Road bike vs tri bike

David,

I just went through the same predicament (sp?). The geometry of a tri bike works your quads and saves your hammies for the run, whereas a road bike will make more use of your hamstrings during the ride. When I went on my first ride on a dedicated tri bike (after riding a road bike for a few months) I was surprised by how much my quads burned. Its really a tremendous difference.

I took my Cannondale road bike into the shop and had them explain how I could convert it to a tri bike. After hearing the pro's and cons, I decided to keep my road bike as is and purchase a tri bike. Having both is an advantage since I do like to participate in group rides.

There are some articles out there that explain all the differences between a tri bike and road bike, and if you search through some of the threads here, you'll probably find a few.

Good luck.

Look at the Cervelo Dual. It will allow you to switch the seatpost to get the benifit of either road or tri geometry depending on what you feel like riding.

As you already have a road which you use for training, you would profit largely by getting a tri specific bike for triathlons. A good tri bike offers a more aerodynamic position which allows you to expend less energy on the bike leg. The bottom bracket is set farther back, which sets the center of gravity back thereby enhancing the steering when you are in the aero bars (when you put clip-ons on a road bike, the weight is thrown over the front making the balance a bit precarious). Also, as has already been said, you use different muscles which allows you to remain a bit fresher for the run leg.
If, on the other hand you opt for a combination road/tri bike, the Soloist is a great bike. Review at this site: http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/soloist.shtml
PS. The P2K also has the seat post that switches from road to tri geometry.

WOW..That article recomended by MACHIAVELO is really worth the time ...

Hey, I just posted this in the products section, but it looks like the experts are all hanging here....

Need a little help here, I am new ti the sport, and am in a bit of a quandry as far as my bike goes. I have a high quality hardtail MTB that I have been using for the past year for trail riding. I can't afford a new bike (although the new Cervello looks sooooooo sweet), so I was thinking........change to some road tires, loose the excess weight (trail pump, light ect), a set of cow horn bars and some aero clip ons. Anyone see any major problems that I am missing? The bike fits me very well, and I don't see myself doing anything more than a sprint or maybe an olympis distance in the forseeable future. Anty advice will be appreciated.

You guys have any idea if this seatpost are sold separetly?  Or any other reversible seatpost?

will race for beer,

Sounds like you're talking about spending $300-$400 on handlebar, aerobars, tires, etc. After all that is installed, you will still have a pimped out "high quality hardtail MTB," not a tri bike, heavier, more rolling resistance, and inappropriate geometry. If it were me, I'd save my nickels for a while and buy a dedicated tri-bike, or at least a roadie.

Or, maybe look into doing some off-road tris?

I think you will be fine, get some slicks and go for it, at this point until you do a tri wait to see what you need.

I would also save to buy a Road or Tri bike once you see if you like the sport.

I think that an Oly would be a little long for mountain bike, but you will have nothing but fun doing a sprint.

I don't know if you have been out to any of your local races, but I find that is a great way to see what is out there.

You can talk to some people that have mountain bikes and get an idea what works and what doesn't.

Most tri athletes are more then willing to share there experiences and give an opinion

Have fun..

Roy

I though about the off-road tri's, even went and watched one of the EXTERRA events, looks like it would be a kick in the britches, might tri it after I do a sprint or 2. Here in the inland valleys of San Diego, there are plenty of places to train!

david

I agree with Machiavelo on benifiting from owning both road and tri specitic bikes, even if for different reasons, having both bikes would allow you to be ready for any triathlon course, what makes for good aero on a tt makes for dificult climbing and corning, with both types of bikes you could handle any course that presents itself

Thanks for all the replies. I will go ahead with the tribike although the Cervelo soloist really caught my interest.

Thanks again

It would make a **** load of money if a bike company could make a snap on handle bar set for road style handlebars or tri style bars with easy to connect cables sorta like the cables that connect your tv. On a bike with a steep seat tube angle but not tri or road geometry.

Edited by silent 2004-07-16 1:22 PM

Beer guy,

It's my first season, and all I had in the garage was a cheapo MTB. I put on the slickest road tires ($40), toe clips ($12), a computer ($35), and had the whole thing tuned up ($75). I have been quite happy with the result- the speed is vastly improved and my bike leg has been in the top 25% in both of my races.

The downside: it 'aint as fast as what most of your fellow racers will be riding. The largest gear isn't large enough, so you'll just have to tuck going down hills and coast. Plus, you will not be able to hide your bike envy in the transition area!

IMHO you will be happy for a season or two of sprint/OLY with a modified MTB, but if you stick with the sport you will want to get a road or tri bike.

How did you like the MTB Bars? I was thinking about a set of clip on Aero bars as well, but I am not sure if they will help much due to the geometry. Any other suggestions would be appreciated,

------------------------------------------
If you want I can send you a pix of my Trek 4500 MTB that I ride in Tri fat-tire division. I’ve added aero bars, lower resistance but heavy road/trail tires and a 12-23 cog set. So far I did one sprint at 18.9 mph, and one Olympic at 17.9 mph. May not be the best setup for all out oomph, but I am in a fat-tire division so it works out. The Aero bars stay on now all the time, even when trail riding, it takes a few minutes to change out tires. I don’t notice the cog diff on trail riding, I now just actually use the smaller front chain rings more. For me it was a decision between a full suspension MTB and/or a Tri-bike, or a 100 year anniversary Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom Sportster, the HD won out this year :-)

Don

Yes, please send a pic to [email protected] I was beginning to think the the MTB in a tri was crazy, glad I'm not the only one in this boat......BTW, congrats on the Sportster

im in the market for a Tri bike and willprobably get the Cervelo t3 or t2k,
i currently have a hardtail MTB with slicks, i did my first tri, an oly with my MTB, can in last in my class on the bike but had the best time ever. a tri bike is the only way to go.

Good luck, buy it once or buy it twice, spend the money now. not later

I love road bikes. I pass a lot of big $ tri bikes. Road bike are a lot more comfortable and it is good to have one for training. Because I am a long didstance guy I think a road bike is better for me and the more experience you have in cycling the less the bike actually matters.

Charlie

They do sell the seatposts by themselves. http://www.tri-zone.com/Catalog/BigTHSSB.html