Escape from Alcatraz: tri bike or road bike?

Haven't done the race, but this DC Rainmaker race report might be helpful:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/06/2012-escape-from-alcatraz-race-report.html

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/06/escape-from-alcatraz-gopro-bike-course.html

I can't help except to confuse the matter.

I raced it once with my TT bike, becuase when I race, I use my TT bike.  Period.

HOWEVER, I was on the hoods almost then entire time from the crowd to the hills.  The only time I had an real advantage was the long finishing straight down Marina Blvd.

I'm trying to decide if I'm bringing the road or TT bike as well for this go at it.

If I had equivalent road and tri bikes (in bike quality) I would pick the road bike hands down.

I may not have a nice road bike by the race so if that's the case I will be riding my tri bike.

I did the race last year and chose to rent a bike locally instead of bringing my tri bike.  I called and made the rental reservations the day after we got in and was able to rent myself a top of the line Trek Madone road bike and was thrilled with the result.

One reason folks prefer a road bike to a tri bike is handling, as road bikes are just easier to steer and maneuver on a tough course like that.  Any aerodynamic advantage to a tri bike position, even if you're not on the aero bars will be negated when you're sitting on the side of the road full of road rash.

Call and reserve your bike right now if you still want a decent selection!

I did the course on a road bike with shorties (think ITU aerobars).  This is the best thing to do hands down.  You can climb like a beast due to the geometry of the road bike and you can be in aero on the descents and any flats. 

It always amazes me the people that are willing to train and spend all this money and then waste it all away by renting a bike at a location.  Unless it is the EXACT same bike as yours and you bring your own saddle & pedals along with exact measurements to mimic your current set up, why the bother?

What is the swim like? I was there in June, a week before the race and we went out to Alcatraz. It was so windy and the chop was rough.

Aero bikes are aero because of the position YOU can get into...not the bike itself.  Many road bike frames are easily as aero as an aerobike frame...

I rented mine from Bike & Roll San Francisco.  It was a good experience and I was happy overall with my rental.  Pick up can be time consuming, even though they give you a window during which to pick up your rental.

Road Bike. I have done this race about 5 times. It is a climbing and bike handling exercise not really a time trial. Add some poor road conditions and you will be MUCH happier on your/a road bike.  Off the top of my head, there is only about  6 miles of flat in the 18 mile out and back course.

Another thing to keep an eye on this year is going to be the weather. The race is really early due to the Americas Cup schedule. It could be wet and cold. 

This... I used a road bike and there were portions that I wish I had shorty bars on it.

No they're called TT bikes/Tri bikes because of the position they enable.  They're aero by design.  My SC is more aero than my 1.2 whether I'm on my bullhorns or in my aerobars.  I can put aero-bars on the 1.2, and the SC will still be faster.  It has little to do with position.

Can you please clarify?  Because this make ZERO sense to me.

I can agree if you put the bikes alone in a wind tunnel, most TT bikes will be "faster".  Or more earo as a machine.

But "little to do with position"?  I can't disagree more.  If I'm in earo on my middle of the road alluminum Felt road bike, I should be faster than if I was sitting up and on the hoods of my Cervello P3.  It has everything to do with a rider's position and the balance between aero/power.

As for the OP.  I will probably go with my road bike.  From racing there before, I'm assuming the minimal gains I can make riding in earo in the rare instances I can (not in a crowd or climbing or braking after some of the descents) I can more than make up for being quicker on the shifting and braking in the crowds, the slightly more stable ride through the turns and bumps, etc.

If I was out front like the pros and didn't have much in my way, I would use the TT bike.  But in the mob scene of the main field, just my comfort level of being on the road bike with hands close to the shifters and brakes probably makes me just as fast.

A dedicated Tri Bike fit and a TT fit are actually different. Tri bike fit is about saving gas for the run. TT fit is about maxing out your power in the aero position with no concern for saving gas and you don't do that by resting any of your muscles. Nobody goes for a run after a TT. You might go for a puke and pass out, but not a run.

Unless you are in REALLY relaxed fit (and probably not even then) on your Tri bike there is NO WAY you can put down as much power on a hill climb as you could on a road bike. The rule of thumb I was told about the Tri bike/Road bike comparision was that any time you're in aero on a tri bike you're on a better bike than a road bike, and any time you're on the horns you'd be better off on a road bike.

So if you're feeling that you won't be spending much time in aero, go with a road bike with ITU style clip on aero bars. You'll be able to climb more efficiently and have more gas for the run.