I have a buddy who’s being offered a “sweet opportunity” to buy some sort of Trek TT or triathlon bike. He’s not too sure what he’s getting and I’m trying to help him sort it out. I know that, for a number of years, the triathlon world wasn’t too keen on Trek because they were just taking the team time trial bikes and trying to force them (with their road geometry) onto the triathlon world. (Is that about right?) But I thought that in the last year or two, with the TTX, they started doing things differently and had some tri-specific models. Having spent time on their webiste today, I don’t really see where that’s the case. I see 73/76 seatpost angle with the flippable seatpost … same-o, same-o as a few years back. I don’t see a different TTX time trial from a TTX triathlon. It all looks the same to me … and in, um, _____ yellow. So what’s the difference? Is it just that some of the tri pros are now riding them, so they’ve got some new glamour?
The new E-TTX as it’s called I believe has got some good reviews, maybe tough to ride much steeper than 78-79, but that is easily doable. And I beleive Slowman himself has said he thinks it’s a very nice bike.
And don’t you have a P2K in that same um______yellow ???
HAHA, I know, just giving you a hard time. Seriously though, if it’s the new E-TTX it is a much more suitable ride for tris and steep riding in general. The older TTX’s weren’t so great for that, but many people made it work. The new bike may not get as steep as some Cervelos and the new Felts, but it is a good bike from everything I have read. The fit dimensions are very similar (almost identical) to those of a P2C.
I have been well thanks, used the wheel in it’s first race and it went well. I took 4th overall out of over 200 people at a duathlon on Mother’s Day and won my age group…a good return to the multisport scene. Thanks again for the wheel.
How about you? Weren’t you trying a new “hands high” style position? Any success with it?
Ive got an 07 TTX and I love it. I tend to ride on the shallow side though, so the seat angle is not a problem. I have the seatpost set in the back position. Overall, awesome bike.
How about you? Weren’t you trying a new “hands high” style position? Any success with it?
I raced that way once and it didn’t go so well. Can’t blame the position. I think it was just one of those days. The legs were dead. But dropping the elbows like that got me too low to feel comfortable or safe (couldn’t see up the road). I’ve kept the bars uplifted, but moderated it a bit and I’m really liking it. No race results yet except for one tri relay win … whoopdeedoo. At least that gave me a feeling of finally being a bit dialed in. I haven’t had that feeling much this year. I keep messin’ around with stuff.
Glad you’re back to form and glad the wheel is serving well. Congratulations!
You sound like a neat guy but lets get some things straight. Tri bikes started off as “time trial” bikes or even road bikes with aero bars. Both of which have road geometry. The ability to use a reversable seatpost allowed riders who compete in both national caliber TT as well as tri’s to have a legal bike so the seat is >5cm behind the bottom bracket…that way people can have one bike for both TT’s and Tri’s. A Trek TTX is a great bike for both TT’s and Tris…I mean it was developed specifically for Lance in a windtunnel. It’s the ONLY bike tested in a wind tunnel for cross winds…no other brand can claim that. And if what you claim is so important for Tri people then why do so many people use a P3carbon which was made for world class time trialists with road geometry and can also suite triathletes due to its special seatpost but Cervelo wouldn’t do specific Tri geometry…there would be no point for them to make a $40,000 mold for each size in two separate geometries. So really what is the point of your post. They are all great bikes made by people that are far smarter than any of us.
Jij kan niet de juist weg mafia ontsnappen. Eten onze stof
My friend, who coaches me has one of those new yellow TTXs, it is friggin amazing, he says his is like 3lbs lighter than his p3c and in the tests he has done, it is faster. This guy is legit too, that bike seems amazing.
The Trek TTX is one of the best tri-bikes that I have been on. As stiff as the 2005 Litespeed Blade, but it climbs much better. It also eats up any road vibtration much better.
The TTX is a BIG bike, make sure to get fit on one before you buy. I say big in that it has a really long top tube.
The bike is very adjustable. Has two seat positions…more info is available on the tread that was sited above. PM me if you have any other questions!
