General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Road vs tri bike count Rss Feed  
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2018-04-15 3:33 PM


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Subject: Road vs tri bike count
I have searched but can’t find an answer. In your experiences and this is just my curiosity, once you get to the 70.3 and then 140.6 what is the bike split you see? Is it 50/50 at 70.3 and more tri than road at the full distance? Local sprints are probably 25% tri and the one Olympic is probably at least a third or few more tri. Just curious what you have seen out there.

Thanks

Edited by Sleepyluke 2018-04-15 3:43 PM


2018-04-15 5:16 PM
in reply to: Sleepyluke

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Regular
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East Wenatchee, Washington
Subject: RE: Road vs tri bike count
Originally posted by Sleepyluke

I have searched but can’t find an answer. In your experiences and this is just my curiosity, once you get to the 70.3 and then 140.6 what is the bike split you see? Is it 50/50 at 70.3 and more tri than road at the full distance? Local sprints are probably 25% tri and the one Olympic is probably at least a third or few more tri. Just curious what you have seen out there.

Thanks


Good question. Honestly, I've never really looked that closely at the entire bike rack. What I have noticed is what the top folks are riding as well as the top finishers in my age group. In both cases it is 100% time trial/tri bikes.
2018-04-15 6:21 PM
in reply to: lutzman

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Eugene, Oregon
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Subject: RE: Road vs tri bike count
At 70.3 Worlds, really almost 100% tri bikes. The only road bikes I've seen at such events are a few of the older age groupers who maybe have back issues and find a road bike more comfortable.
2018-04-16 2:16 PM
in reply to: Sleepyluke

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Champion
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Subject: RE: Road vs tri bike count

I've seen mountain bikes at 70.3 races.  Not often though.  

I'd say at least 50% of 140.6 riders are on tri bikes, and probably a good 30% of those are aero wheels and aero helmet as well.  

Are you looking for rationale to buy a tri-bike?  

My only HIM, I rode an old road bike with clip-on aero bars to a 20+ mph bike split.  "Old" as in 30-year-old bike with 6-speed downtube friction shifters old.  

I have a more modern road bike and an old tri-bike.  I've put 5000-6000 miles on each in the last 12 years.  They're almost interchangeable for me, and neither is the limiter of my race performance.  

2018-04-17 6:38 AM
in reply to: McFuzz


13

Subject: RE: Road vs tri bike count
Somewhat looking to buy. Mostly looking for better value vs fit. I have gotten a true fit and we are able to get my road bike into a close tri fit but it is 10 years old and needs it’s normal updates but I have a few hundred in the conversion and really need a couple hundred more in brackets and a new bar set to truly get the “right” tri position. As I do more tris than ride true road bike with friend type rides I am just trying to see better use of my money.

Newer bike looks to have better wheels and at least comparable drive train an with most tri bikes I have found a lot don’t get ridden that often so stretched cables are not as common yet for the 3-5 year old models.
2018-04-17 7:31 AM
in reply to: Sleepyluke

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Master
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Subject: RE: Road vs tri bike count
If you mainly train on a trainer and do triathlons, and rarely do group rides or cycling-only events like tours, then a tri bike is a good investment. If most of your riding is with other cyclists on group rides, then you'd probably be better served with a good road bike. One exception I didn't mention is for really hilly races--you might be better served in those cases by a road bike. If it's so hilly you're going to be out of aero much of the time anyway, then I don't really see the advantage of riding a tri bike. Maybe it's just my (lack of) riding experience or something about my fit or my body, but I'd feel more confident (and physically comfortable) handling a course with a lot of steep climbs and technical descents on my road bike. You do tend to see somewhat more road bikes in very hilly 70.3 and other long-distance events.


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