I’m doing the Donner Lake international Tri this weekend. The ride is basically one really steep climb (over the summit), then a 9 mile fast gradual descent, then turn around and do it in reverse (long gradual climb, fast technical descent). I climb a lot better on my road bike, and its “geared” better for this race…but have always used my tri-bike in races. Would anyone leave the tri-bike at home given this ride profile? (tri-bike= P2SL, carbon orbea opal)
We need more information what is your definition of really steep. If your from florida that could mean a 20 foot incline in a mile. How fast do you expect to go up the hill?
Grant
Road bike - end of story.
a quick search of this cool website called www.google.com yielded me the information that donner lake is not in florida.
its very steep…bout 1000 feet in 2 miles.
i was leaning toward roadbike this year…its just that on the gradual descent you can fly in the aero position…but the whole rest of the race is a climb…and the last descent is too steep for me personally to be on my bars.
a quick re-read would show you that i said to the OP…
if YOU are from florida. Not if the race is in florida.
Grant
Grant, shut up! Erik WINS!
paula, take a hike. Grant wins. Erik didnt get out of 1st grade reading and comp
IF you take a dump right before the bike ride you will go up faster
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Can you swap cassettes so that you have better gearing on the tri bike?
the Outlaw speaks!!
IF you take a dump right before the bike ride you will go up faster
Are you saying that I wasted money on my new spiffy Zero Gravity brakes?
tried to switch to a 12-27, but had some technical difficulties…so im if i ride the cervelo, im stuck with 11-23. The orbea has compact cranks so the gearing is definitely better
Christ just ride the damn Orbea already.
so you’re saying you would ride the road bike?
I’d go with the road bike, personally. You climb better (your words, and me too) and I most definitely descend better if a technical descent.
But, this is ST - I think you need to sell the Orbea and get the best of both worlds: a Cervelo Soloist SL decked out with Zero G, etc. The aero frame and 3 lbs you loose will certainly give the needed extra seconds to podium! 
Just got back from our hill ride tonight and was thinking about how much easier climbing is on my road bike than my old P2K.
Personally, I’d go with the road bike.