Could it be a poor fit on the SC that's causing a lack in ability to comfortably push?

do you (does she) have a power meter?

This is a great reason to learn the Chung method / aerolab.

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She feels very comfortable on SC and basically never comes off the aerobars during the race. That being said, since this is her first year on TT/Tri bike the fitter mostly copied her road fit from AR (she also has mini clip-ons on AR).

AR does, but SC is not yet (in the mail :-)

There's no way the SC isn't more aero. It's possible the gearing difference is nicking a little off the average speed potential of the Speed Concept in certain circumstances, but it can't entirely account for a 22 vs <21 mph difference. Some possible explanations:

-AR3 average speed is in a draft pack?
-Course/weather comps aren't relevant
-She's just not putting out as much power on the SC

Also, at 5'9", I'd definitely be looking at shorter cranks for the SC. Shimano now has R7000 105's in 160mm length. While you're at it, change from 50/34 to a 52/36.

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"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

She isn't properly fit on the Speed Concept.

you did not see a real bike fitter

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Could be ... I just added a picture.

Road bike with clip ons vs. TT bike isn't that huge an aerodynamic delta. The TT bike should have the potential to be faster, but a lot of other factors can mask that delta. Are you being careful to really compare apples to apples (21mph vs. 22 mph on the exact same course in the same condition, while putting out the same watts). As another poster mentioned, this is where some Chung method aero testing can be important. That all said, you don't really need to aero test to know the TT bike has the potential to be faster. It is almost certainly some combo of:

-) Her position is worse on the TT bike
-) Her power is worse on the TT bike

I would just focus on improving those two things and the rest should take care of itself.

ETA: I would double check that there isn't something dumb like a dragging brake.

Just added a picture ...

He said they just copied her road fit which is exactly what it looks like they did.

and that's stupid

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“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”

that's really bad.

that's what I call a "bike shop fit" or a "kitchen table fit". As in, you just sat down in a chair at the kitchen table and just leaned forward on your elbows to grab a knife and fork.

That said, this has no relevance as to why she's supposedly faster on her obviously slower road bike. It could be less power, weather, road conditions, etc. It's NOT because the Felt is faster than the SC.

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Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”

I'm not a fitter, but that fit doesn't look fast. Do you have a picture of her on the road bike doing a TT. My bet is she looks better there.

Another comment from someone that is not a fitter but copying a road bike fit into a TT bike doesn't sound like the right way to go

22mph average and elite?

Also, that fit does look quite terrible. Also, Alistair Brownlee once said in an interview he gets more power out of his regular bike than his TT bike. Slightly different muscle use or a different ratio of muscles used can make all the difference in the world.

ya that is not a tri fit at all. a kitchen table would be faster than that position.

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The fit is an issue but I imagine she is having a difference in power also and has not really learned "how" to ride the bike yet.

To those asking about the gearing and questioning her being elite - he notes that she is on JR gears and its his daughter, most likely she is under 18 years of age still. It wouldn't be legal for her to change the gears around and I would venture to say a female under 18 that is able to maintain that speed (although distance/elevation isn't mentioned) would be fairly "elite".

The bike fit on the SC is shit. So much more room for improvement:

- A better seat that allows her hips to rotate forward (eg: ISM PN3.0). She's sitting on the SC like she's riding a road bike.
- More pad x
- Less pad y
- Get her head DOWN.
- shorter cranks 165 mm or less

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we shouldn't even say that... this is not a fit that can be "improved". They need to completely start over.

It's like being asked how to improve a house and being shown a picture of a panther.... it just doesn't compute.

But yes, the saddle is always the key to a good bike fit.

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Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”

She has a 52T chainring on the other bike with the same "junior" cassette. Apparently that combo meets the rollout limitations, at least with a 23c rear tire. I'd certainly want to see as much top end as legally possible on a TT/tri bike.

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"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

You are right - she is 15, rated top 30 nationally last year

Yea it does - when I was racing JR's we would get away with a 53 x 14 and some 23 rear tires and not much air pressure in them. It was always questionable by the Ref but it measured close enough and they were always rushed to get through the riders so they typically didn't fuss about it.

That is fantastic! Congratulations and its good to see she has interest in the sport and you are doing everything to help nurture that!