Can anyone please give me their thoughts about the ride quality of the new Blue T14? Suitable for IMs? Have found some info on ST by doing a search and I have noticed that a few STers have them. Hopefully by now someone may have put in some decent road time on one. Speedy??
I live in Japan and have seen a frame at the recent Tokyo Bike show and though it looked great. Am looking for a new bike for IMs and the T14 is on my short list. Decent options for a new tri bikes are very limited here (or outrageously expensive), guess the market is not big enough.
I have a T-12 that rides great. I switched over to it after riding a Ti frame for the past 4 years. I have not done any IM training on it yet but have gone for a few 3.5-4 hour rides and it is every bit as comfortable as any bike I’ve ever ridden. There are differences in the geometry between the two bikes (you can ride a few degrees steeper with the T-14 but I have the seat in the most forward position on my T-12 so I’m riding about 78 degrees) but the frame material and carbon stays, seatpost and fork are the same so once you’re fitted on the bike I wouldn’t think that you would notice much difference in ride quality between the two.
It could be said I’m biased… I can give you a few email addresses of IM athletes who used the T14 at Kona & IM FL if it helps? If you want them, PM me & I’ll send them to you.
The longest race I have done with the T14 was Muskoka. For me, the stiff carbon chain stays provided efficient power transfer & the supple carbon seat stays helped preserve the legs for the run.
Thanks Speedy and Al, am just looking for some insight from someone in the know before I go take a second look at a T14 after work today. Even just the fact that they have been used in Kona and IMFL is enough for me.
Speedy - I think I know where you are coming from about the chain stays, as their website mentioned extra carbon layering there for stiffness. Am not convinced that I need a full carbon bike (even if I could afford one here) and this bike seems to be a good compromise over an affordable bike such as a Felt S22 that only has carbon seat stays, fork and seat post.
Think I can get one with an aero set up and wheels for about US$4,000 which is good deal in an expensive place to shop for bikes like Japan. And I prefer the idea of dealing with an LBS, over getting one off the 'net and having it shipped here.
A friend of mine used it at IMFL last month - the same friend that Speedy is referring to - and he absolutely loved it. I rode with him quite a bit all summer in training, and he had nothing but good things to say about the bike.
The best compliment? After the IM bike leg, he was not sick of the bike!
I’m not an expert on carbon, but… Carbon in it’s raw form is a fabric, kinda like silk. How many layers, what brand/type of fiber, how each layer is oriented, the resin used, the moulding process & the shape will determine it’s physical properties i.e. stiff vs. supple.
Astroman,
I rode a 2006 T-12 (pretty much the same frame) for IM Lake Placid and all my training leading up to it. While I haven’t experienced the ride of full carbon or ti tri frames and can’t really comment on the marketing hype that talks of stiffness or suppleness due to the carbon stays, I can say that the bike feels fast.
I didn’t ever think about the need for a more “comfortable” bike during the IM or any of the training leading up to it so I guess that’s a good thing. It’s a bike, not a couch…I really don’t get all the comfort talk, you wanna save your legs for the run, ride easy, I’m not sure carbon this or that will do that for you.
I rode it steep with the saddle in the foward most position and my Arione Tri pushed all the way up on the rails, handled fine in all condidtions.
Bottom line, if you buy the T-14 you’ll never be able to blame the bike for a slow ride, plus as you said, it’s a sweet looking frame.
I have quite a few pics of the T14 on my website’s photo gallery www.rollingthundercanada.com. Feel free to browse & if you have any questions about what you see, just ask. I will do my best to answer.
I do not have the T-14 (yet), but rode my T-12 at The Canadian Half Iron. I had just received the bike a few weeks before the race, and due to lack of time I was only able to put about 40k on the bike before the race. I was coming off a full aluminum frame onto the T-12 with the rear carbon stays. I definetly noticed a difference in the ride quality. I found some reserve energy on the run too, maybe due to the bike ride, maybe not? It was a flat bike course, but I did post my fastest bike split ever.
The T-14 has some cosmetic changes, different seat tube angle, along with other revamps. One of my favorite improvements is the new cable guides.
I ride a T-12 right now and am planning on moving to a T-14 next year. I have been riding the T-12 for the past 18 months and can say that it is a fine ride up to and including IM distance. Myself I was riding up to the cottage at least once a month last year which was just over 210K w/ about 4000 feet of climbing and I had no problem going for my 5 mile run afterwards.
This past Sept. I was @ Interbike and I got to ride all the high-end stuff that was there - I rode the T14 as much as I could because I knew that I was planning on buying one this coming season but mainly because it was fun!!! That and riding their Blue cyclocross bike was a blast! The only complaint I would have about the Blue booth was their decided lack of booth babes - they had the reps from all over North America working and these guys look REALLY bad in a short skirt and halter top!
In my humble opinion, the combination of carbon and aluminum is a great ride and a great deal for someone who doesn't want to drop $10000 on their ride. Add in a pair on Hed trispokes and you're good to go!