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Bike Question

Hey all,

I realised whilst watching the London leg of the world series on Saturday that the big boys didn't have anywhere near as flash bikes as I thought they would.

I expected to see full on Triathlon/TT frames and set ups, but what I saw was more a load of road bikes.

I also noticed the lack of aero bars.....

I have been looking at TT bikes etc for ages now with the hope of buying one when I get to the right level, but should I bother?!

Comments

  • as long as this isn't another "bike stand" topic, I presume the lack of tri bars can be attributed to the drafting rule, seeing as though if you are sat behind someone you get less benefit from the tri bars than you do if you on your own. Could be wrong (and probably am!)
  • tomtristomtris Posts: 135
    Haha bring on the pain, no it is an honest question!

    That's a good theory. I like it.

    And when they did have aero bars, they were the short ones. Wonder if their bikes would differ for a non draft legal event then?
  • I presume it would. I have only ever been in two races where there were elites racing and they were both non drafting and they had some serious bike porn and aero bars a plenty!
  • tomtristomtris Posts: 135
    Yeah thats what I thought. Hence my surprise when watching on Saturday.

    Now does this mean I may eventually need two different bikes? I hope so!
  • durhamvamdurhamvam Posts: 246
    Is is anything to do with how dangerous aero bars are in a pack if you have a crash? If they are longer than the drops then you can just foresee a whole load of impaled riders - not pretty and a real pain to clear up.
  • Mine is a tri bike and I have no problems, but then again I have never been in a draft legel race. I would wait for the experts to give you there opinions about the differences and the benefits as all I know is that it has two wheels, some aero bars and can get me up hills!

    Although, I do know that any new bike should be red if possible, as it is the fastest colour!!
  • tomtristomtris Posts: 135
    I think the aero bars question has come up before, but cant find the original thread.
    Would imagine a crash to be pretty messy!

    I'll look forward to other responses, but will drop hussler a quick message...
  • BopomofoBopomofo Posts: 980
    Allow me to ease the guesswork...

    The Elites race the bike leg of OD as a drafting race, so tri bars would have to be draft-legal ones. Just as in road racing, many (most) athletes don't bother.

    Compare to the aero bikes that you see in a non-drafting middle or long distance race, or indeed that many of us age-group fillers ride.

    Aero bars are not considered safe in a pack because of stability and braking issues. Also because when the inevitable crash happens I don't want to be impaled on your lovely DA bar end shifters.

    *EDIT* Looks like we were typing at the same time, CH.
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