I am in the market for my first dedicated tri bike and would like some input on which bikes will fit. I know I need to go to a good fitter, but different fitters carry different brands and I want to narrow the field of bikes before I schedule a sizing/fitting.
As background, I am 6"3", 210 lbs. w/long femurs requiring a fairly upright position when fit by FIST parameters. I just finished my first IM (Ultramax) and plan on doing Couer D'Alene in 06. For the last few years, I have ridden my Moots road bike with aero bars. It is a 59 cm w/ a 58cm top tube and a 17.1 cm head tube. When riding it aero, I use a no setback post w/ the saddle all the way forward to get a 76 degree effective seat tube angle. I use a shorter (10 cm ) stem w/ the aero bars (than the 12cm in road position), approx. one inch of spacers, and a one inch riser under my Syntace bars. The bars sit behind the handle bars. The arm pads are about an inch to an inch and a half below my seat. Pretty comfortable, but I want something dedicated.
As everyone recommends, I have started my bike search by reviewing geometry charts. A Litespeed Saber is the only bike I have seen with both a relatively short cockpit (57cm top tube in a 59) and a tall head tube of 18 cm. Fit aside, I have a serious lust for a Calfee Luna;however, a 58 has a 58 cm top tube and only 13.3 cm head tube (a 2 cm extension is available).
A few questions:
1. With a steeper seat angle on a tri bike, is it appropriate to compare top and head tube length to my road bike? If not, what adjustments should I make in my thinking?
2. Is the Calfee a possibility? If not, are there any other bikes that have tall head tubes like the Litespeed? I prefer carbon or Ti.
I find this procees very intimidating and would appreciate some input.
Thanks a lot.
As background, I am 6"3", 210 lbs. w/long femurs requiring a fairly upright position when fit by FIST parameters. I just finished my first IM (Ultramax) and plan on doing Couer D'Alene in 06. For the last few years, I have ridden my Moots road bike with aero bars. It is a 59 cm w/ a 58cm top tube and a 17.1 cm head tube. When riding it aero, I use a no setback post w/ the saddle all the way forward to get a 76 degree effective seat tube angle. I use a shorter (10 cm ) stem w/ the aero bars (than the 12cm in road position), approx. one inch of spacers, and a one inch riser under my Syntace bars. The bars sit behind the handle bars. The arm pads are about an inch to an inch and a half below my seat. Pretty comfortable, but I want something dedicated.
As everyone recommends, I have started my bike search by reviewing geometry charts. A Litespeed Saber is the only bike I have seen with both a relatively short cockpit (57cm top tube in a 59) and a tall head tube of 18 cm. Fit aside, I have a serious lust for a Calfee Luna;however, a 58 has a 58 cm top tube and only 13.3 cm head tube (a 2 cm extension is available).
A few questions:
1. With a steeper seat angle on a tri bike, is it appropriate to compare top and head tube length to my road bike? If not, what adjustments should I make in my thinking?
2. Is the Calfee a possibility? If not, are there any other bikes that have tall head tubes like the Litespeed? I prefer carbon or Ti.
I find this procees very intimidating and would appreciate some input.
Thanks a lot.