Huge improvements all around vs. the E11 and TTX from last year. The new Equinox TTX is the best tri bike I have ever ridden, and the nicest one by far that my shop sells. Noticeably stiffer than anything I’ve tried, but also very smooth riding. I have owned a QR Lucero for the last 2 seasons, and have ridden Litespeeds/Cervelos as well, and the Trek sits above them all.
Here is what Trek changed, and they are all dramatic improvements:
geometry, most importantly. The bike is designed around riding steep, they added more reach so triathletes riding the bike at 77-79 degrees still fit the bike well. This is a huge improvment, whereas before they were road geometry bikes that Trek said “Triathletes can use this forward facing post”. Those older bikes were more difficult to fit triathletes on. The rear facing seatpost is more for the Disco boys, and so the bike is UCI Legal. The bike is really designed around riding the seatpost in the forward position.
Better, lighter carbon. The new Equinox TTX uses OCLV 110, which is noticeably lighter than the older OCLV HC where they added a Honeycomb of Nomex for stiffness, at a weight penalty. The new TTX gets its stiffness from tube shaping rather than adding extra material and weight (Look at that monster big top tube). The better carbon is also significantly more comfortable than anything else I have ridden. And its US built. I like that personally.
Switched to 1 1/8 steerer instead of 1". This added front end stiffness and stability. They also mold the top tube as one piece with the headtube/downtube instead of the lug construction.
The brake cable routs out the side of the top tube, instead of straight out the back like the old TT bike. The rear brake actually works like it should instead of dealing with an unnatural bend in the housing.
The front der. clamp is more durable and stiffer, so if you have the Bontrager (Truvativ) Crank on the bike it still actually shifts. The old front der. clamps were not as nice, and with Bontrager cranks the front der. shifting was terrible.
More aerodynamic frame. If you look closely the down tube is very close to your front wheel, the fork trails into the downtube, and the headtube/top tube is kind of an hourglass shape, so the top tube is very large for stiffness but still very narrow to the wind.
Vertical dropouts. This is probably becuase Trek didn’t want to manufacture new droupouts so they just used their Madone dropouts, but I actually like this better anyway. The wheel is plenty close to the frame, and wheel changes in races or when traveling are easier.
Not a huge thing, but they added a drainage hole at the bottom of the BB. They must have noticed at our shop that older Trek TT bikes came back after IM WI last fall with LOTS of water stuck in the frame.
Those are the main differences. It took Trek a little longer to get it right, but they did this time. I expect this bike to become very, very popular in the US in the next few years. Hope this helps,
I’m riding the new TTX and am extremely satisfied with my decision. The 9.9 and 9.5 are the same frame – the diff b/w models is components (and color) – 9.9 (yellow) comes full DA; 9.5 (red) is Ultegra/Bontrager mix. I compared the TTX, P3, DA, Aegis Zaero and QR Caliente. Other threads have already debated geometry, aero benefits, weight, etc … I can safely say the TTX allows for a very aggressive position.
My LBS has a TTX demo and I was able to take it home and ride it for 3 weeks before making my decision. Can’t overstate the value of logging real miles (versus spinning on a trainer or a short lap in the parking lot) when deciding on a bike and prior to plunking down $$.
If you don’t like the stock colors, the P1 option allows various colors / designs.
You want to understand the TTX? Its a bike that is out of your league. The bike was made for high level athlletes such as Lance Armstrong who need any extra bonus they can get. Trek sells the same bike to consumers like you because they know that you are willing to pay thousands of dollars for technology that you will never benefit from. You would still be a non factor in whatever triathlon you are doing weather you are on a schwinn varsity or a $20,000 dollar custom TT bike. However, expensive cycling equipment almost makes you look “somewhat” credible when you are in the parking lot telling fish stories blaming someone else for your finish that was 45 minutes behind the winner. Get a life. Criticising cycling equipment on a forum is sad.
P.S. - You should get the assos commander full body suit and go live in antartica.
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