Can You Use A Tt Frame As A Road Bike?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Yes, a triathlon bike can be changed to a

. This can be sometimes expensive and consume a lot of time but it is very doable. The main parts of these two different bikes can be swapped to change one into the other. You just have to pay attention to the fit as you do so.

What is the difference between a TT bike and a road bike?

How They're Different. The most notable difference is

the design, or geometry of the frame of each bike

. Triathlon bikes have a steeper angle of the seat. Seats on a road bike are positioned at, on average, 78 degrees while the angle on a triathlon bike is closer to 72 degrees.

Can you use a mountain bike frame for a road bike?


A mountain bike will never really be a road bike

. The geometry and construction of the frame is different. Mountain bike frames are designed for a different posture and are often designed for a suspension fork, as well as generally being beefier.

Can you use a TT bike everyday?

Can you do it? Sure. However,

using a tt bike a an everyday ride is like using your Ferrarri as a daily commuter

.

Can you put drop bars on a TT bike?

Condensed Answer:

Drop bars can be installed on a time trial (TT) bike, but only if the model's geometry is already close to that of a road bike

. Otherwise, the drop bars will put the rider in an uncomfortable and inefficient position.

What is the difference between a road bike and a tri bike?


The road bike leaves the rider higher, hands wider, and more “in the wind” than the tri bike

. When properly fitted on a triathlon bike, the rider is tucked up, with narrower hands/elbows/arms and a flatter torso–also known as “aero” position. All of this combines to let the triathlete slip through the wind.

How do I convert my mountain bike to a road bike?

Can I use MTB groupset on road bike?

Condensed answer:

It's possible to install an MTB crankset on a road frame

. The conversion will require an MTB bottom bracket because MTB cranks have a longer spindle/axle.

Is it OK to ride mountain bike on road?

Can you ride on the road with your mountain bike? The answer is

yes, you absolutely can

. It will just feel different from riding a standard road bike. This is mostly because of the thickness of the tires.

How much faster is a TT bike over a road bike?

The BikeRadar website claims the advantage a TT bike gives you is 60-70 watts at 40 km/h, that is, it takes 270-280 watts to ride a road bike at that speed and 220 watts to ride a TT bike. Translated into seconds, a TT bike gives you

9 seconds per kilometre

advantage. This is six minutes in a 40 km time trial.

How much faster is a TT bike than a road bike?

Bike/position Watt saving vs baseline AIR road bike, clip on bars, optimised*, at 40kph 83
TTE time trial bike, to travel 40kph, at 40kph


86

Are TT bikes faster than road bikes?

It's generally known that

triathlon bikes have aerodynamic and geometric advantages that make them faster than road bikes

. With all variables remaining equal over the bike leg of a triathlon, the tri bike wins in speed.

Are TT bikes good for long distance?

Tri-bikes have steep seat tube angles and often don't handle that well. They are made to go fast in a relatively straight line, with the rider in a very low aero position.

Not a good bike for typical distance rides

.

When should I use TT bike?

Triathlon bikes were designed to put you into a forward position

when you're tucked down into your aerobats

. This bodes well for flat terrain, where road bikes are typically better for steep climbing since aerodynamics don't play as big of a role.

Can you ride a time trial bike on the road?

Coach Fred Matheny Replies:

Your road bike can work well for time trialing

. The advantages of a “real” TT bike are aero frame tubes and better handling when you're on the aero bars with weight forward.

Can you put road bike handle bars on a tri bike?

The answer is yes. On the bike leg of the triathlon, increasing your speed is all about reducing aerodynamic drag. And while there are dozens of small improvements you can make to your components and gear,

the investment that gives the greatest returns is adding a good pair bicycle aero bars

.

Are tri bikes comfortable?

Triathlon bikes are

not designed to be comfortable

, they are designed to be aerodynamic, light, and to allow the rider to exert maximum effort against the pedals to get the most speed out of the ride.

Why do triathletes use TT bikes?

While TT bikes keep the rider in the absolute most aerodynamic position,

triathlon bikes are the best way to stay aero while also preserving leg muscles for the run

.

Do triathletes Pee on the bike?

Some riders have practiced urinating on the bike while others consider a different approach.

Most triathletes don't need to pee a lot when riding unless they ride really slow

. In this case, they can always stop at the port-a-potty station and urinate.

Do I need a TT bike for Ironman?

You Don't Need a Fancy Bike…

First off, it's not about the bike. Seriously,

you don't need a snazzy triathlon bike to do well in one of these races

. I passed a lot of Cervelo P3s and aero helmets on my road bike, a Trek Emonda I'd equipped with aero bars. I wore a regular helmet and normal jersey.

Can I use a road cassette on a mountain bike?

Condensed answer:

Shimano and SRAM road bike cassettes can be installed on a mountain bike

as the splines of the hubs are the same across the MTB and road models of both brands.

How much slower is a mountain bike on the road?

Quick Answer. Mountain bikes can be slower by

15%

than road bikes on super flat terrain when on a 5% grade climb mountain can be slower by 12.7% the main factor is aerodynamic.

Can I ride a mountain bike on pavement?


You can ride your mountain bike on pavement

. Just keep in mind that it will be harder to pedal (i.e. slower), and the pavement is hard on traditional knobby mountain bike tires.

Can I put a road crankset on a mountain bike?

The condensed answer is:


Mountain bike frames aren't designed for road cranks

. The chainstays are wide to accommodate fatter tires and often create clearance issues.

Can you put BMX cranks on a road bike?

They are designed to work with a BMX chainwheel.

They will only work if your road bike is a singlespeed or fixed gear

.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.