I get the negative drag, but the question would really be: when you are in a group, how bad is the drag vs. the benefit when you are on the front / off the front?
1 Like
That’s an interesting question. While I don’t know the answer, it’d be nice if teams could try it out. I think the UCI should make room for more experimentation, especially if it could make the sport safer and more interesting at the same time.
1 Like
Fair question, but I’m not sure how you can reliably measure that…one is a constant (exta drag) and another is extremely variable and changes from race to race.
they do allow flagging of unsafe KOMs, though I don’t think it’s on by default for descents. I’ve flagged a few bike path segments that really shouldn’t have people trying for speed on.
3 Likes
Next they’ll be banning the “grab your fork stanchions and get aero” position in XCO. Is nothing sacred to these people?
(Certified badass Annika Langvad)
2 Likes
Yeah, as a rule for myself, I’m not even trying to get downhill KOMs. It’s just not worth it for me.
How is that even anatomically possible?!? 
First off, I think the safe and reliable use case for both ‘super-tuck’ and ‘virtual aero bars’ is not in high speed descents, but at more moderate speeds (perhaps below about 35mph).
I never use the super-tuck, but do the virtual aero bars quite often - most frequently when at the front of a pace line and going into a head wind. It makes a big difference.
I think that there is actually a positive safety effect of the virtual aero postiion as well (which has not been mentioned in this thread):
It takes weight off of the rider’s upper arms and shoulders and transfers it to the back muscles. By putting upper body weight on the elbows (effectively), rather than below the wrists, you largely eliminate the need to bear weight at and to stabilize both the wrist and elbow joints and only need to bear weight on your shoulders.
I don’t think this should be understated, as with long and hard riding, being able to continue to support the rider’s upper body weight with his or her arms becomes a major problem.
I would be open to other solutions which provide a similar benefit, but I am loath to lose the combined physiological and aerodynamic advantages of the virtual aero bars.
I’ve never ridden in the virtual aero position - I’m not flexible enough! So I can’t comment on the degree of sketchiness of it from personal experience.
Any time your hands are not gripping the bars however, handling is compromised. Was it dangerous enough to ban? Dunno 
The contact points – saddle, bars, and pedals – are kind of important because they enable good control of the bicycle.
If you want to turn the top tube into a contact point, or you want your hands grabbing air with your forearms on the bars, ok, you be you – but, like the Pantani (I saw a skilled Cat 1 crash pretty badly while trying to pull that off on a technical descent), they’re probably not the best means of controlling the vehicle.
I’m fine with the ban. Is it the most important thing to address? No. Was it worth addressing? Sure.
2 Likes
the virtual aerobars could be argued that you are not in full control of the vehicle. in the UK you could probably be given a firm telling off by a policeman as you are breaching the highway code.
your hands have to be on the steering device
i am guessing that other countries.have the same rules.
fixies require at least one brake to be legal etc. i am not saying it makes real sense but it certainly means that there is a breach of the highway code or not driving with due care etc.
you cant have televised breaking of the law can you?
I’m not sure that stands up since they are on closed roads. They are already riding in the wrong lanes and in a group of 100.
very true but not all races are like that and need a rule that covers everything
Good point. Considering that most, if not all, Mass start events ban actual aerobars, it would be a bit weird not to ban the even more sketchy “virtual”-aerobars
I miss the mini Aero bars 
Didn’t read through the whole thread to see if anyone posted this option. It will be easy to identify who’s going in the break if they start using the Speeco bars.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CITUm7NFP3K/
UCI legal?
Ron
They claim that their bars are in fact UCI legal.
I haven’t dug in, but some relative info for now outlawed positions:
Gotta say those bars aren’t the most stylish but as out of the box thinking I love them.
I personally hope these position bans encourage the designers to have a few shots and go mad.
1 Like
I’d ride this things in a heartbeat…I don’t care how they look. That is my go-to position on the bike and where I am most comfortable.
2 Likes