I’ll admit that I used to be fairly reluctant to place a set of those large Wrongdoer CCSR armrests onto the light-weight aero bar setup I bolt onto my gravel bike for ultra-distance-style endurance using. They’re greater than 300g heavier than the minimalist Deda setup I used to be already utilizing, and a lot bulkier that it virtually appears foolish to check them.
However I did it, and I rode the bike with the CCSR setup. And the development in consolation and management with the Wrongdoer Carbon Composite Velocity Rests put in is night-and-day. A lot so, that it’s a lot simpler to spend extra time on the aerobars, and I really feel far more justified in having them on the gravel bike within the first place.
Wrongdoer CCSR Carbon Composite Velocity Rests aerobar improve
I first wrote about Wrongdoer’s authentic CSR carbon armrest improve 4 years in the past, they usually now promote for $210 a pair. The advantages sounded strong, however many (most?) cyclists had a tough time wrapping their mind round paying a lot to bolt a heavier set of armrests (CSR claimed weight of ~314g with pads) onto an aerobar setup which they most likely already had been typically happy using.
The Wrongdoer lengthy arm cup idea was easy:
- Further-long aerobar armrests unfold your weight over a bigger space for improved consolation
- Greater curved arm cups offer you extra floor to push in opposition to laterally for improved management
- Extra bolt-on positions permit riders to place and angle armrests of their very best ergonomic place
- All of which lead to a rider with the ability to keep of their most aero tuck place longer for much less wind resistance
So, Wrongdoer went again to the drafting board to determine make them extra reasonably priced – and on the identical time much more versatile. They settled on injection-molded carbon-reinforced composite. And had been capable of get the identical size, form, power, and adjustability at only a slight weight penalty – claimed round +20g.
In reality, the brand new Wrongdoer CCSR armrests have much more place adjustability (32 vs. 24 bolt holes) and even taller supporting sides to the arm cups (max 52mm peak vs. 36mm).
Tech particulars and precise weight
The newer Wrongdoer CCSR armrests are every 210mm lengthy total and 116mm vast on the widest level. They’re 64mm vast on the flat spot underneath your forearms by the center of the arm cups, then taper to 36mm vast nearer to your wrists. The inside aspect of the cup is 36mm & outer aspect 52mm tall total, measured from the bottom. The bottom of the cups is 8.5mm thick the place they mount to your aerobar brackets, however with 4mm recessed holes so all the things sits flush.
Really although, the true widths really feel a bit narrower, aspect heights a bit decrease, and the radii of its curves wider when you connect the comfortable 12mm thick arm pads.
There’s an virtually mind-boggling 32 bolt holes – for most traditional 2-bolt mounting – which provides large adjustability. And with alternately horizontal or longitudinal outsized slots, you possibly can simply tweak their last angle with just about any aerobar mounting.
Wrongdoer claims a weight of 318g for the two arm cups with out pads or bolts – basically the identical as the unique carbon model with its pads. Mine weighed an actual 324g, however you aren’t going to make use of them with out pads.
Their precise weight was 404g for the pair with pads (no bolts). I didn’t embody the 30g of bolts that Wrongdoer despatched, as a result of I didn’t use any of them, and also you’ll almost definitely use no matter inventory bolts you had, identical to me.
So how do they examine size-wise to one thing extra typical?
Beginning off, I had a clip-on Deda Fastblack2 aerobar for my long-distance gravel bike setup, that are nice truly.
They’re easy, not loopy costly for what they’re, and are light-weight – weighing simply 394 in complete – for carbon extensions, bolt-on bar clamps, alloy arm cups & pads.
Its curved alloy cups are 91cm vast, simply 95cm lengthy, and max out at 32mm excessive. Then, they’re topped with 7mm thick formed pads, and weigh 87g for the pair of cups & pads. Additionally they have 16 bolt holes and no rotational adjustment.
For sure, they’re a fraction of the scale (<1/2) and weight (<1/4) of the Wrongdoer CCSR setup. And I used to be high quality using them.
At the least till I noticed that I could possibly be extra comfy…
Why I’ve aero bars on a gravel bike within the first place
I do know aerobars on gravel bikes look bizarre, bordering on ludicrous. And there may be actually legitimate debate that they will not be a secure thought for gravel racing, particularly not in mass-start occasions. However the motive that I’ve aerobars is just to present me extra, and extra comfy hand positions for extra-long distance using (and doubtlessly racing) over a mixture of easy & tough terrain.
I get pleasure from using a gravel bike – even loaded down with baggage – throughout some gnarly terrain. However my fingers and wrists can actually undergo, to the purpose after a number of days that I may need to cease for prolonged intervals of time simply to present my fingers a break. I haven’t personally skilled it, however I’ve had multiple shut buddy come again from an ultra-distance off-road race with nerve harm, tingling fingers, and an absence of feeling of their fingers for weeks on finish.
