Did the steep geometry time trial bike get invented to maximize speed/power or to save the hamstrings for running? In other words is the hamstring thing just a fringe benefit or did someone try to intentionally save the hammys and then realized “hey, this thing is also faster?” As a related point, what percentage of your riding do you do on traditional road geometry versus your triathlon bike?
"Ves Mandaric, born in April of 1956 in former Yugoslavia. Started MANDARIC Bicycles Co. 25 years ago - in 1976.
Plenty of research and work on finding better solutions for the frame geometry resulted in design of a frame with revolutionary new geometry. In 1981 I submitted a Patent Pending Application - for the “Geometry of Racing Bicycle Frame” - later known as “Upright seat tube geometry”.
I got the idea about tilting the Seat Tube forward from one simple reason - a pain in the ass from 2+ Hours of hectic pedaling at the 1979 100Km National Team Time Trial Championship: the last 15Km I set on the very peak of the saddle trying to pedal as fast as I could. The result? The team was in the first 5, but my “rear” was in pain.
My idea about the better geometry was to move forward (rotate) the Seat Tube along with the Handlebar position, around the Bottom Bracket, while maintaining the same proportion of those three parameters (BB/Saddle/Handlebar) - as on the road bike. That way the rider is allowed to use muscles more efficiantly, breath easier, and get into a more aero position. "
quoted from http://www.yaquiusa.com/about_us.html#behind 