my limited understanding is your knees are drafting off your elbows, so making yourself uncomfortable by placing them too narrow is counter productive, while too wide is not good either. Maybe snap some pictures from the front while pedaling on the trainer and see how it looks to you?<br><br>
I think my position on my last bike was OK, I could have nudged the elbows out a little even, the pads were maybe 6 inches center to center if memory serves<br><img alt="" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y173/jroden99/PROV_TT_149_preview.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">

 

I'd say stick them on where they are comfy, get some practice and then adjust as needed.

 

Jr is right. But even so, it may take you awhile to get comfortable. I know with me, I often am cheating the bars, so to speak, after a collection of miles because it's just not as comfortable anymore. But it may start earlier for you until you get used to it. Don't be shy about moving it side to side (within reason) and up and back.

 

An easy way to start is to see where your normal knee placement is and then either put them in line like JR said, or put them so you can get your knees just inside. I know that when I put my bars inline, I hit my elbows with almost every pedal stroke.<br><br>
CS

 

something to consider, if you have a wide chest, placing them too right, regardless of knee, will reduce your lung capacity, stretch out the muscles in your back, and run you into trouble later on. I had that issue because my chest is wide, and we widened it out and it made a HUGE difference.<br><br>
So line 'em up with the knees and experiment, err on the side of wide FOR NOW and move 'em in over time to get a better fit/comfort balance.

 

that's a good point also, I don't get knee interference because I have to set the set back more per uci rules, while a tri bike setup with a steep seat tube may cause issues, I did not think about that

 

At least you guys don't have to worry about your kees hitting your tits. That's whatwould happen in the drops on Mikey.<br><br>
It's happened in Aero of few times on Senior Miguel.

 

Thanks, I will try to widen them slightly and see how it works. I wish I could just move the pads out wider. I like where the end of the bars are. I will play with it and see how it works out.<br><br>
Thanks! maybe after playing with it this week I will take a snap shot next week and get your opinions on the placement.

 

I'm coming to the realization that the decision of which brand and design of aero bars is actually pretty important for getting the fit right. I borrowed this bike here and the stem is as low as it goes but I'm still too high, thanks in part ot the design of the aero bars. Also, I need to move the elbow pads back a bit, butthey won't allow it.<br><br><img alt="" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y173/jroden99/IMG_0950.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">

 

Jr: Absolutely true. Some aero bars have many more adjustments while some are kind of fixed where they are. I have a set of more fixed ones in their height, but I went with them because they are very low profile (they don't sit naturally high but rather low). I do have adjustments I can make to them (pads forward/back, left/right), and I can raise or lower the entire assembly with stem/spacers. But there's a limit, once I go down to bottom. I'm not there yet, and I may never be there, but that's because my frame is too big for me. Or so I think.

 

I think your Specialized has the same stupid FSA topcap collar on the headset (under the stem) that my bike in the picture above has, it's a freaking inch thick. You have to find one with the correct ridge on the bottom if you try to replace it with a thinner one, or the headset rattles and binds. What were they thinking?<br><br>
I couldn't get my transition to fit me right either, but I bought it too big.<br><br>
I should have never sold that Cervelo, it fit me well and was uci legal just barely with the seat jammed all the way back. I may just try riding a steeper seat and figure I'll move it back for the few times when the bike gets checked. I'm not exactly a nimble gymnist and the steep STA help me get the drop, but at a cost of a sore neck.