Considering doing a 70.3(Rev 3 Knoxville) on my S5. Done all previous races on P3 or P4. Can a road bike be easily converted and maintain comfort with clip ons. I feel more comfortable on road bike on hilly courses. Opinions please.
A few thoughts:
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The S5 has a lot of stack, you might have trouble getting as low as you want
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The S5 does not have a forward seatpost position (the forward hole is normal, not ‘forward’) so you may have trouble getting a steep enough effective seat tube angle. An Adamo saddle would help there.
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The S5 is a very aero frame, so IF you can get in your preferred position, it will be fast, assuming you use an aero cockpit, but that might negate what makes a road bike more comfortable for you.
What exactly makes you more comfortable on hilly courses on the road bike? Is it the comfort climbing, or the handling on descents? Is it the drop bars? Is it because you don’t ride the TT bike a lot and you aren’t used to how it handles? Is it the brakes or cockpit on the TT bike that is uncomfortable?
Generally I would recommend fixing the handling issue on the TT bike, either via practice, or finding a cockpit that has a solid “on the hoods” position and good braking, so you can descend just as confidently as with your road bike, climb just as comfortably, yet get aero on the flat parts.
This might mean upturned extensions for the brakes, aerobars that don’t angle down, maybe better brake levers if braking is a problem.
etc. The P3/P4 should handle technical courses exceptionally well if set up properly and you ride them a lot to get used to them.
I will attempt to transform my S5 into a tt bike for this summer
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I will attempt to transform my S5 into a tt bike for this summer
Why?
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I will attempt to transform my S5 into a tt bike for this summer
Why?
Because I will do a few longer distance race that will be flat, and I can’t afford a Triathlon specific bike
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I have an S5 which I use for tris including 70.3 - its also my road bike. I use the Profile Designs T2 bars, clipped under the 3T Ergonova’s and without the forearm pads - the Ergonovas have double tape and are more than wide enough. I’m no expert but I think this is a good bike for the purpose you’ve outlined.
I will attempt to transform my S5 into a tt bike for this summer
Why?
Seemed to work just fine for Tom
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I will attempt to transform my S5 into a tt bike for this summer
Why?
Because, set up properly, it’s probably faster than a P3.
The thing that people lose sight of I think, in this whole “I’m more comfortable on my road bike” approach is:
If you set the road bike up properly for going fast, its going to end up even less comfortable than a proper tri bike by some small degree just due to handling a bit goofy.
There is a continuum from:
full road bike setup (slowest, most comfortable)
roadbike with clipons added (faster, maybe)
roadbike with clipons, lower stem, forward seat post (faster, starts to handle funny)
roadbike with all of the above and full aero cockpit (just as fast as a tri bike, but just as ‘uncomfortable’, but handles a bit worse)
Either you figure out how to make a fast setup comfortable, or you do not. Whether you have a road frame or a tri frame doesn’t make much difference. If you just need standard road bars to descend comfortably, put them on your tri bike maybe. The idea that tri frames can’t corner or climb is 99% in your head or due to a bad position/setup.
I’m probably not explaining this clearly, but I tried.
The thing that people lose sight of I think, in this whole “I’m more comfortable on my road bike” approach is:
If you set the road bike up properly for going fast, its going to end up even less comfortable than a proper tri bike by some small degree just due to handling a bit goofy.
There is a continuum from:
full road bike setup (slowest, most comfortable)
roadbike with clipons added (faster, maybe)
roadbike with clipons, lower stem, forward seat post (faster, starts to handle funny)
roadbike with all of the above and full aero cockpit (just as fast as a tri bike, but just as ‘uncomfortable’, but handles a bit worse)
Either you figure out how to make a fast setup comfortable, or you do not. Whether you have a road frame or a tri frame doesn’t make much difference. If you just need standard road bars to descend comfortably, put them on your tri bike maybe. **The idea that tri frames can’t corner or climb is 99% in your head or due to a bad position/setup. **
I’m probably not explaining this clearly, but I tried.
No I get it…it’s never something I would WANT to do but if I could only afford one bike, the S5 would be the best of all available options in terms of a “combo” setup I think.
If you get good at it, handling a tri bike should present no issues. Road bikes are a little more “nimble” I think but rarely, if ever, does one require that in triathlons.
I’d much rather use a road bike for both that a tri bike for both. Just wouldn’t be too thrilled with a tri bike set up as a road bike blasting down tight switchbacks or in a crit. Its not that It can’t be done but for conditions where I’m right on my limits of sliding out I want everything perfect.
I think I read somewhere that the S5 is faster than the P3 (all things being equal - ie setup being close to identical for both). I dont know too much about the subject, but I wondered what your thoughts were. I believe Tom has had some first hand knowledge about this. The S5 in a more tri specific setup is faster…just handles poorly?
