Forgive me, been outta the sport for a while. Doing my first race in 4 years next weekend. I have Bontrager Hilo tri shoes that I use all the time, but I also have a pair of Bontrager ballistas with the boa in the back so to the eyeball they are super aero. I’ve used them for tris in the past and can put them on while riding so they won’t cost me any time in transition. Obviously you’d need a wind tunnel to know for sure, but what do you think the approx time savings of the road shoe would be over 90k? If it’s 5-10 sec, it’s not worth it. 30sec? Then I’d for sure wanna wear them
It’s a guess. I’d go with the shoe that makes me feel like I’m putting out more power.
I’ve tested shoes that were designed to be more aero and they were not. I’ve tested what I thought were going to be slow shoes and they were not.
Hope that helps
I’d go with a tri shoes, because they offer me more cushioning (no socks), it’s easier to mount onto them and remove your shoes from them (velcro strap) and they offer some water drainage hole (beneficial in the first 5 minutes after swimming).
It comes down to how you use them. If you are a shoe in pedal flying mount type athlete, a tri shoe is a no brainer, if you are walk/running in the shoe to the line, then it comes down to comfort and performance for you individually…
Here is our test of the Bontrager Ballista vs. the Shimano TR9 and others. The TR9 is similar to the Hilo, but not exactly, so take the results with a grain of salt. Last shape can make a big difference. Also, pedaling style can affect results.
Seems like 30sec. is about right for a 70.3.
The drainage holes are for water?! Oh…
The drainage holes are for water?! Oh…
Someone frequents r/BicyclingCirclejerk I see… LOL
Forgive me, been outta the sport for a while. Doing my first race in 4 years next weekend. I have Bontrager Hilo tri shoes that I use all the time, but I also have a pair of Bontrager ballistas with the boa in the back so to the eyeball they are super aero. I’ve used them for tris in the past and can put them on while riding so they won’t cost me any time in transition. Obviously you’d need a wind tunnel to know for sure, but what do you think the approx time savings of the road shoe would be over 90k? If it’s 5-10 sec, it’s not worth it. 30sec? Then I’d for sure wanna wear them
Tri shoes are made for triathlons. Rubber band the shoes, leave them open and slip into them sockless and race. Use them in training and get used to it. They are made for triathlons. Running through transition in road shoes is doable, but not efficient.
surely it’s not just how aero it is. A trishoe won’t be as rigid as a proper road shoe and so possibly some more effort to compensate for that also. Offset by time saved in transition of course. I fiddled with boa at last race and probably lost any gains I had from wearing road shoes…
For long distance, i have very few athletes using tri shoes. Everyone as move to road shoes. I think it s well worth investing time into been good at putting the road shoes on quickly in transition and have the best shoes that fit you well for such a long distance.
Tri shoes: olympic distance or shorter
Anything longer: road shoes.