Clip-On Aero Bars: Get Aero Without a TT Bike

A full time trial bike costs a fortune, and you have one road bike and a budget already spent on a wetsuit and a watch. The good news: clip-on aero bars get you into an aero position for under €50. They bolt onto a standard road handlebar and deliver what saves the most free watts on a bike, less frontal drag. Here is how to choose and set them up properly.

Why triathletes use clip-ons

On draft-legal distances, most amateur sprint ITU races, clip-on aero bars are banned. World Triathlon withdrew them from drafting races from the 2023 season for pack safety. Always check your own race’s rulebook. On long, non-drafting distances, IRONMAN, 70.3, most Challenge races, an aero position is the cheapest way to save energy. Tucking the torso and forearms cuts air resistance, which at 30 to 40 km/h eats most of your power. Clip-ons on a road bike are also a good testing ground: you try the position before spending thousands on a dedicated time trial bike.

Three things to check when choosing

Adjustability. This matters most. An aero position is not natural, so you need to fine-tune pad height, and the width and angle of the extensions. The more adjustment range, the easier it is to find a setup you can hold for hours, not minutes.

Pad height and spacers. Once clip-ons go on a road bike, the knees can come too close to the chest at the top of the pedal stroke, and it gets cramped. Spacers under the pads open that space back up and save your breathing.

Handlebar compatibility. A clip-on needs a flat section of bar roughly 2 to 3 cm wide on each side of the stem. Check whether your aero bar even has somewhere to clamp on, not every one does.

Aluminium or carbon: where to start

Aluminium is plenty to start with. At Decathlon, the aluminium Van Rysel triathlon clip-ons cost €44.99, a sensible first buy to test whether an aero position works for you. Carbon is a bigger outlay: carbon-fibre clip-ons start at a few hundred dollars or euro and dedicated, integrated aero systems can run into the thousands, worth it once you know what you want and race against the clock. Among proven adjustable clip-ons, the names that keep coming up are Profile Design, Vision (TriMax) and Zipp (Vuka Clip), differing mainly in adjustment range and price.

Set them up before you ride

Start the extension angle level or slightly upward, up to about 10 degrees, so the forearms rest and the shoulders relax. Do the first outings on a turbo trainer or an empty, straight road: an aero position shifts the bike’s centre of gravity and handling, especially under braking and in corners. Get comfortable steering before riding into traffic.