TT or road bike?
Flavadave
Posts: 749
in General Chat
So, now I've got approval for a shiny new bike, what should I go for?
TT? Or road?
TBH, I just want something that won't leave me crippled after 7 hours in the saddle... failing that, the least crippled.
Opinions gratefully received.
TT? Or road?
TBH, I just want something that won't leave me crippled after 7 hours in the saddle... failing that, the least crippled.
Opinions gratefully received.
0
Comments
or do you expect to use it as much as you can for dry riding/races, going out on regular long rides with clubs/friends, commuting and the like?
My personal feeling is that TT bikes are best avoided for the first year or so, mainly because they are so specialised. It's not like you're likely to nip to Tescos on it, so if you're not certain that Tri is for you then it can be a waste of money.
Flavadave, if you have a serviceable road bike, why not stick with it AND buy the TT bike. Go on you know you want to!
Just make sure that rear cassettes are compatible between your bikes so you can swap training/race wheels as the terrain demands.
I've posted on the other forum but thought I should add something else. I didn't go for a TT cause I don't think I'm quite there yet in terms of speed. Would it look good, yes but I personally would feel it was a waste of money until such times I saw an improvement. My reason for the new bike was to go faster on it and I did with Argon, I don't think I would've been quicker with a TT as I can't hold the aero position long.
So I went for the road bike and Mike altered the set-up and fitted me up for both road and TT(road bike position altered).
I've still got my old bike also and its now getting unwrapped of it cotton wool and will be out in full force in the winter. You should keep the current bike and use it during the winter too.
You'll always get the debate of which is better road or TT but it has be done to preference and ability, I would find completely demoralising to by a TT and be slower.
I would go for a tri specific bike. Yes, you will feel discomfort at first but your body will adapt to the new position. - providing you don't go and hammer out an 80 miler with your first ride! Increase mileage gradually, at say 10% a week, and the change in position won't cripple you.
Provided your bike fit is sound, your training and technique is good then I'd be surprised if your speed fell.
And running off the bike will be easier than a road bike.
Along came aero bars and the aero advantage. The problem with aero bars on a road bike is that the centre of gravity is thrown out and power ouput is reduced as the cyclists body adopts a sub optimal posture for the bikes geometry. The hips are also at a tighter angle and you may feel discomfort as the blood flow may be reduced.
Time Triallists apparantly also engage the upper back muscles with a Vulcan death grip on the bars to get more power laid down (but am ready to satnd correcetd on that)
Time triallist and road cyclists do not leap off their bikes and lauch into a run hence the development of the Tri specific bike.
A Tri specific bike is designed for you to stay aero for long periods of time, the weight of the upper body is supported on the arm pads and the hands gently curl around the bars but do not have a death like grip. So IMHO a Tri bike is much more comfortable and faster than a road bike in the majority of conditions and you will certainly launch off faster into the run. And if that hasn't sold you the Tri specific geometry and all the aero goodies actually benefit Age Groupers more than it does the Elites
'nuff said!
Have you read 220 this month? The Blow meister has been to drag zero and wind tunnel tested two bikes - Cervelo P4 (£6K) and Focus culebro Tria (£876 - Wiggle).
The P4 was only 3 seconds per kilometre faster - 2 minutes on a 40k bike leg - for an extre £5k.
He then put the areo wheels on from the P4 to the Culebro and brought the difference down to 2 seconds per kilo only just a over a minute - and the Culrbro is an Alu frame!!!
Maybee a cheaper TT bike and aero wheels is all you need.
£876 + American classix 58's for £800?????????
However this certainly chips away at any doubt as to whether one should go road or Tri bike - I will not compete with Gunforhires cogent rationale - how can you argue that!
The only thing that would sway me from dropping the alu frame for a carbon is if I were to go 'long', the carbon frame hopefully would reduce road bumps and lumps and the stress of being in the saddle for 6hours. Even then I would simply swap over most of the components from the Izalco as it is that well specced.