Suppose there was an easily retrofittable accessory for the car that reduced fuel consumption and increased speed. Bet the manufacturer could hardly keep up with the demand. There is such a miracle cure for road bikes: the aero handlebar, also known as a handlebar attachment or recumbent handlebar. These names already contain all the advantages: The attachments put the rider in a stretched, streamlined position; laid flat in this way and supported by the forearms, they also relieve the rider's upper body of tedious holding work - which also saves energy. Riders with recumbent handlebars are therefore faster than cyclists with conventional racing handlebars for the same pedalling power.
British cyclist Glenn Cook demonstrated just how fast aero handlebars can make you in 1987 when he surprisingly became European champion in the middle distance triathlon. So it's clear: the higher the speed, the more important the aerodynamics. A time trialist in an extreme recumbent position reduces his air resistance by up to 40 per cent compared to an aerodynamically good lower handlebar position - a huge optimisation potential in the battle for seconds, but also a torture for the back due to the extremely bent upper body position required. However, if you don't push aerodynamics to the extreme, you can still reduce drag by 10 to 20 per cent in a comfortable position - provided you give your muscles some time to get used to it.
Professionals usually ride their time trial bikes on sinfully expensive one-piece handlebars, which can only be adjusted to a limited extent. Novice riders usually ride better with separate handlebar attachments that are separate from the basic handlebars. There are two basic types: Attachments that are customised with multiple adjustment options, and less variable ones that come in different lengths instead. Although the variable attachments invite you to experiment with the positioning, many adjustment options make mounting more difficult and increase the weight. For this reason, attachments selected in advance in the right length are often the better choice, provided you can test ride before buying.
You can find these handlebar attachments in the test:
Deda Clip-Black, Eston AeroForce, ITM Chronovip 3, Oval A 700 Slam, Profile Split Second AL, Ritchey Prologue Clip-on, Syntace C2 Clip SLS Ultralight, 3T Bio Arms
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