TT Bike or Aero Road Bike

If the TT bike is setup properly for you then it really is just a matter of getting used to it.

As for whether it would be a mistake to go with the aero road bike, that depends on your goals.  If you want to be as fast as possible then the TT bike is the best option (again assuming it is setup properly for you).

I'm like you, I don't really ride in groups and when I do the groups are small and are cool with me.  I went with a Tribike after a year and a half of starting tri's.  First it was on MTB, then an ill fitting RB and finally a TB that was fitted for me.  Best move ever.  Once I got riding with it I quickly adapted to the position, its so much more comfortable and steady.  I have no issues with it on descents, after low 30 mph I tuck in on the aerobars and slowly gain speed or don't lose any speed.  I've been to 50mph downhill without issue.

IMHO, if tri's are in your future why waste the watts.  Think about having speed at the lowest wattage lost to items such as aero drag and rolling resistance. Take a read of this article if you haven't already.  Is shows you how much wattage can be save aero wise between a RB with several setups vs a TB with several setups.  Two ways to look at it, go faster at the same wattage or go the same speed (or slightly faster) at a lower wattage and have plenty of reserves for the run.

My vote is for the...

Consider resale.  A tri-bike cuts your possible buyers by about 90%.....you'll end up nearly giving it away.  Not nearly so much with a decent road bike.  Unless you are trying for podium spots a tri-bike is not needed.  And contrary to what you will be lead to believe....you can win triathlons on a road bike.

Yes, a tri bike allows you to get in to a more aero position (how long you can stay there depends on a few variables)......the plus side for a tri bike ends right there.

Oh yeah....the other thing is....if you really want to see what you're (not) missing.....come get mine, it's just hanging in the workout room not getting used right now.  Trek Speed Concept size large......get fit on it and have at it for a race or two. My cousin just used it to train and race  for his first IM so you can't hurt it any worse then he tried to. (it's equipment, I have no attachment to it whatsoever)    Give it back at the end of the summer.  I'm riding a road bike and not racing these days. Serious offer.

My husband rode a really aero BMC last year. Something like http://www.bmc-switzerland.com/int-en/bikes/road/endurance-roadmachine-01-ultegra_di2/

I was watching the mid to the back of the pack last year at Ironman Canada (on the meadows road beginning the climb back to Whistler) and I couldn't help but think that the majority of those athletes would probably be faster on an aero road bike than the TT bikes that they were riding.

I'd love to get some shorty bars on a new Madone.

Originally posted by marcag

Originally posted by jhaack39

Originally posted by Left Brain Oh yeah....the other thing is....if you really want to see what you're (not) missing.....come get mine, it's just hanging in the workout room not getting used right now.  Trek Speed Concept size large......get fit on it and have at it for a race or two. My cousin just used it to train and race  for his first IM so you can't hurt it any worse then he tried to. (it's equipment, I have no attachment to it whatsoever)    Give it back at the end of the summer.  I'm riding a road bike and not racing these days. Serious offer.

Thanks for the offer. I think before I'd even think about maybe weighing the possibility of even considering something like that.... I've got a connection at a bike store. They could put some pedals on one and let me ride around the parking lot....."just to see".... If I haven't even bothered to do that, I'm not putting the energy even to that.....I think that's sort of telling as well.

Again curious, why are you eyeing an aero road bike ? Why not a an "endurance road bike" or a regular road bike ?

There's some substance to marcag's question.  I can see an aero frame if you are racing draft legal, crits, etc........but for the extra money that frame costs you can get better components on a good frame that's not "aero".  You likely wouldn't even notice the difference between the two at the level we ride.  Wait.....there is almost no way you'd notice a difference.

Perhaps, but the comfort and handling difference between a road bike with clip ons and a tri bike is huge.  A road bike with clip on aero bars doesn't do nearly enough to ride comfortably in aero for long distances while still being a great handling bike. 

Remember the purpose of a tri bike is to put the huge non-aerodynamic rider in the best possible low-air-drag position known as "aero position".  The bike has significant changes to the geometry of the entire bike to accommodate this. I'm going to link some images off the Internet from http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/bikes/difference.shtml,you should read the article.

And here's another image showing real bikes and how the tri bike rotates the entire rider so the hip angle in aero is still about the same as the road bike rider.  Tri bike aero position isn't just bending at the waist. That's why a road bike with clip-ons isn't the same thing.  At all.

Here's an image that's floated around a while (from another article http://gearwestbike.com/articles/tri-bike-or-road-bike-pg54.htm)

Pretty clearly shows the differences in geometry.

Well, only you can decide if you are making a mistake buying an aero road bike for HIM and IM, but IMHO yes it's a mistake for long course. A tri bike is the right tool for the job of racing HIM and IM triathlons.

You have an uncomfortable road bike.  Perhaps it's uncomfortable because it never really fits you as you say.  What kind of Trek is it (specifically the year, model, size numbers) and the Cannondale Slice what is the year, model, size.  You should be looking into a fitting methodology from SlowTwitch's founder called "stack and reach" (look it up).

You could get a comfortable, well fitting road bike and be happy, but you are giving up a lot of time on an IM.  The road bike position is just so non-aerodynamic that the rest of the aero goodies make little difference.  And if you're going to put a clip-on bars on it, and ride it in a semi-aero position, then just get a tri bike and do it right.

Still with keeping the road bike set up as such. If you're swapping out parts, flipping around the seat post and such, you're trying to force the tri position into the road bike.

Having said that, It is possible to do something simple with tri bars. I have a set of shorty aero bars (or DL style) and use them straight out of the road position. These are smaller than many clip-on tri bars and my extensions lead straight into the road bars. There is really nothing extra to hit. I can't do the super tuck you see the pro riders do, but don't do that anyway. Nothing changed about the road position as it's set up close to where I'd use the drops to maybe just slightly higher. I shift my arms in and that's it. Definitely faster than being in any road position while being easy to hold though the gap to previous tri bikes is also still noticeable. I'm still happy with the simplicity of having the one bike.