How to fit aerobars (tri bars) onto your bike

If you’ve bought some clip-on aerobars to add to your road bike and help make you faster in a triathlon, you may be left with one big question: ‘How do I actually fit aerobars onto my bike?’

Well, luckily for you, we’re here to help. Below, our resident bike experts explain how to fit them to your bike with minimal hassle…

Before you start, make sure that you’re working in an area spacious enough to move around the bike, and ideally have the bike secured onto a work stand, turbo trainer or other solid fixing. Note: You’ll need an Allen key set, grease and possibly a tape measure.

1. Get prepped

Prepare the handlebars. If necessary cut back and unroll the bar tape to reveal the bare metal and free off the cables so you don’t clamp on top of them.

Clean the bars so that no grease or dirt is trapped underneath the clamps.

2. Time for bolts

Grease the bolts of the tri-bars to ensure they go in smoothly. Offer the clamp up to the handlebar and ensure it’s in roughly the correct place.

Now put the greased bolts in, finger tight at first to avoid crossing the threads. It’s essential you do this carefully.

3. Tighten up

Once the Allen bolts are in, gently tighten them, alternating a few turns on each so that the clamp pulls up evenly, and then nip them up lightly.

4. Tweak your position

Now alter the position of the elbow pads to change the width and the reach of the bars.

The width wants to be as narrow as is comfortable, and the length needs to allow the elbow to be supported.

5. Repeat with the second bar

Fit the second bar in the same way as the first, exactly the same distance away from the stem so that the bars are evenly spaced. Measure the distance from the stem to the clamps to ensure this.

6. Make final adjustments

Look at the bars from side on. Adjust them so that they’re both parallel to the ground, slightly pointing upwards, uniform with each other.

Once happy with the position, tighten the bolts holding the clamps. Trim and secure the bar tape to finish.

• What are aerobars?
• Explained – when to go down on to the aerobars
• How to turn your road bike into a triathlon bike