Yep, the frame is more aero than the P3. The s5 frame is about on par with the P4.
So, IF you can set it up for your preferred TT position (Tom managed to, with an ergo stem and adamo saddle I believe) then it is a very fast TT bike.
Handles poorly is subjective. People like Tom and I tend not to notice, some people do. The terrain you tend to bike on may influence whether this is a big issue, as well.
For people who are forced into pretty upright TT positions due to injury, or something, the S5 is a great frame choice. You won’t need to be forward, you will benefit from the high stack, and it will handle great.
I think I read somewhere that the S5 is faster than the P3 (all things being equal - ie setup being close to identical for both). I dont know too much about the subject, but I wondered what your thoughts were. I believe Tom has had some first hand knowledge about this. The S5 in a more tri specific setup is faster…just handles poorly?
Jack,
Excellent points.
Based observatiosn I have made now at a number of large Ironman Races and 70.3 events people should maybe just ride the S5 set up as a road bike. I know, blasphemy, but read on - http://stevefleck.blogspot.ca/2011/11/triathlon-on-road-bike.html
I often wonder why so many people are sitting up. Even when its a little breezy you see a ton of people of the aerobars. Is it just comfort, are they spooked by gusts of winds hitting deep wheels deep frames, something else.
At any rate I think thats one reason anyone who is planning to drop a lot of money on a deep set of wheels should rent/borrow first.
When I was a total noob, first half ironman, I was sitting up because I hadn’t ridden my tri bike enough to know if I had a comfortable position.
So, it turned out I didn’t. Felt ok for an hour, but not two. So was sitting up a lot at the end. Had nothing to do with the deep wheels.
I imagine it is just lack of preparation for most people, but in terms of training IN the aerobars and making sure that your aerobar position is sustainable.
Done a few of races though that were really windy that scared some people out of them for sure though.
Your observation isn’t wrong… having “raced” and watched a number of Ironman races you’ll find the vast majority of riders who take over 6 hours are riding a lot of the second half of the bike leg out of the aero position. Their backs and legs are just not prepared for 6 1/2 to 7 hours of aero riding. As people pop up out of the aero position late in the race they negate most of the benefits of their fancy aero try bike.
I agree with you - why not use a the most aero road bike possible and get comfortable on it if you aren’t going to have the flexibility and core strength for a 6+ hour aero position ride. The fastest I ever went at ironman was on a straight up road bike with clip-ons… but that was also when I was younger and skinnier!
I of course prefer the contrary view:
Rather than use the bike more suited to not being prepared for the race, prepare yourself for the race!
If you can’t prepare yourself for the race, do a different race you can prepare for!
Of course if you are just doing these things to complete them and see the scenery, then by all means do not worry about any of this stuff and just get a comfy fun bike.
Your observation isn’t wrong… having “raced” and watched a number of Ironman races you’ll find the vast majority of riders who take over 6 hours are riding a lot of the second half of the bike leg out of the aero position. Their backs and legs are just not prepared for 6 1/2 to 7 hours of aero riding. As people pop up out of the aero position late in the race they negate most of the benefits of their fancy aero try bike.
I agree with you - why not use a the most aero road bike possible and get comfortable on it if you aren’t going to have the flexibility and core strength for a 6+ hour aero position ride. The fastest I ever went at ironman was on a straight up road bike with clip-ons… but that was also when I was younger and skinnier!
have you seen an Ironman race lately? How many of the swimmers are actually prepared for a 2.4 mile swim… let alone how many are ready for the 112mile ride?
someone should come out with a jacked up stem, forward seat, giant bento box bike that is actually better suited to 7+ hour finishers so they don’t all try to cram themselves into bikes that their bodies aren’t ready for… hahaha.
oh wait… that is kinda what the new Shiv is.
I of course prefer the contrary view:
Rather than use the bike more suited to not being prepared for the race, prepare yourself for the race!
If you can’t prepare yourself for the race, do a different race you can prepare for!
Of course if you are just doing these things to complete them and see the scenery, then by all means do not worry about any of this stuff and just get a comfy fun bike.
have you seen an Ironman race lately? How many of the swimmers are actually prepared for a 2.4 mile swim… let alone how many are ready for the 112mile ride?
Ian,
Careful, now you are getting into that danger-zone of common sense, rational thought and reality! 
As I said in the blog, yes, in a perfect world a certain cohort of triathletes would be faster on a triathlon bike. I’m not here to argue that. My point was, what’s 10 - 15 minutes in a 12 hour or more day? I was looking at it like someone in a sportif or gran fondo - it’s more a question of philosophy, but also, one of comfort and bike handling.
By all means ride the TT/Tri bike, but if you are not going to use that bike to it’s fullest potential . . . . .