So, I’m completely happy to journey round with these foolish issues strapped to my bar in hopes of avoiding that. And in actuality, they’re solely on the bike a few months of the 12 months, and are simply eliminated for normal gravel using.
My setup
Now, again to their setup. The large positioning adjustability allowed me to put in the brand new Wrongdoer CCSR armrests a bit wider than my authentic cups, whereas additionally barely angling them inward so I may maintain the aerobar extensions slender like I like. They’re additionally a bit additional again, so I don’t should lean fairly to date ahead (therefore the extensions slid again too, which I’ve but to trim down.)
Collectively, that places my elbows a bit wider, so I’ve a significantly better steering management whereas leaned ahead over the bar.
And despite the fact that these prolonged cups are large, I nonetheless have ~3cm between their underside and the highest of my bar tape, so there’s nonetheless loads of room for my fingers on the tops.
Evaluate: Using on the Wrongdoer CCSR armrest setup is simply higher!
In the long run, the carbon composite Wrongdoer CCSR armrests actually do all the things they promised they’d. The lengthy, vast & mushy pads are so comfy that I’m capable of journey an virtually infinite period of time leaning ahead – at the least inside my scope of mixed-surface using. They aren’t there to journey off-road actually, so it’s just about only a spot to put down and relaxation my fingers on sections of tarmac and smoother gravel roads.
With my elbows wider and supported by the excessive cups, I’ve no drawback steering the bike by corners, so long as I can see far sufficient by the exit of the flip to know I received’t must brake. However even after I do want to come back out of them at excessive velocity to decelerate, the upturn of the cups makes for a cushty and managed transfer from the aerobars again to the brake hoods. There’s no sense of wobbling like I bear in mind from sometimes using tri bikes. Though, a few of that additionally comes from further dealing with stability of a gravel bike within the first place.
In the end, I spend extra time on the aerobars with the Wrongdoer CCSR setup than I did earlier than. And meaning extra time in a extra aerodynamic place, financial savings treasured watts.
So I name {that a} win!
Plus, it helps me really feel higher about placing aerobars on the gravel bike within the first place.
Use past gravel
Gravel is unquestionably an edge case for aero bars to start out with. However I anticipate that these identical advantages will apply simply as a lot (or extra!) to time trial and triathlon riders who wish to spend a better share of time on the aero bars. Everyone knows aero features imply extra watts saved at greater speeds. And cyclists truly racing in opposition to the clock are going to care extra about these seconds saved, when it may make a distinction whether or not they win or not.
Merely with the ability to keep longer in your most aero tuck because of the additional consolation & management with the Wrongdoer CCSR Carbon Composite Velocity Rests is difficult to argue with.
The downsides
Whereas it appears like a reasonably glowing overview, there are nonetheless a couple of cons to the CCSRs, too. The Wrongdoer Carbon Composite Velocity Rests are actually heavy relative to traditional setups. I truly selected my authentic Deda setup due to its light-weight and hand place adjustability. And switching the cups out to CCSR cups added 317g. That’s an 80% weight enhance, to not point out the elevated value.
Let’s be trustworthy although, that weight acquire is lower than half a water bottle or a few spare mild butyl inside tubes. It’s actually not a lot.
The fundamental thick foam pads additionally aren’t as refined as most aerobar setups. They’re comfy. However there are simply 12 tiny 2mm perforated holes extra for swat drainage than air flow, with no airflow channels, and my forearms did get scorching and sweaty staying in the identical place on lengthy, heat rides. Plus, the material face of the pads is mushy, and may get caught on sharp edges like a watch. Certainly one of my pads has a small scrape, but it surely hasn’t frayed in any respect and nonetheless seems to be fairly good.
And lastly, the pads are held securely in place with velcro caught onto the composite cups. And it holds so securely that after I needed to take away and reposition the pads, I needed to be very cautious to not simply pull the velcro away from the cup. Cautious rolling/peeling the froth pads away largely labored. And when it didn’t, I used to be capable of simply stick the velcro again to the cups and it nonetheless holds securely.
Wrongdoer CCSR – Pricing, choices & availability
A set of composite CCSR lengthy armrests sells for $128 in Wrongdoer’s webshop, plus delivery & import prices since they’re despatched straight from Taiwan the place the corporate relies. For a really restricted time now, in addition they are nonetheless providing a Black Friday particular the place you may get two units of Wrongdoer CCSR armrests for $200, presumably so you may share these supply prices with a buddy who additionally would profit from an improve to their aerobars.
The Wrongdoer CCSR armrests will not be UCI authorized (as a result of they’re too lengthy), however Wrongdoer does supply a chopped-down model that’s nonetheless vast and comfortable however simply 128mm lengthy, for a decrease $108.
Their lighter costlier carbon CSRs are additionally presently on sale in a package deal with Wrongdoer’s personal extensions in the event you really feel the necessity for padding all the best way to your fingers.
Get ’em all now, straight from Wrongdoer.
