Nederlands | English | Deutsch | Türkçe | Tiếng Việt

Project Sports

Questions and answers about sports

Thoughts about tri bar / trekking bar on hybrid bicycle

5 min read

Asked by: Chris Trilltight

Do tri bars make a difference?

Tri bars can make a significant difference in your speed and can help to lower energy consumption at the same power output. Since TRI bars help reduce wind resistance, the power needed is much less than having no TRI bars.

Can I put drop bars on my hybrid bike?

Yes, you can technically put drop bars on a hybrid bike, but it’s better and often cheaper just to buy a different bike. Converting a hybrid to drop bars requires several new components (usually the brakes, brake levers, shifters, and even derailleurs) and may cause the bike to fit poorly and handle strangely.

Can you put aero bars on a hybrid?

Condensed answer: The geometry and purpose of hybrid bicycles do not make them suitable for aero bars. Putting aero bars on a hybrid results in instability and a non-satisfactory riding experience.

Are triathlon bars comfortable?

They’re easily recognized, and very comfortable. On a road bike, aero bars look like a horizontal fork, mounted to the top of drop bars. The prone, forward-leaning position puts your body in an aerodynamic posture, lowering your wind resistance.

How much do tri bars help?

Reduced Frontal Area = Reduced Drag



After installing aero bars, riders typically find that they’re going 1 to 2 mph faster at the same level of effort.

How much time do tri bars save?

If you’re talking about clip-on bars on a standard road bike and, as you say, your position using them has been optimised and you’re not shipping excessive power, the usually quoted figure for time saved over a 40km TT is around two minutes.

How can I make my hybrid bike faster?

Here Is What You Can Do To Make Your Hybrid Bike Faster

  1. Narrow your handlebars.
  2. Improve your aero position.
  3. Upgrade the tires.
  4. Switch to compact gears.
  5. Upgrade your chain.
  6. Lock the front suspension.
  7. Remove unnecessary accessories.
  8. Use clipless pedals.

Can a hybrid bike go as fast as a road bike?

Generally, hybrid bikes are not as fast as road bikes and this is due to various reasons such as riding position, tire width, and weight. Hybrid bikes tend to be slower than road bikes because they come with wide tires which ensures safety and more grip.

How wide should handlebars be on hybrid bike?

On hybrids and flat-bar road bikes (“fitness” bikes), comfort is usually the overriding concern, so these typically come with very wide handlebars of about 56cm to 70cm.

Can a hybrid bike be converted to a road bike?

Technically yes, but you are better off just selling your hybrid and getting a true road bike. Physically it can be done, but even then it won’t have the geometry of a drop-bar bike. The cost will be a lot, and even more if you can’t do it yourself.

Can you race with a hybrid bike?

One of the more common questions we get from beginner triathletes is if they can use their mountain bike, commuter bike, or hybrid bike in the triathlon. The answer is yes, absolutely – especially if you are doing a sprint or perhaps even an Olympic distance.

Can I put straight bars on a road bike?

And some of the positions are more aerodynamic, for times when you want to ride faster. But it’s still perfectly ok to ride a road bike that has flat handlebars. You’ll get the advantages of a bar that gives you a steady grip like a mountain bike, which can help give beginner cyclists more confidence.

How do you use tri bars?


Quote from video: Keep the time in the Aero bars fairly short to start off with you should try practicing going into and out of your position regularly if you need to be confident. Getting to your breaks.

How much faster is a tri bike than a road bike?

The BikeRadar website claims the advantage a TT bike gives you is 60-70 watts at 40 km/h, that is, it takes 270-280 watts to ride a road bike at that speed and 220 watts to ride a TT bike. Translated into seconds, a TT bike gives you 9 seconds per kilometre advantage. This is six minutes in a 40 km time trial. Insane.

What are tri bars on bikes?

Tribars are a bicycle adaptation that can help the rider get into an increased aerodynamic position for non-drafting and time trial styled racing. Tribars are generally attached onto the handlebars adding versatility to the use of the bike, however some bikes may have integrated tribars and stem.

How much of a difference do Aerobars make?

AERO BARS MAKE YOU ~1min 40s per 40KM FASTER



The advantage of adding aero bars on your road bike is to lower your upper body to a more aero position. You create less drag and hence go faster for the same amount of effort.

Do Aero drop bars make a difference?

Handlebars that improve aerodynamics will often present a smaller surface area at the front, flattening out to create a longer surface area on the top. This means they slice through the air more efficiently, and also has the added bonus of being comfortable to hold on a long climb.

Do drop bars make you faster?

For the average commuter, a drop bar doesn’t translate into faster riding speeds. Drop bars also have the advantage of offering various hand positions. Being able to grab the handlebar in a variety of ways helps to alleviate pain in the hand on longer rides. (The most versatile bikes with drop bars are gravel bikes.

Do aero wheels make you faster?

Using aero wheels has been found to reduce a cyclist’s CdA by 3-5%, so if you generate 350W of power, using aero wheels could see your speed on the flat rise from 44.6kmh to 45.4kmh, an increase of 1.63%.

How much faster is a tri bike vs road bike?

The BikeRadar website claims the advantage a TT bike gives you is 60-70 watts at 40 km/h, that is, it takes 270-280 watts to ride a road bike at that speed and 220 watts to ride a TT bike. Translated into seconds, a TT bike gives you 9 seconds per kilometre advantage. This is six minutes in a 40 km time trial. Insane.

What is a good average wattage cycling?

Generally speaking, a beginner cyclist may average around 75–100 watts in a 1-hour workout. A fit participant will average more than 100 watts, and pro cyclists can reach 400 watts per hour.