For those of you that have both, does your road bike have a longer top tube length than your tri bike? Is there a general rule that road bike top tube should be longer? I am in process of getting new road bike. My tri has a 54 (C-C) TT with 76.5 seat angle but set up at 78 degrees. Is it safe to assume I could ride a road bike with same top tube length since I will use set back post thus lengthening the effective TT length?
Thanks,
Mike
Bump…someone out there must know the answer
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TT/Tri bikes almost always have a shorter effective top tube length since the key cockpit distance is where your elbow pads will be located and where your hands will rest on aerobar extensions. A road bike’s key cockpit distance is where your hands will sit on the brake hoods and drops. This distance is almost always longer than the distance required for aerobar riding.
Regardless of seat tube angle, the TT/Tri bike setup usually requires a shorter top tube. Even when converting a road bike to TT duty, most cyclists shorten the *effective *top tube by moving the saddle forward or shortening the stem or shortening the aerobar extensions, or some combination of all three.
Not a strict rule, of course. But generally the case.
Yes
Yes
No. 2cm more at your size. Actually…more like 1.5, but that might be tough, assuming your are properly fit in the 1st place…