1. This is the same brand (Profile Design) that they sell at REI for $140, as well as at my local bike shop for $200, so this is a great deal for $70. This is the same quality as those bars, both in feel and weight.
2. One difference between these bars and other Profile Design bars is these are not adjustable in terms of the length of the bars. The bars go directly into the clamps, where other bars have the ends sticking out past the clamps. Maybe that's why they are priced so much lower, as this is probably an older model that they are phasing out. I am 6'0" tall, and they are barely long enough to accommodate my reach. If you are taller (or much shorter), then you might need something else.
3. Since they are not adjustable length-wise, they are also not adjustable in terms of turning them in or out. However, it is the right fit for me. Also, the angle of the picture doesn't show how the bars curve out first, then in.
4. The bars are 7/8" thick, just like most standard handle-bar thickness for mountain bikes. And since they aren't connected, this means you can buy regular bicycle grips to put on the end of the bar, which I recommend, as the bars get kind of slick when they are wet and you're wearing gloves. You don't have nearly the control in this position like you normally do, so I think this is important. The bars start to bend 3.25" from the ends, which means that a standard 5.125" grip will either need to be cut or have to slide over the bend in the bar. If you don't put bicycle grips on there, then I would recommend some sort of padding or tape to give you a better grip. The pads for your arms, however, are great, no problems there.
5. The screws for the arm rests are below the pads, but the pads have a small hole which means you can adjust the arm rests without removing the pads. I put a screwdriver in the hole, then put the screwdriver on the screw, then slid the pad down onto the arm rest to make sure I could access the screw through the hole. If it wasn't perfectly aligned, and you had to make the hole a bit bigger to get to the screw, I don't think that would be a big deal.
6. The arm rests are adjustable, not only by rotating them in and out, but also by moving them closer together and farther apart. This also means that if you have a lot of other stuff on your bike, like GPS holders, lights, and reflectors, you'll have to figure out what to do with them because the arm rest attachment means you can't attach anything to your handlebar on the outside of the aerobars. I spaced my bars out about 7/8" from the handlebar holder, which leaves enough room on the inside of the bars for a reflector on one side, and a light on the other. I then removed the casing from my GPS holder (it's made for this, so it was easy to do), then used four rubber bands (two on the X axis, and two on the Y axis) to secure my GPS case to sit right on top of the flat part of the bars. It doesn't work great, as now the GPS is not angled toward me, which makes reflection a problem, but it's easy to pull it toward me to check my data quickly (distance, average speed, etc.). I don't do it that often, so it's no big deal, and better than no GPS.
7. The picture shows the bars being attached to a PVC pipe. This is NOT part of the product. It is just there for the bars to sit on to show how they will sit on your bike.
8. Basic installation is easy. Seriously, it's nothing more than two screws for each bar to attach to your handlebars, and one screw for each arm rest, six screws total. That's it. I thought the included instructions were adequate, but it's so easy, they aren't really that important. However, I did fiddle with my bike for a few hours to make sure they were set perfectly: the up-and-down angle of the bars and arm rests, the left-and-right rotation of the arm rests based on how close the arm rests are to each other to be in line with how my arms are holding the bars (I have them set as far apart as possible), the spacing on the handlebar to try to have enough room on my handlebar for my light and reflector, and finally, a level to make sure the two bars are even with each other.
9. In case you are wondering about how to put the pads on in relation to the cut, put the cuts along the curve of the arm rests (parallel with your bike). In other words, NOT where you can read the brand name on the pad when you are sitting on the bike. The cuts are there to accommodate the bend in the pads.
10. Per using aerobars in general, they are not as comfortable using them as you would think, if you are thinking about them helping you rest your arms while you ride. Try this experiment: lay on the floor on your stomach, and prop yourself up on your elbows while you watch TV, like you used to do when you were five years old. It's not that comfortable, is it? Especially for doing it hours at a time. Not only that, you probably have to hold your head up at an unnatural angle, which wants to put a crick in your neck, which is the same problem you have on the bike, if you plan to look farther ahead than a foot in front of your front wheel. And your lower back won't care for this position very much, either. None of this is a dealbreaker at all; it's just something you have to get accustomed to. So why bother with it in the first place? Because you are faster with them! If you care at all about how fast you get from Point A to Point B, aerobars are a must. Every time I sit up (usually because I am approaching an intersection and I want to have my hands on my brakes), I feel like I need to get right back in the aerobar position to get back to being efficient. It's similar to going from a mountain bike to a road bike. The improvement isn't as large as that, but you should get at least a half mile or a mile per hour faster than you normally go.
Overall, I am very, very pleased with the product, and I highly recommend them.
Bike Type | Triathlon |
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Color | Anodized Matte Black |
Size | One Size |
Style | Legacy |
Height | 4.5 inches |
Item display length | 13 inches |
Weight | 1.4 Pounds |
Item display width | 11 inches |
Seasons | Basics |
Batteries Included? | No |
Brand | Profile Designs |
Department | Unisex |
Manufacturer | Profile Design Cycling Accessories |
Item model number | RHLGC1 |
Product Dimensions | 33.02 x 24.13 x 12.07 cm; 476.27 Grams |
ASIN | B004N969J0 |