Conference noted::bicycle

    Good luck, Bob. Unfortunately, there is no formula for these things.
    If someone tries to sell you one they should be selling it to the
    world... they'll make a million.
    
    I've had mine for a full 6 months.  They're just like any other
    bar. What is comfortable for you may not be comfortable for me.
    I almost got rid of 'em a hundred times. It took a good 3 months
    of adjusting ... EVERYTHING! Handlebars, seat, seat height, bar
    tilt, seat tilt... Given you've got more positions available, you'll
    need to experiment a bit more. Don't get discouraged. I think I
    like mine now. I did have to buy another stem. I had to raise it
    quite a bit (NITTO TECHNOMICS). Some people (I know) have even gone
    to a ATB stem to get the fit they need. They are worth it and give
    you what's promised. 
    
    Chip

< Note 1189.0 by OTOU01::BUCKLAND "There's no room in this space to write anything significant" >
                             -< Mounting Scott DH >-

Most people, by my experience, start out with the bars too low.  If you do 
this, you'll find that your chest and knees try to occupy the same space at 
the top of the stroke.  I doubt if you'll like it.  So you'll need to raise 
them up, probably quite a lot, from where your regular bars are now.  There 
are a couple of ways to do this:

1) As Chip stated, get a much taller stem.  I use both Technomic and Sakae.  
The Technomic is by far the better of the two.  Others use ATB stems with 
great success.  I tend to need very short extension, so I've not tried the ATB 
stems since they seem to have a lot of extension.  Note that raising the stem 
height substantially makes the effective stem extension shorter, so you may 
have to go with a slightly longer stem as well.  The top of my stem is 1/2 
inch below the top of my saddle.  I'm very comfortable, feel quite powerful, 
and don't think the aerodynamics have suffered at all.

2) This is a new method that I'm just trying out now.  Profile For Speed makes 
clamp-on forearms pads that are the best thing since sliced bread!  Very 
comfortable.  These give you a little extra height.  They also make a clamp-on 
bar that uses the same forearms pads, but taller (1-1.5") clamps, to allow for 
the clamp-on bar.  I've special ordered these clamps and will try them on the 
Scott DH bars.  I'm hoping they will allow me to use a more normal stem height 
which will probably be a little stiffer and safer.  These parts are 
available/orderable from Belmont Wheelworks in Belmont, Ma.

BTW, the round forearms pads that come with Scott DH's are just better than 
nothing.  There's another pad (at Wheelworks) that has flat surface (1" or 
more) and better, more secure outside ridges to keep you on the pads.  These 
are much better than Scott's.  The clamp-on pads mentioned above are even 
better.

Kevin

    Re .2 
    
    I've seen the Profile for Speed pads (Sark Bars also has a similar
    pad); they look extremely comfortable, but I was wondering if there
    is a problem with them on out-of-the-saddle climbs ... do you hit
    your knees on them??
    
    I was thinking of getting a pair, but heard that hitting-the-knees
    might be a problem. I'd be interested in first hand experience anyone
    has to offer.
    
    Mark
    

    Re: Note 1189.3

    I've have the Profile Aero Bars on my bike with the Pads that aren't
    the clip-on pads. I am a rather tall guy, 6'3" 185lb and did some
    hill climbs in North Conway, NH this last weekend, and my knees
    didn't hit the pads, I was testing all the climbing positions I
    could with these new bars, with no problems with my knees touching
    the pads.
                                                        
    -Arthur
    

< Note 1189.3 by USMRM5::MREID >
                    -< Where did you get those bruises?!  >-

I hit them occassionally, but not enough to worry me, or bruise my knees.

Kevin

    I have the SARK pads and they are wonderful. The pads are large enough
    that they disperse the shock accross a large portion of the forearm. I
    find that I never have to lift my arms off of them like I did with
    other pads. The curve of the pads help keep my elbows from pointing out
    thus keeping me in a more aero position. 
    
    I haven't had a problem hitting my knees either seated or comming out
    of the seat. You cannot hold the top of the bars when they are mounted,
    which shouldn't be a problem since your better off resting your hands
    on the brake hoods. 
    
