General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2012-04-17 5:51 PM

User image

Member
448
10010010010025
Clemson, SC
Subject: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results

So it comes up all to often... How much faster is a tri bike... Well I finally have gotten my tri bike put back together and rode it for the first time in the last 8 months today on my favorite TT course. The fastest I have ever averaged on my road bike for this course is 19.4 mph. Today, with a bad fit (seat too high of course and extensions too long), I did 21.3 on my tri bike.

 

Couple of things to chew on:

Road bike: Round tube Motobecane Grand Record, 700c Krylion carbon tires, butyl tubes, box rims, rode on drops mostly, good fit, about 2lbs heavier, 209 watts average

Tri bike: Round tube late 90's Quintana Roo, 650c Michelin pro3 race tires, butyl tubes, box rims, seat too high, unkown wattage (probably less than 209, half-bonked during a century on Sunday, bad fit, and not used to riding aero)

Course and conditions: Hilly with a couple of bail-out gear climbs and run out of gear descents, about three weeks between runs, ftp wattage hasn't changed in last month, both days the wind was calm and conditions similar, same exact clothes and helmet and bottle placement.

I expect to pick up a little bit more with a 404 front, disc rear, tri suit, and aerohelmet... Anyone care to guess how much?



2012-04-17 5:57 PM
in reply to: #4156850

User image

Master
2356
20001001001002525
Westlake Village , Ca.
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results
One question....if the seat is too high...why don't you lower it?
2012-04-17 6:08 PM
in reply to: #4156850

User image

Member
448
10010010010025
Clemson, SC
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results
Left my allen wrench at home. This is my first time to put any time on it since I replaced all of the components.
2012-04-18 8:20 AM
in reply to: #4156873

User image

Expert
1111
1000100
Albuquerque, NM
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results
beebs - 2012-04-17 5:08 PM

Left my allen wrench at home. This is my first time to put any time on it since I replaced all of the components.


Did you have the allen wrench on you when you were on the road bike?
That could be the reason for the speed gains.


I just got my TT bike together too and I absolutely love it. My friends have been asking me if it's any faster. I've been telling them "I don't know - but, it makes me want to be faster!" I'm definitely in a different mindset when I am riding it vs my road bike.

Edited by RockTractor 2012-04-18 8:21 AM
2012-04-18 10:49 AM
in reply to: #4157690

User image

Member
448
10010010010025
Clemson, SC
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results

I'm in a different mindset too. Its very weird looking down and seeing that I'm going 25-26mph in areas where I usually go 19-20mph. I'm also a little more worried about vehicles since I'm down low and may not be seen as easily.

2012-04-18 4:21 PM
in reply to: #4158136

User image

Master
2236
200010010025
Denison Texas
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results
beebs - 2012-04-18 10:49 AM

I'm in a different mindset too. Its very weird looking down and seeing that I'm going 25-26mph in areas where I usually go 19-20mph. I'm also a little more worried about vehicles since I'm down low and may not be seen as easily.

You aren't that much lower, it just feels that way and it may be a bit harder for you to look around and spot vehicles, but you aren't any harder to see.



2012-04-18 5:39 PM
in reply to: #4158136

User image

Expert
898
500100100100252525
Plano, National Capital Region
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results
beebs - 2012-04-18 10:49 AM

I'm in a different mindset too. Its very weird looking down and seeing that I'm going 25-26mph in areas where I usually go 19-20mph. I'm also a little more worried about vehicles since I'm down low and may not be seen as easily.

That's a huge difference.  6mph on same roads just different bikes (and same effort?). Sure there wasn't a shift in wind?

 

2012-04-24 1:12 AM
in reply to: #4157690

Veteran
183
100252525
Honolulu
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results

RockTractor - 2012-04-18 8:20 AM
beebs - 2012-04-17 5:08 PM Left my allen wrench at home. This is my first time to put any time on it since I replaced all of the components.
Did you have the allen wrench on you when you were on the road bike? That could be the reason for the speed gains.

Heck I'm gonna leave my allen wrench home next time and shave off 6mph

2012-04-24 6:01 AM
in reply to: #4156850

User image

Champion
19812
50005000500020002000500100100100
MA
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results

Were watts the same in both TTs?

How was the difference in temperature and humidity?

If watts are different hard to determine how much is you vs. bike and aero stuff.

It is darn cool to see such a gain in speed!!

2012-04-24 7:55 AM
in reply to: #4156850

User image

Champion
7595
50002000500252525
Columbia, South Carolina
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results
It's fun to play with bikes.  With the info we have, there's not really anything more to be learned here and guessing about future speed gains would be, well, guessing.
2012-04-24 9:04 AM
in reply to: #4156850

User image

Extreme Veteran
2263
20001001002525
Ridgeland, Mississippi
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results
beebs - 2012-04-17 5:51 PM

So it comes up all to often... How much faster is a tri bike... Well I finally have gotten my tri bike put back together and rode it for the first time in the last 8 months today on my favorite TT course. The fastest I have ever averaged on my road bike for this course is 19.4 mph. Today, with a bad fit (seat too high of course and extensions too long), I did 21.3 on my tri bike.

 

Couple of things to chew on:

Road bike: Round tube Motobecane Grand Record, 700c Krylion carbon tires, butyl tubes, box rims, rode on drops mostly, good fit, about 2lbs heavier, 209 watts average

Tri bike: Round tube late 90's Quintana Roo, 650c Michelin pro3 race tires, butyl tubes, box rims, seat too high, unkown wattage (probably less than 209, half-bonked during a century on Sunday, bad fit, and not used to riding aero)

Course and conditions: Hilly with a couple of bail-out gear climbs and run out of gear descents, about three weeks between runs, ftp wattage hasn't changed in last month, both days the wind was calm and conditions similar, same exact clothes and helmet and bottle placement.

I expect to pick up a little bit more with a 404 front, disc rear, tri suit, and aerohelmet... Anyone care to guess how much?

1.5 mph with the aero front and disc is my guess from my experiences with aero wheels.

How did the 650 wheels feel compared to the 700s?  What cranks are you using on each bike?



2012-04-24 9:09 AM
in reply to: #4157690

User image

Champion
11989
500050001000500100100100100252525
Philly 'burbs
Subject: RE: Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results

RockTractor - 2012-04-18 9:20 AM

"I don't know - but, it makes me want to be faster!" I'm definitely in a different mindset when I am riding it vs my road bike.

I feel faster on my tri bike, so there's that.

New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Road bike vs. Tri bike speed results Rss Feed