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.
Are triathlon bikes hard to ride?
Triathlon bikes are squirrelly aerodynamic beasts. They are great for speed, but frame geometry,
riding down on aerobars and weight distribution (especially with bento boxes and bar-mounted hydration systems) can make tri bikes especially difficult to handle as compared to road bikes
.
Is a triathlon bike worth it?
When comparing the average and normalised power of both athletes we can definitively say we have an answer to our question – forgoing a severe lack of bike skills or huge gusting winds,
yes it is worth riding a TT bike in a non-draft race
and although we at JT Multisport specialise in finding every free watt possible …
What is the advantage of a triathlon bike?
Tri bikes
help on the run
.
Most road bikes have a relaxed seat tube angle while a tri bike have a steeper seat tube angle (near 80%). That steeper seat tube angle lets your hamstrings and calves rest a bit more than on a road bike, thus saving those important running muscles for when you leave T2.
How do you sit on a triathlon bike?
How do you hold a TT position?
Can you ride a triathlon bike on the road?
Registered.
Tri/time trial bikes aren’t allowed In road races
and are shunned by anyone with a clue in charity rides/ organized road ride. You don’t have nearly enough control of your shifting or your breaking in any position, and you’ve got glorified skewers pointed into the ass if anybody in front of you.
Are triathlon 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
.
Can you train on a TT bike?
Time trial bikes are also not good for group rides because of the potential for clipping someone else’s back wheel and causing a pile up when you’re in your aero bars. So
training on your TT bike can be a solitary pursuit
. With all these issues it’s easy to use all this as a barrier to stop you riding your TT bike.
Why are triathlon bikes so expensive?
Triathlon bikes are expensive mainly
because of how small the market is
. So, the market economics causes manufacturers to establish high price ranges for these bikes. Triathletes tend to customize their bikes. So much effort has been put into manufacturing, quality control, research, and design.
How much faster is a tri bike than 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.
How much quicker is a TT bike?
In general you will see a
1.5 mph – 2 mph
boost in speed between a TT and a road bike… assuming the rider is using regular shorts, jersey and helmet along with no aero wheels. Most of that is due to the differing rider position (i.e. more aero).
Why are triathlon bikes heavier?
A triathlon bike is heavier than a road bike by 2- 4 lbs or 1 to 2 kg. The reason is that
the aim is to make a triathlon bike more aerodynamic rather than lightweight as it is in road bikes
. The triathlon bikes come with bigger aerofoils and bigger frames than the road bike.
What’s the difference between a tri bike and a road?
One main difference is simply the way the seat is positioned.
On a triathlon bike, the seat tube is steeper than a road bike
. The angle of the seat tube on a triathlon bike forces the hips to sit forward which gives the rider less tension on their quadriceps and hamstrings.
What is the difference between a TT bike and a tri bike?
The most significant difference is comfort. By design,
triathlon bikes are made to go the distance
. Triathletes often ride through hilly terrain, cover distances up to 112 miles during races and must transition to running quickly and efficiently. In contrast, time trial riders get off the bike completely spent.
What saddles do pro triathletes use?
The
Bontrager Hilo Pro
is perhaps the best triathlon saddle from Trek’s Bontrager component brand. Following the success of the Hilo XXX and Hilo Speed-Dial, the Hilo Pro features thick and dense padding with a wide pressure relief channel, carbon rails, and an integrated mount for rear hydration systems.
How do I choose a tri bike saddle?
How high should my triathlon bike seat be?
How long does it take to get used to a TT bike?
It depends on a myriad of things that are specific to the rider. However, it is widely agreed that it takes
around two months of regular use
or riding around One Hundred Miles to get used to the handling and triathlon bike position.
How do cyclists reduce drag?
With high pressure in the front, and low pressure behind, the cyclist is literally being pulled backwards.
Streamlined designs help the air close more smoothly around these bodies and reduce pressure drag
. Direct friction occurs when wind comes into contact with the outer surface of the rider and the bicycle.
Should you train in TT position?
Therefore, training the body to ride in the time trial position (taking into account that you may need to drop your workout intensity by a few per cent) will better prepare the body for the eventual goal of performing in that position.
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.
Why do tri bikes look different?
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 put normal handlebars on a TT bike?
Altered Geometry
TT bikes are not designed for drop bars by default
. By putting a set of drop bars on a TT bike, the riding position of the rider is very likely to become uncomfortable and inefficient.
Can you put aero bars on a road bike?
Road bikes typically do not come with aero bars, so specialty clip on aero bars can be added
. “Clip on” refers to the fact that they are bolted onto the handlebar and can be removed with the right tools. Typically, clip on aero bars are installed once and are not regularly removed.
What kind of bike do you use for a triathlon?
Yes, you will need a bike. No, it does not need to be expensive. We see people do triathlons on their old
mountain bikes, hybrids, or other slower bikes
— and especially with a couple simple modifications these bikes can do very well. If you can, try to use a road bike, even if you simply borrow one from a friend.
