TT Bike

When tri bars came out - I bought them for my road bike. For the same effort you seemed to do 1 to 2 mph faster. 

If you get the position right they can be very comfy - they're used for 24 hour races.

cougie wrote (see)

When tri bars came out - I bought them for my road bike. For the same effort you seemed to do 1 to 2 mph faster. 

If you get the position right they can be very comfy - they're used for 24 hour races.

I saw a budget domestically manufactured mountain bike on sale in India the other day that came with aero bars.... but they were called comfort handle-bars

IronCat5 in the Hat wrote (see)

Plus, due to the steeper seat angle you run better off a TT/tri bike. When cycling it is almost like pushing back on the pedals rather than down.

Is there really that much of a difference? Less of the 'oh my god my legs are going to collapse under me but I can't feel anything from the hips down anyway' sort of sensation? I just got myself a real tri bike but due to vile weather haven't been out for a proper blast on it yet and have had to confine myself to sneaking out to the shed at night and perving at it. Up till now I was using an old road bike with tri bars. Really looking forward to feeling the difference...

I read on the internet - so it must be true - that due to the seat post angle on a TT bike, you are 'forced' to engage your quads more when riding, thus leaving your hamstrings 'fresh' for the run (hamstrings playing a bigger part in the old running malarkey).

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/article/how-aero-is-aero-19273/

There really is some shit spouted on forums...I include myself in that statement.

You'll never be confident or comfortable in an aero position unless you ride lots in an aero position. I know Cougie likes to save his race set-up until a week before racing but he's had years of ridingbut I still find it stupid - still love the guy though.

Number one biggest bang for your buck is training - do this well and you'll go fast regardless. I raced Embrunman on a road bike with no tri-bars and came home in a reasonable time. The guy in front of me at IM France coming into T2 did the same.

So do you need it - no, should you take advantage of this, yes if you can afford it, don't treat it like somekind of precious work of art that can only be ridden if its dry and on a sunday.

Its a bike, ride it. if its carbon it wont rust. Components get trashed on all bikes, i change the chain and block twice a year, accept that willl be the case.

The question should be do I get aero wheels or an aero frame - personally I say borrow someone elses wheels, you can use those without needing a fit. Get the frame if you're serious about saving time or just like shiny things.

As for all singing all dancing turbo trainers - very much a nice to have...I've had mine for 6 years and it cost £80 - still works, still hurts, still boring as hell and I'd still rather cycle outside. Invest in a couple of sufferfest vidoes or search for spinnervals and torrent - you might just find every single video available to download for free in one handy package (apparently)

yip - started writing this before your post - make a promise to yourself.

Get under 12 hours then you can have a TT frame. My first IM at Swizzzzzzterland was sub 11 on a £350 bike with clip-ons bought off eBay.

Then comfort over speed would be my recommendation

Gary Fegan wrote (see)

Get under 12 hours then you can have a TT frame.

That's what I did. My Cervelo is still in the box though, as it it literally only a frame at the moment!

funnily enough thats my thinking too, if i got sub 12 at outlaw this year i would have treated myself - i messed up nutritionally on the bike so hence i still ride on a heavy cheap roadie with big ass training tyres. i dont care about how cool TT bikes look but i know that if i cant get my arse over that line in 12 hours a CF frame and go faster wheels wont really be the most important thing i should be considering.

I love my TT bike (Quintana Roo).   When it was time to buy a new bike, i never intended to buy a TT, but the price was an absolute steal, as it was last years model.  Oh and it lives in the house.

I have a TT bike for sale, would suit first timer or experienced, Quintana Roo which is a steal and its titanium so also won't rust, loved it but wanted to try carbon, not much difference except the ti one takes up more of the road vibes so is comfier. PM if interested, I have loads of piccies, its bulletproof and you won't find many better bargains, it could also have deep section carbon wheels for the right price (which of course have little pirate decals )

Will be gonig on the PSOF site soon.

Gary Fegan wrote (see)

yip - started writing this before your post - make a promise to yourself.

Get under 12 hours then you can have a TT frame. My first IM at Swizzzzzzterland was sub 11 on a £350 bike with clip-ons bought off eBay.

and it weighed a tonne !