Aero bar clip-ons, Spinaci style

My wife and I often find ourselves riding our gravel bikes on flat, crushed shell roads (southwest Florida). We are used to aero bars on our TT bikes. I'm interested in getting shorter aero bars for the gravel bikes, mainly to get lower when battling headwinds. Anyone use aero bars on their gravel bikes?

These look promising: 

ZIRBELACI  

I tried them in my first, rigid iteration of a gravel bike with 40mm tires.  They were too rough to use consistently.  Then I tried front sus- for gravel and went back to them and now I have  dual-suspension gravel bike (not the Magic Carpet Ride) and I can roll through everything on the aerobars.  I would recommend full aerobars with flip up armrests.  You will find them much more useful.

Maybe part of the problem is comfort? Spinaccis were designed as a weird workaround for 1990s UCI rules, but the world has changed and you don't have to suffer any more. 

I use Deda Parabolica clipons, like these:
 
There is a definite aero benefit, even on gravel. It's now instinctive for me to change up a gear when moving onto the aero bars, and change down a gear when moving off them. Deda's OEM elbow pads might be adequate for a carefully-manicured time-trial course, but I needed more comfort on rougher "roads", so I cut pieces out of a thick yoga mat instead - ugly but functional.

If you want shorter clipons, maybe something like Vision Mini TT?

In the Spinacci era, there was also a brief trend for clip-ons where the extension was on the same plane as the handlebar, using an elbow-shaped mount - you'd have to saw your extensions down to the right length and the sawn end would be up close against the leading edge of the handlebar. Maybe it's time for that fashion to come back. Like Ritchey Road Logic pedals. Everything goes around...

ccand51997 wrote:I tried them in my first, rigid iteration of a gravel bike with 40mm tires.  They were too rough to use consistently.

That is what I was wondering, will they be too uncomfortable to use for 30+ minutes at a stretch. The really short bars with elbow pads don't look like they will allow for a low enough position, if I'm thinking of the same type you mentioned:   

bobrayner wrote: 

I use Deda Parabolica clipons, like these:
 
Deda's OEM elbow pads might be adequate for a carefully-manicured time-trial course, but I needed more comfort on rougher "roads", so I cut pieces out of a thick yoga mat instead - ugly but functional.

Cee Gee's arm rest pads are phenomenal. I've done several centuries on them, You just need to find the shape that fits your bars.  My concern about standard length tri-bars is that of control. The spinachi style seems to allow for better control, at the expense of comfort and aerodynamics. The shorter tri bars seem like they wouldn't be very comfortable, nor very aero. The body position would be too upright on the short bars. 

Alex_C wrote:

That is what I was wondering, will they be too uncomfortable to use for 30+ minutes at a stretch. The really short bars with elbow pads don't look like they will allow for a low enough position, if I'm thinking of the same type you mentioned:   

 
I know there is a lot going on with the front end, but these are old Vision bolt-on bars that are really solid.  All my previous iterations were 31.whatever bars that needed shims and other stuff, so this pair is my best fit because they are old drop bars and old bolt-ons and they don't move at all, which is good when you hit unexpected bumps.  In my one race this year I felt like it really provided a fast, alternate position on the flat sections where I was way more aero than the people I was catching.  

Are your elbows are farther out than your wrists, allowing for a lower position? That's what it looks like from this angle.

I ordered the Zirbelaci bars. If I don't like them, I'll sell them.

Alex_C wrote:Are your elbows are farther out than your wrists, allowing for a lower position? That's what it looks like from this angle.

I ordered the Zirbelaci bars. If I don't like them, I'll sell them.

My forearms are fairly level.  The armrests are wide enough that my arms have a slight v in them from front to back.  

ccand51997 wrote:
My forearms are fairly level.  The armrests are wide enough that my arms have a slight v in them from front to back.  

Yeah, that's what I thought. Can you get lower in that position vs bent arms on the hoods?

It is probably a bit lower because there is also some forward extension when my elbows are in the armrests.  I have some really deep drop bars as well, but since I put the aerobars on the bike, I hardly use them.  It is way more comfortable to just get into the aero position and hammer along (at least before I ride to the hills.  Anything from my house requires a good hour of riding before I sniff a hill).  I just don't do a lot of riding on the hoods.  It is drops or now the aerobars for me. 

I've ridden over 100 miles on aero bars(tri/tt bike). I'd pop up for anything technical or stops, but that is only for a few seconds then back to aero. They are comfortable AND fast.

I've installed the Zirbelaci bars. They fit my bike but didn't fit on my wife's Giant Revolt Advanced 2. The Giant has the 'Conduct' hybrid braking system and it severely limits what can go on the bars. 
The Zirbelaci bars work well for me. They allow me to get a bit lower than I would be on the drops and are fairly comfortable. I have double wrapped bars, so that definitely contributes to the comfort on my forearms. I can hold the position for 20 minutes or so before the fidgeting starts. I definitely gain speed when I'm on the "Z" bars. The speed increase is due to both improved aerodynamics and thousands of miles in that position from my tri bike riding. On the bars, there is limited control but it is better than typical tri bike aero bars. More control but not as aero efficient.
For less than $60USD these bars will offer another riding position and increase aero efficiency when you have flat open road. 

Alex - Thanks for the review! 

Did you have trouble ordering the bars from Zirbel?  I have tried to order from their website as well as contact them via email, but I haven't received a response.  This could be Covid-related.  What was your experience?

FWIW I'm using the Deda Dabar rather than a drop bar.  I don't have it low enough to be really aerodynamic but I find it more comfortable than holding either the hoods or the drops on a drop bar.

srsoltis wrote:Alex - Thanks for the review! 

Did you have trouble ordering the bars from Zirbel?  I have tried to order from their website as well as contact them via email, but I haven't received a response.  This could be Covid-related.  What was your experience?

Hey srs,

• I didn't have any issue ordering. I can't remember if I attempted communication, pretty sure I just opened my wallet. If you can't get hold of them, I have an 'almost new' set that I could sell. These are the bars that didn't fit my wife's Giant.
• Warning: The position is weird, but does get you out of the wind.

Alex - PM sent.  Thanks.