    Paul

     Paul,
          Is this the "bolt-on" SCOTTS or the full SCOTT? The reason
         I ask is that the pads that came with my bars lasted about
         2 seconds before they split so I don't like 'em, but if I
         get on my brakes with the full SCOTTS I'll be way out and
         uncomfortable.
    
         I've been seriously thinking about getting those pads!
    
         Chip

    
    re: .7
    
    I am also using the SARK bars. I have a set of regular Scotts that
    I don't like as much as the SARKs and since I'm doing some mass start
    races this year I needed a convient way to convert. 
    
    Your right about those pads that come with the scotts. If you don't 
    split them putting them on they split shortly on their own. I
    considered getting Clamp-on style bars but I saw a few problems with
    those. First, they, and any aero bar that mounts into the stem, puts a
    lot of strain on the stem joint. The areo bars become an 14-16 in lever
    when you lean on, or pull up on them. The clamp-ons tend to clamp on
    the handle bars right where my arms want to go and the profile version
    with the elevated pads felt awkward. Also My handle bars are drilled
    to bury the cables and the and the profile and scott clamp-on covered
    the exit holes. The SARK bars are stiffer and lighter than the others
    and allow you to get your elbows in really tight regardless of which
    type of pads you use. 
    
    Paul 

< Note 1189.7 by WMOIS::C_GIROUARD >
                                 -< BOLT-ONS? >-

>          Is this the "bolt-on" SCOTTS or the full SCOTT? The reason
>         I ask is that the pads that came with my bars lasted about
>         2 seconds before they split so I don't like 'em, but if I
>         get on my brakes with the full SCOTTS I'll be way out and
>         uncomfortable.
>    

Chip,

I have the 'full SCOTT' bars and don't have a problem with the brakes.  Where 
did you intend to mount them?  Mine are mounted on the not quite horizontal 
section just before the final curve forward.  This makes them very easy to get 
to from the full out position, and when I'm in the halfway position (if you 
know what I mean) my hands are on the brakes, so its very secure.  I ride 
there anytime I'm in traffic, and its almost as aero as the full out position.

Mounting the brakes here doesn't really allow you to stand and climb with your 
hands on the brake hoods.  I use the bottom of the drops instead.  This is a 
very solid place to climb from (better than the hoods on regular bars, in my 
opinion).  Its probably about the same height as the hoods on regular bars, 
since the stem with Scott bars is usually so much higher.

Kevin

re: 1189.2 

�  ... Profile For Speed makes clamp-on forearms pads that are the best 
�  thing since sliced bread!  ...  These parts are 
�  available/orderable from Belmont Wheelworks in Belmont, Ma.

Do you have the address for the Belmont Wheelworks and the price of
the pads?  I have seen these (since reading this note) in Canada but
they want CDN$50 for them.  I'm sure that they're cheaper down south.

Bob

>Do you have the address for the Belmont Wheelworks and the price of
>the pads?  I have seen these (since reading this note) in Canada but
>they want CDN$50 for them.  I'm sure that they're cheaper down south.

Bob,
You can always try NASHBAR $26.95 a pair

Tom

I'm starting to get the warms (not the hots, yet...) for a set of the 
Scott-type bars, but I've only ever seen them in the catalogs (Performance)
and in the pix there, they don't have brakes! To me, that's an omission
perhaps of some consequence. Where do the brakes go, or does the head-down 
position not allow you to see things you're going to crash into anyway, so
it doesn't matter? :-)

Anyway, is there anyone near MK that has one o' these things set up that
I could take a look at sometime?

                                       ken

     <<< Note 1189.12 by SUSHI::KMACDONALD "practicing my J�tulling..." >>>
                           -< somethin' missing.... >-

>Anyway, is there anyone near MK that has one o' these things set up that
>I could take a look at sometime?

ken,

I've got 3 different styles of aero bar setups you can look at (Scott and 
Profile-for-Speed).  I live on 101a in Nashua and I'd be glad to show you what 
I've got.  Call me at dtn 226-5457 and we can arrange a time.

Kevin