FastTT’s Triathlon Aero Bar is Designed for Speed, Comfort, and Stability

I’m not a bike fitter, or a wind tunnel expert. I’m just an average triathlete on a journey to find an upgrade to my existing cockpit that makes it a little lighter, a little more stable and a whole lot more comfortable while riding aero. Just imagining a little padded tray supporting the length of my boney forearms sounds…real nice!  And rumor has it, if you’re a little more aero and a little more relaxed, then you just might be able to optimize power output and improve speed and performance.  Dan also wrote an article about Fast TT back in 2023 here.

Remember that scene in Ferris Bueller where they see and touch the smooth and sexy lines of the 1961 250 GT Ferrari Spider?  The Fast TT 2.0 carbon aero bars are like that, just in black and from New Zealand, not Italy. These bars will interface directly onto most tt/tri and road bikes. The mounting system has a vast range of direct bolt-on options & accessories that enables easy installation to virtually any bike model, including mono-risers, twin-post systems, and 31.8 round bar cockpits.  Fast TT lists over 75 brands/models of bikes with corresponding compatibility options in their fitment guide.

The aero bars come in 4 t-shirt sizes: small, medium, large & XL.  Although I have little chicken arms, my arms are abnormally long for my height.  Fast TT suggests that if you are in between sizes…to size up.  So where a medium is my size, I’m running a large because I’m in between the 14.4-15.8” range.

These bars have some impressive features.  I’ve condensed these features and listed them below.  I’ll also speak to some of these features from personal experience shortly. 

Key Features

• The most natural and anatomically correct human interface for maximum comfort and riding efficiency, even on the longest bike legs. 
• Tall side elbow flares improve airflow around the forearms and ensure the most secure fit imaginable.
• Revised bar-end design helps to set the riders shoulders narrow for lower drag and more speed.
• Unique moisture-wicking elbow pads keep you dry and secure, even on the hottest days.  Plus, they’re super comfortable.
• Laser cut EVA foam extension pad for added long-distance comfort.
• Non-slip bar end wrap ensures a secure grip no matter how much you perspire.  Bar ends support Shimano, SRAM & Campy electronic shifters (not available for manual shifters)
• Adjustable removeable aluminum computer bracket allows you to always set the computer straight. It’s approved for use up to Garmin 1050 (maximum allowable weight on bracket = 170g).
• Approved front lights or aero meters can be fitted.
• Manufactured using traditional laid-up carbon fiber cloth, widely accepted as the best manufacturing technology for aerobars.

In testing for this review, I was working with a Quintana Roo X-PR equipped with the standard Profile Design Wing & Sonic extensions. I pulled the Sonic extensions, kept the base bar, and added the appropriate riser kit and mounting brackets (as seen below) to run the Fast TT aero extensions. I was able to log several hundred miles on them, which included 3 races — the longest being a 70.3.

First, the bar ends/grips caught my attention immediately.  They’re smaller in diameter than a traditional aero extension. For me, that makes them ten times more comfortable and easier to grip. I have a size medium hand in pretty much any glove out there.  So, my hands are not super small, but I’m not palming a basketball. The grip also has an argyle-like patterned texture to it, and is not only grippy, but I found out recently cleans up well too.  

Quick story: the wonderful volunteers on the 70.3 bike leg handed me two Maurten gels, pre-opened for my benefit and ease of use.  I wasn’t ready to eat and when I grabbed them at 20mph for a quick stuff into the bento, gel went everywhere and got all over everything.  My hands and bars were a mess.  Quick rinse at the next aid station with a plain bottle of water and all was well in the world again!   

Next, I went without the Fast TT computer mount, because I was running a custom BTA bottle set up that already included a mount.  I really liked the location of the Fast TT integrated mount, the ease of removal, and the fact that it’ll work with multiple accessories, including but not limited to lights & cameras.  I’d say 85% of my training is in low light to dark conditions on quiet country roads and having an option to mount a light is a game changer.  Mounting options can be found here on the Fast TT site.

As has been mentioned, these bars are super comfortable.  The carbon finish is available in matte (which is more like satin) and gloss.  Both are smooth as smooth can be.  The forearm rest or “tray” supports the arms very well, distributing weight evenly, and is long enough, wide enough, and has the right amount of padding. The elbow pads have a comfortable texture and are designed to cool and wick moisture — as was the case during that same 70.3, where the temperature was approaching 101 on the bike. The tall-sided elbow flares kept my elbows from slipping and in place safely while in aero holding a decent clip.     

For me, there’s only negative with these bars, and this is no fault of Fast TT necessarily. But while wearing my GPS watch, which has a metal/aluminum bezel and case, if the watch rests on the bars ever so slightly, it creates the most annoying and loud rattle.  It took me a couple different rides to figure out what it was, as I thought something was loose in the cockpit and kept returning home to check the torque on all mounting bolts.  Am I an idiot?  Perhaps…

My Fast TT Set-up

These bars retail for $1,065 USD. If you’re not mounting them directly to a Fast TT base bar, you’ll need to mix in the right adapters, riser kits and brackets. That will increase the total spend. But chances are, in my opinion, you won’t regret it. I’ll get the pleasure of racing the Fast TT aero bars in one more 70.3 in September to close out the season.  I’m already looking forward to it, and I’m already planning a creative approach to simply keeping the Fast TT aero extensions and calling them my own. Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

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