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Pro's bike choices
STAPLEHURSTTRILOVER
Posts: 66
in General Chat
Why is it that the majority of the top pro's seem to ride road bikes, sometimes without even having clip on tri-bars? Surely they could go faster in proper aero position with deep section wheels? The only distance where the pro's seem to all be kitted out to the max is ironman. Any ideas?
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therefore a standard road bike is what they use....... go up to 70.3 and Ironman Distances then NO drafting for everyone - so out come the aero toys and TT bikes.
For us mere mortals ... it is ALWAYS NO drafting ..... allegedly !!
R
Their frames also have to be tubular, so no profiled aero frames!
it seems crazy that the athletes at the top are the ones who don't ride the ultra specced tri-bikes!
Tri bikes are heavy so the only advantage comes from an aero position, if you're constantly out of the saddle or braking and changing gears, then a lighter road bike with STI brakes/gears is more efficient.
If you don't get the chance to really use clip on tri bars on a road bike then they just become ballast to carry round so are better removed.
I looked at getting the Focus bike that Wiggle sell for £999 but decided that having the gears on the tribars was too much of a commitment to constantly being in the tuck position so went for a road bike instead. Changing gears while braking looked like it would be a pain in the ass with the Focus.
Personally I think allowing drafting on the bike leg in these races means that you get a big peleton going into T2 and the best runners will almost always win - which is a bit boring. Obviously the reason I'll never turn pro...