not. The rules of the road are the same on a bike as they aree in a car. That same action in a car would have caused a bad accident. And, like a car, tailgating is supremely bad. Why on earth does anyone ever ride so close to another? It’s like walking into a spinning propeller…someone’s going to get hurt.

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get Email Updates

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 257 other subscribers

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • Getting Back on the Bike: Road Cycling Tips for Older Cyclists
  • Are BCAAs and EAAs Good for Cycling?
  • How to Fix Numb Toes When Cycling
  • How to Find and Vet a Bike Club
  • Celebrate Pearl Izumi with Big Savings in the Memorial Day Sale

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • March 2022
  • October 2020
  • November 2018
  • May 2018
  • September 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008

Copyright © 2026 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Go to mobile version
%d