Bontrager Elite Aero VR-CF handlebars (formerly Race Lite Aero)

Everything is going aero in 2015, from frames to bottle cages. We have seen from bikes like the Venge and Madone that the front end of the bike has the most effort put in to reduce drag, making the handlebars an obvious place to start.

The Bontrager Race Lite Aero Handlebars are one of the cheapest aero road bars that money can buy, coming in at £69.99, making them an attractive option for a DIY aero bike (Graeme Obree would certainly be a fan).

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In terms of shape, the bars have a flattened top and a clamping area wider than many other aero bars on the market. I particularly like this as it allows for either clip on TT bars or out front computer mounts and even a front light. A light may disturb the aerodynamics, but if I am caught in the dark I would rather lose 23 seconds per hour, rather than being invisible to a car from not being able to clip on a light.

I also found it easy and secure enough on the flattened aero section to hold the bars there when climbing or just cruising. It is one of the major benefits of the 6066-T6 alloy aluminium used, which is very sturdy. This is partly due to the material, but also helped by the increased clamping area, which is the foundation for a sturdy bar. It does not have any real feeling of flex when pulling hard, but despite this I did not feel too much road buzz through them. It makes them very comfortable to use.

Assisting this comfort is the slight flare in the drops, which allows for extra stability when sprinting or descending. It is certainly not massively pronounced when you look at them, but you can certainly feel it when riding in the drops. Aside from this slight flare, they are a regular compact bar, with a 123mm drop and 93mm reach.

The most important element of any aero bar is the aerodynamics. Bontrager claim that they will save you "23 seconds per hour compared to traditional round bars". This is a slightly vague claim and unfortunately not one that we can verify given that budget approval for the road.cc wind tunnel is has not yet been forthcoming. However, they feel quicker and given the stability from the flare, certainly makes it feel like you can go faster whilst still staying in maximum control.

As well as an aero shape, hiding cables also has an important part to play and internal cable routing is included in these bars, with holes on either side next to the shifters and a single hole behind the clamping area. Fitting internal cables is a challenge at the best of times and these are no exception, in fact I found these slightly more difficult than others I have fitted in the past. The holes are fiddly, which took me a long time to fit, but once through the rest of the installation was easy.

Coming in at 345g (claimed weight is 340g) makes them fairly heavy for handlebars of this price, but as with all things aero, the weight is secondary to the aerodynamic function. In terms of price, the RRP is £69.99, which is remarkably cheap for aero bars, even if they are made from aluminium.

Overall, I was impressed with these handlebars, offering a decent level of aerodynamics but with the practicalities that the extra clamp area presents. I found them stable, yet without the excess feedback that you often get with stiff bars and a fair price coming in at £69.99. Perhaps I would like to see better internal cable routing as the initial setup is fairly fiddly and the weight could be lower, but all in, I enjoyed using these bars.

Verdict

Nice bars at a decent price, a good option for DIY aero conversions