Race specific Bike choice advice

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2011-06-18 10:13 AM


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Subject: Race specific Bike choice advice

I am looking for some friendly advice:

Race is tomorrow (Int. dist. DC Tri.) The bike course has several/lots of 180 degree turns.  This means lots of braking, turning, acceleration.  There are some long stretches of straight road as well, but definitely an urban course. 

I have the option of taking either my race bike or my road bike, but I cant make an unbiased decision on which to take.

Pros/Cons

Road Bike is lighter and has lighter wheels.  Handles better.  Will make the 180 degree turns with ease and can accelerate out of turns much quicker with less strain on legs.  However, once up to speed the tri bike is quantifiably faster.  

Tri bike is very fast in straightline, but is definitely more difficult to accelerate.  This is my second year riding it and have become good at throwing it through corners but it is not a road bike.  My worry is that I will be spending the entire race looking for a chance to duck into the bars and never get the benefit.

I am hoping to break 1:05 in the 40km bike leg sometime this year.  Not sure if that can happen in this race, but I would like to try. That would be nearly a 2min pr.  

I realize this has been asked a bazillion times and there is no answer, but some friendly advice will help me make my decision.  

 

THanks!

2011-06-18 10:18 AM
in reply to: #3555457

Subject: RE: Race specific Bike choice advice
i would go with the road bike.  i hope you practiced your invisible aero bar technique.  
2011-06-18 11:49 AM
in reply to: #3555463


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Subject: RE: Race specific Bike choice advice
I agree this is the logical choice. Just hate to leave the race bike home on race day. And no, i haven't practiced my invisoaero technique.
2011-06-18 1:07 PM
in reply to: #3555457

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Champion
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Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia
Subject: RE: Race specific Bike choice advice
How many is lots of 180's? I did a race last year with 8 180's and 48 sharp 90's and never regretted having my tribike. My road bike likely would have been slightly faster in the slower portions of the course but my tribike is much faster in the faster portions of the course.

Of course, YMMV,

Shane
2011-06-18 1:36 PM
in reply to: #3555591

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Subject: RE: Race specific Bike choice advice
In my opinion, you have a race bike, ride the race bike.
2011-06-18 1:39 PM
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Subject: RE: Race specific Bike choice advice
Is the race draft legal? If no then take the tri bike.

2011-06-18 6:15 PM
in reply to: #3555591


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Subject: RE: Race specific Bike choice advice
gsmacleod - 2011-06-18 2:07 PMHow many is lots of 180's? I did a race last year with 8 180's and 48 sharp 90's and never regretted having my tribike. My road bike likely would have been slightly faster in the slower portions of the course but my tribike is much faster in the faster portions of the course. Of course, YMMV,Shane
Well,it will be an interesting observation. With 10 180's, numerous turns more than 90 degrees, traffic circles, fast 90's I think I made a good choice. Wish I hadn't given away my clipons. You can see the course on the DC tri site. It looks like a mess of spaghetti.
2011-06-18 6:22 PM
in reply to: #3555859

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Subject: RE: Race specific Bike choice advice
couch2kona - 2011-06-18 8:15 PM

Well,it will be an interesting observation. With 10 180's, numerous turns more than 90 degrees, traffic circles, fast 90's I think I made a good choice. Wish I hadn't given away my clipons. You can see the course on the DC tri site. It looks like a mess of spaghetti.


Just looked at the course map; I would ride my tribike without question.

Shane
2011-06-18 6:36 PM
in reply to: #3555457

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Subject: RE: Race specific Bike choice advice
I did a sprint this morning. 3 loop, 3 miles each, crit style race with fairly steep rollers filled with novice riders it the left lane. I did the race last year and rode most of the race with one arm in the aerobars and one on the brakes. This year I thought I would be faster on my road bike (carbon fiber Soloist) then my tri-bike (P2). I was 2 minutes slower on the road bike. My wife beat me this year by 2 minutes but was 1 second slower than me last year when I rode the P2. I will never make this mistake again and have a long time to regret and think about it.   Tri-bikes are a better ride for most races.
2011-06-18 8:56 PM
in reply to: #3555457

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Subject: RE: Race specific Bike choice advice
The easiest way to determine this in any race is to look at the pro/elite bike rack.  Do what they do...and almost always...it will be tri bike.
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