Bike fit question: I was hit by a pickup truck this spring, and how I now fit on a bike has changed pretty significantly. My old road bike size went down from a 57 Lemond to a 56 R3 (saddle height the same, but my reach is 3 cm less but the drop from saddle to hoods is greater – go figure).
I rode my once pretty-well fitted 58 P3 (with 1cm spacer) recently, and found the fit and power to be way, way off. I’d say to get the same comfy feeling I’d probably have to go up 3cm in bar height, and the reach might change some, too. My hunch is that this bike might now not fit so well post-injury; even perhaps most more agressive TT bikes might not fit so well. I’ll wait until next year to see for sure – give the body a full year to heal, but was just thinking about a switch back to some type of road bike (or aero road bike) with clip-ons.
Anyone have experience being on a TT bike and move back?
i also have this question…i have my kestrel talon tri Cf tri bike that i race with and train with for races but i want to put high mileage on my scott speedster s30 so i save my race bike…i am hoping im not losing out on something or maybe the “cross training” will make me a better triathlete?
I’m guessing his decision to ride a road bike at Chicago and HyVee was because of his history of injuries. Until you’re fully healed, it may make sense to just ride the road bike and see how you feel next spring - it’s the off season anyway so losing time on the TT bike isn’t a big deal.
i also have this question…i have my kestrel talon tri Cf tri bike that i race with and train with for races but i want to put high mileage on my scott speedster s30 so i save my race bike…i am hoping im not losing out on something or maybe the “cross training” will make me a better triathlete?
Jordan Rapp addressed this on the forum awhile back.
“And that is why you train on a road bike. Training on your tribike NOT in the aero position is NOT training the specific muscles. If you want to train your specific cycling muscles, you train on your trbike in the aerobars or on your road bike in a normal road position.
This is one of those absurd myths that exists because people have relatively poor (or absolutely no) understanding of biomechanics. The joint angle is the primary determinant of muscle function. So if your knee/hip (and somewhat shoulder) angle are the same between bikes - which they are between road-position-on-road-bike and aerobar-position-on-tri/TT-bike - then the muscle recruitment is the same. The one position that is NOT the same? pursuit-position-on-TT-bike. You want to be a better triathlon cyclist? Buy a road bike and use it. Riding around not-in-the-aerobars is almost, but not entirely, a waste of time.
Or, to make it simpler for those folks who don’t wish to bother understanding the nuances of biomechanics - most professional cyclists ride their TT about 1x per week. Levi L. rides his 2x a week during periods of specific preparation for races. All of these guys kick the shit out of triathletes on the bike. Why? Because their CYCLING SPECIFIC muscles are more well trained. There are not “tri specific” muscles for biking. There are “cycling specific” muscles. There are some TTing specific muscles. They are mostly in your neck, because holding your head in the proper TT position is quite abnormal. But you don’t need a lot of time on the TT bike to train those muscles. You just need consistent time.”
I’m guessing his decision to ride a road bike at Chicago and HyVee was because of his history of injuries. Until you’re fully healed, it may make sense to just ride the road bike and see how you feel next spring - it’s the off season anyway so losing time on the TT bike isn’t a big deal.
Yep, that’s a plan. I’ll hang the TT up for the year, and I’ll go back for a new fit in the spring to see if it will work.
And fall road riding is my favorite time to ride anyway. Ya got the fitness, ya got the cooler weather, ya got no pressure.
Just so I am clear - you are saying that one should train for tris primarily with a road bike - even if you are able to do all your training on a tri bike in aero position?
I am not challenging the concept, just trying to make sure I understood your post.
I ask in particular because I have been wondering if an S2 with clipons and aerowheels would be as fast as a P2, for sprints and olys. If I can simplify all my riding into one bike I would be happy (blasphemy I know - don’t worry I still have MTBs and commuters in the garage).
I ask in particular because I have been wondering if an S2 with clipons and aerowheels would be as fast as a P2, for sprints and olys.
If you can duplicate that same position on the S2, then no it will still not be as fast.
An S5 might be, but maybe not if you still have drop bars on it.
But, if you can duplicate the same position on the S2, its not going to be drastically slower, so if you want to sell the p2 and clear out the garage, by all means, go for it.
What this comes down to is people sometimes have a really hard time enjoying cycling in a good aero position. Being on a road bike doesn’t change that. Getting on a road bike is just the decision to quit trying to be in a good aero position. If you duplicate the position on a road bike you will still hate riding like that.
Either figure out how to get aero and comfortable, or give the idea up and JUST get comfortable. Either way a P2 with a stack of spacers for comfort and an aero cockpit is still faster than a road bike with drop bars and clip ons. (or an s5 with an aero cockpit for the ultimate “I hate being low” solution)
Just so I am clear - you are saying that one should train for tris primarily with a road bike - even if you are able to do all your training on a tri bike in aero position?
No, what he is saying is that most people can’t/don’t spend all their training time in the aero position on a TT bike. I fit that bill. There is only one place that I can ride for hours in the aero position locally - Hecksher State Park. Anywhere else I am going to be on the horns most, if not all the time for safety reasons. So, the only time it makes sense for someone like me to ride a TT bike is on weekends when I can drive the 20 miles to the state park. Otherwise I am better off riding my road bike. On the road bike my hip angle is the same as on the TT bike in aero, so I am training the same muscles.
I injured my lower back in 2006 and went back to a road bike with clip-ons. Took some time to get comfortable again on a tri bike. Can’t say I was any slower on my road bike but it was way more comfortable and seemed to put less stress on my lower back.