I’m looking to replace my old road bike that I’ve used for IM races w/ clip on aerobars for the past 4 years. I’d like a bike that can do more though and I still want to do full IMs. I really only have space and money for 1 bike right now. Anyone use their gravel bike with clip on aerobars and slick tires for a full IM? What, if any downfalls would I be looking at…gearing limits, less aero, a bit slower? I’m not a top notch racer, more of a MOP, so I’m not looking to break any records. Thanks for any insights!
No problem at all with doing that.
Ideally you would have a skinny tyre wheelset and a fat tyre one as changing tubeless tyres is a hassle.
Gearing shouldn’t be a problem, my gravel bike takes 50-34 on the front which is plenty for most people in IM.
If you can justify a Cervelo Aspero or 3T Exploro - those have aero features so you won’t be at too much of a disadvantage compared to most road bikes.
Will be a bit heavier, but every disc brake bike is.
I’m not a top notch racer, more of a MOP, so I’m not looking to break any records.
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You have told yourself all you need to know.Go ahead and get the bike you want and not the bike some strangers think you need.
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What, if any downfalls would I be looking at…gearing limits, less aero, a bit slower? I’m not a top notch racer, more of a MOP, so I’m not looking to break any records. Thanks for any insights!
I’d say no downfalls - go for it.
I’ve stood that the side of the road at many IM races at about 80km - 100km in. I see MANY triathletes sitting bolt upright on the aero base bars, riding along. And it appears this is not a momentary phenomenon - they are spending a considerable amount of time riding their super-aero tri bike like that!
That’s why years ago, I started advocating - if that’s you, just use a road bike for your IM bike leg. If time/place does not matter. If those 10 - 15min that you may give up on the bike because of that don’t matter, then just ride a road bike - (or in this case your gravel bike with some road wheels on it) Of course years ago when I would suggest this strategy, many here and elsewhere would go nuts . . . going on and on and on about how much faster people would be on an aero tri bike, completely ignoring the fact, they really don’t care about those 10 min lost!!
Who knows - you might run faster/better, after riding in a more comfortable position for YOU, on the bike. 
+1 to the 3T Exploro. Perfect option for this. 2 wheelsets = ideal for sure.
I would suggest a TT bike.
And whatever choice you make, let us know about it here.
You may be a trend setter.
Thanks for posting this thread. Considering same. Interested to see what bubbles up here…
Another thing going for this option is that some brands are making it so you switch between 650 and 700 wheels, so that’s handy for tri.
My thought would be to pick a model that has a standard round seatpost, so that you can get a second seatpost with a forward offset (or a seatpost that can be used backwards). And a tri-specific saddle to put on it.
Also a bike that uses a standard stem without any fancy internal routing, that can be replaced with something of a different length and/or angle to help dial in your aero bar fit.
That will go a long way towards putting you in a good, comfortable yet efficient position. Remember that your body contributes significantly more aero drag than the frame.
Thanks for posting this thread. Considering same. Interested to see what bubbles up here…
Another thing going for this option is that some brands are making it so you switch between 650 and 700 wheels, so that’s handy for tri.
How is switching between 650 and 700 size wheels handy for tri?
The Ridley Kanzo Fast is another option - pretty aero gravel bike - throw on some narrower tires and it should do pretty well when compared to a regular road bike.
I have a 3T Exploro Race Max. (and love it) The flexibility of riding 650b beefier tires/wheels for gravel/mtn and then swapping out 700c aero road wheels is my primary n=1 gravel/road bike plus. Agree, swapping between the two isn’t necessarily a tri benefit but definitely an overall do-it-all bike benefit. Before too long, I will be old enough (and slow enough) to give up on the dedicated TT bike for tri/IM racing. I just need to decide when that is!
My first season of triathlon was on a cyclocross bike with canti brakes I treated as a road bike. No reason I couldn’t have done an Ironman on it. You will probably want to look into some forward set seatpost though. Very likely you won’t be able to get far forward enough with whatever is default.
No problem at all.
I’ve finished Ironman 13 times (10 times including qualifying and racing Kona on a Road Bike with clip-ons).
Buy the bike you’ll love riding the most. Then, do the events/challenges you’ll love pursuing the most.
Best of luck,
JCP
Sage Factory Racing Team
www.sagetitanium.com
It looks like that bike has V brakes.
It looks like that bike has V brakes.
Woops. Correct. Pretty terrible to center for some reason…
It looks like that bike has V brakes.
Well, v-brakes are just sidepull cantis!
Go for it. The biggest difference between a road bike and TT/Tri bike is the rider position. A gravel bike with suitable gearing and tyres won’t be dramatically different to the road bike. In fact I suspect, without checking, that most gravel bikes will be MORE suitable if you’re going the route of clip-ons and a forward saddle position for races. This is because I think they generally have a longer wheelbase and shallower headtube angle which should give more stability. Can anyone more familiar with gravel bike geometries confirm that?
I hadn’t heard of this brand, so I will look into it. Looks like it might be a good option. Possibly take it on downhill MTB trails too, although some suspension might be nice for that.
Buy the bike you’ll love riding the most. Then, do the events/challenges you’ll love pursuing the most.
Such good advice. Seriously.