Road Vs. Tri Bike

I did my first two IMs on a road bike, the next two on a tri bike.  The road bike is definitely better for seated climbing and the IMs were hilly, so I gave up some time on the when I switched to the tri bike.  However, I was able to run much better after riding the tri bike. 

Given a choice, there is no way I would ever do an IM on road bike.  Shorter races, sometimes, depending on the course.

How was it different?  What was the terrain like where you were riding?

The bike that fits you best, allowing for the right combination of comfort and power.  For you.  There is no rule that says you need to use a tri bike for an IM.  Doing so does not automatically 'save your legs' for the run. 

The difference between bikes is in the geometry, with the tri bike designed to be ridden with aero bars and your weight more 'forward' on the bike.  Generally (though not always), this allows you to be more aero while maintaining comfort and not messing with the bike's handling.  Some people will always be better off on a road geometry bike, usually with shorter aero bars on them and not 'rotated' quite as far forward on the bike.

I used a road bike (albeit largely set up as a tri bike, ex-road bike drop bars) in my first IM.  Will use a tri bike in my second next month.

I have a tri bike and a road bike. I used my road bike for my HIM and my IM. In fact, I use it 95% of the time.

I did Ironman Kentucky and I felt more comfortable taking my road bike with the hills.

Well, I took the tri bike to this ride. Just to see how it went.

I found that with my tri bike in training...

I would be going up a hill and it was hard to change gears since I wouldn't be in areo. Down to areo to change gears, back up again. Annoying.

Going downhills, I was sitting up, so again, not easy to change gears.

The brakes are not great on the bike. If I had wanted to use the bike for Kentucky I would have bought an all new brake set for it.

Additionally, with my road bike I could carry two water bottles on the bike... and my Camelbak was more comfortable.

It's all a matter of works for you in the end. I knew that on a hilly course I would not have been in areo and shifting going up hills was going to be a hassle... so I went with the roadie. Happy I did.

This brings up a good point.  A tri bike is meant to be ridden in the aero position.  Uphill, downhill or flat.  (Yes, some climbing can be done on the bull-horns, but mostly you should be able to spin-away in aero.)  If you aren't comfortable in that position for your race distance, you need to consider the set-up of the bike.  This may lead you to change your position on the same bike or, again, to the fact that a road bike is better suited for you.

Although on either bike you should be able to change gears by just moving your hand, not needing to come in and out of the aero position to do it.

Well for me, I'm not comfortable being hunched over going up a hill. So I sit on the bullhorns... thus needing to go into areo to shift.

I'm also a total wimp going down hills. I want to be near the brakes going down, so I don't go into areo. Therefore, if I need to shift gears... back into areo to shift... back on the bullhorns in case I need to brake.

I'm a total mess on a tri bike- HA!

And, therefore, it sounds like you ended up on the right bike for you. 

But, really, you ought to be able to shift (on either bike) just by moving your arm/hand--not by moving your whole body in and out of aero.  On my road bike, I do pently of shifting while riding aero and reaching over to the shifters on the drops.  Likewise, I can shift my tri bike by simply moving one arm over to the shifters on the aerobar ends even while I'm sitting up on the bullhorns.

Article in this months Triathlete magazine (or was it the USAT magazine...this months issue in any case) argues that for even the most hilly ironman courses, the benefits of a tri bike outweigh the downside...I have no opinion, just passing along what someone educated enough to publish in a leading triathlon mag has to say about it. They argued that even on hilly courses, there are long stretches where you can significantly benefit from being aero.

That is absolutely true.  However, it does not speak to whether the rider is better off riding a road bike with aero bars or a tri bike.  Most riders are better on the tri bike.  But some will be best with the road bike.

Here is a good article on the subject.

Very interesting. Thanks for posting that. I guess the answer, as always, is "it depends on the rider" :-)

Were you fit on both bikes?

I'm curious why or how your new road bike feels better.

You need to go with one you feel most comfortable on. For me never would use my road bike as I'm way more comfortable in aero position and ride in it 98% of the time...so it would be tri bike for me.

Thanks for all the info everyone!  JohnnyKay - that looks like a great article (I am printing it off now).

To answer some of your questions:  Yes, I was fitted for my Tri bike ~ I went to a reputable bike place in my area for a "Full Tri Fit".  I was not really "fitted" for my new road bike.  The place I bought it from did a few "adjustments" and sent me on my way. (I seem to be very comfortable on it, though).

The only ride that I have to compare the two is the 84 mile ride I did this past Sunday (a very flat course).  I have done the same exact ride on both bikes.  Although, there really is a lot of variables.  When I rode the course on my Tri bike, it was early in the season and my longest ride ever.  When I rode the course on my Road bike, I'd had a lot more experince and had previously gone further.   

I did decide that I needed to test my Road bike on hills.  So, after I posted this morning ~ I set out to test the Roadie on some hills. 

So far ~ the Road bike seems more comfortable but the Tri bike shifts better (much better).  And I do seem to be faster on the Tri bike (thats not saying much ~ cuz I'm not very fast to begin with..lol!!).

I do see that there are a lot of variables and that it really comes down to personal opinion.  I plan to do some more rides on my Road bike for comparison, but think I may be leaning toward my Tri bike for IMWI.

Thanks for all your help!!!