TTrider331 wrote:
Hello - first post here, I hope it's okay to bring up this old thread but I figured this was an appropriate one. I'm on the verge of buying a SystemSix and have done a lot of research; the bike looks incredible. I'm wondering how this bike would fair to dual purpose as a TT frame, switching out the cockpit (and wheels) on race day.
My TT saddle position is basically identical to my road bike saddle position with a lot of setback and me requiring a lot of arm pad stack. Fit wise I would imagine this could be better for me than a regular TT frame. My question is will this frame be significantly slower than a full fledged TT frame, take the SuperSlice as an example? Or will it likely just be two or three watt loss? My target races are likely to sustain speeds of around ~29-32mph.
For reference I am pretty serious about time trialing, to remain semi anonymous I got top ten at TT nationals and top ten at Grand Fondo Worlds TT, with a target of winning both in the future.
my instinct tells me that you have better options available. 2 things come to mind. first, you're a very strong rider, and you therefore take this seriously. nobody that i know who's really good time trials in the same saddle position as his road bike, and with a high front end. that's how we started. in the beginning of 1987, when we first got the aerobars and no one knew how to use them. we had them figured out by the end of 1987. so, notwithstanding your palmares, i question whether there's a better position available for you, simply based on 30+ years of evolution.
second, there is not going to be any cockpit switching on that bike. there could be cockpit adding, that is, you put an aerobar on the road bike. but not on that bike. so, you'd take off the front end. but that bike has hydraulic brakes, no? you're going to disconnect the hydraulic brake line, take the front end off, replace it, and reconnect and bleed the brakes? for your TT? and then switch everything back? you can tell me what you think, but, i'm guessing not.
if you wanted to spend the SAME money, you could go to The Pro's Closet, right now, get a supersix evo, basically new bikes, the demo fleet, and have enough left over for a standalone TT bike. and then we'd work on your position here on the forum ;-)
Dan Empfield
aka Slowman