I'm getting back into tris after a decade of doing plenty of biking and running events but no swimming. Which means my tri bike is going to see some competitive action again after mostly gathering dust apart from a few training rides and a couple of TTs. So I'm wondering how much free speed I'm going to be giving away compared to current bikes, and whether it's enough to justify an upgrade. Fit isn't an issue, I had a good position 10 years ago and haven't put on any weight or lost any flexibility so it should still work well once I've logged some training miles to get used to it again, it's just equipment. Will be racing Oly and 70.3 distance.
With what I currently own the set up would be:
- 2005 (I think) QR Lucero. The original model. Has the basics covered like internal cabling, a clean front end, deep section frame, but none of the recent stuff like concealed brakes or fancy integrated stem/steerer
- Profile base bar (can't remember the model) with ski tip extensions
- Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbons which I'll shift over from my road bike. 45mm wheel depth, but the older model not the new wider one
- Bottle cages on the frame as well as one of the old school Profile aero bottles between the extensions
- Scott Cadence Plus helmet
- Some old, battered, not very aero but extremely comfortable Sidi road bike shoes
So what am I giving away to a modern optimised aero set up, and how close can I get without spending big money? Immediate thinking is:
- Dump the frame bottle cages, figure out a better BTA hydration solution, possibly supplemented with bottles behind the seat
- Treat myself to some more aero shoes (wife might not notice these amongst my enormous sports shoe collection...). Or will shoe covers get me the same or better aero savings anyway?
- Get a rear disc cover for the Mavics
- Maybe try some s-bend extensions?
- What else?
Would that get me in the ballpark or am I still giving up significant time? I can probably borrow/hire some deeper wheels for at least my A race if the watt savings justify it. Can't really justify the spend on new wheels or bike in my first season back, particularly given that my wife has spent much of the last 10 years asking why I haven't sold the bike since I hardly ever use it, and I've insisted I'll get back on it one day!
I'm also assuming the bike is still safe to ride at that age, it's relatively low mileage, has never been crashed or dropped, and has always been stored in either the garage or the loft where it's out of direct sunlight and temperatures are pretty moderate. But if somebody can provide compelling evidence that old carbon bikes are an accident waiting to happen then at least I could use that to justify an upgrade on safety grounds. And the Lucero would look very pretty as wall art...
With what I currently own the set up would be:
- 2005 (I think) QR Lucero. The original model. Has the basics covered like internal cabling, a clean front end, deep section frame, but none of the recent stuff like concealed brakes or fancy integrated stem/steerer
- Profile base bar (can't remember the model) with ski tip extensions
- Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbons which I'll shift over from my road bike. 45mm wheel depth, but the older model not the new wider one
- Bottle cages on the frame as well as one of the old school Profile aero bottles between the extensions
- Scott Cadence Plus helmet
- Some old, battered, not very aero but extremely comfortable Sidi road bike shoes
So what am I giving away to a modern optimised aero set up, and how close can I get without spending big money? Immediate thinking is:
- Dump the frame bottle cages, figure out a better BTA hydration solution, possibly supplemented with bottles behind the seat
- Treat myself to some more aero shoes (wife might not notice these amongst my enormous sports shoe collection...). Or will shoe covers get me the same or better aero savings anyway?
- Get a rear disc cover for the Mavics
- Maybe try some s-bend extensions?
- What else?
Would that get me in the ballpark or am I still giving up significant time? I can probably borrow/hire some deeper wheels for at least my A race if the watt savings justify it. Can't really justify the spend on new wheels or bike in my first season back, particularly given that my wife has spent much of the last 10 years asking why I haven't sold the bike since I hardly ever use it, and I've insisted I'll get back on it one day!
I'm also assuming the bike is still safe to ride at that age, it's relatively low mileage, has never been crashed or dropped, and has always been stored in either the garage or the loft where it's out of direct sunlight and temperatures are pretty moderate. But if somebody can provide compelling evidence that old carbon bikes are an accident waiting to happen then at least I could use that to justify an upgrade on safety grounds. And the Lucero would look very pretty as wall art...