How Much Faster Tri Bike Road Bike?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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).

Are tri bikes really faster?

This steeper geometry places the rider’s hips over the crankset which engages their quadriceps more for increased power.”

Tri bikes are more aerodynamic and are “faster” than road bikes

.

How much faster are tri bars?

After installing aero bars, riders typically find that they’re going

1 to 2 mph

faster at the same level of effort.

Are triathlon bikes faster than TT bikes?

Bike/position Watt saving vs baseline TTE time trial bike, to travel 40kph, at 40kph 86 TTE time trial bike, narrower arms, at 40kph 87

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.

How much faster is an aero road bike?

With an aero bike, you’ll simply be able to go faster than you would with a non-aero bike. The 150-Watt rider riding during a windy day now finishes

6.5 minutes

faster on an aero bike (8.4 minutes with no drafting) and is 83.3 seconds per hour faster (93.6 seconds with no drafting).

Are TT bikes worth it?

Triathlon Bikes are

absolutely worth it if you are well trained, in love with the sport, and want the best equipment to compete

. It is not worth it if you are just a hobbyist and new to the sport.

How can I make my TT bike faster?

Is 12 mph fast on a bike?


Most cyclists can achieve 10-12 mph average very quickly with limited training

. More experienced, short-medium distance (say 20-30 miles): average 15-16 mph. Reasonable experience, medium (say 40 miles): average around 16-19 mph.

How much time does a tri bike save?

Specifically, the subjects’ average 5km time registered 27:10mins compared to 27:59mins, resulting in an overall cycle-run time of 64:23mins on the steeper set-up versus 63:31mins – an impressive

52secs saving

.

How much faster is aero position?

In simpler terms, the aero savings achieved by simply moving from a relaxed hood position to the horizontal arms position at 45kph would result in a

1.65kph

speed increase at the same wattage, which results in a two minute time saving over the course of a 40km TT.

Are tri bars worth it?


Tri bars can make a significant difference in your speed and can help to lower energy consumption at the same power output

. Since TRI bars help reduce wind resistance, the power needed is much less than having no TRI bars.

Do TT bars make you faster?

For example,

going from a road bike to a dedicated TT bike will typically increase speed by between about 4 to 10 seconds per km

. So you can expect that just sticking on some aerobars onto a road bike will be at the lower end of that range or about 1mph give or take.

Can you use a triathlon bike as a road bike?

So if you’ll be converting your triathlon bike into a road bike,

the first thing to buy is the handlebar

. Triathlon bikes use aero bars while road bikes use regular drop handlebars. Changing this puts your tri bike well on its way to becoming a road bike.

Do tri bikes make a difference?

The benefits of the differences in a triathlon bike compared to a road bike are evident in a variety of ways. One main difference is simply the way the seat is positioned.

On a triathlon bike, the seat tube is steeper than a road bike

.

What makes a tri bike a tri bike?

Tri bikes are

designed to help you become streamlined by positioning your torso level with the ground

. Manufacturers give tri bikes a steeper seat angle (angle between seat tube and an imaginary straight line where the top tube meets the seat tube) than a road bike.

Do cyclists poop themselves?

So What Do They Do Now? Today,

elite athletes will just poop their pants and continue on

. And the best part is that most serious athletes (while knowing its a little icky) will understand the motivation behind not stopping.

Do you eat during an Ironman?

As a general rule of thumb, endurance athletes should aim to eat

60-90 grams of carbohydrate per hour

during IRONMAN events, with athletes typically able to consume more calories and fluids during the bike leg and fewer calories during the run portion of the event. What and how much should you drink?

Why do triathletes not wear socks?

How much faster is a good road bike?

A road bicycle is

10 to 30% faster than a mountain bike

and is 15% faster on average at the same power output on smooth, paved surfaces. Riding posture, rolling resistance, frame geometry, and weight are the main reasons for road bikes being faster with the same level of effort.

At what speed do aero bikes make a difference?

With an aero bike, you’ll simply be able to go faster than you would with a non-aero bike. The 150-Watt rider riding during a windy day now finishes 6.5 minutes faster on an aero bike (8.4 minutes with no drafting) and is

83.3 seconds per hour faster

(93.6 seconds with no drafting).

Will a road bike make me faster?


Buying a better bike will not necessarily make you a faster rider

. Speed and endurance is in your legs and your fitness, not your bike. Riding with a group and spending more constructive time on the bike (miles and intervals) will help you become a better rider.

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

.

Is it hard to ride a triathlon bike?

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

.

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.