I am in the same boat as the OP, and am wondering (if at all) how much slower I’ll be on a road bike vs. a tri bike. I have an 18 pound road bike, and would only be in the market for one of the low end 22 lb. tri bikes, and also have never ridden one. Some say the position alone is worth a couple of mph on your average, but honestly I can’t imagine being in that position for 112 miles.
Are you guys that ride road bikes moving your seat forward to be able to use the clip-ons?
Chrissie Wellington and Simon Lessing both won IM on road bikes as did LVL at Kona and still owns the IM Kona record since the mid 90’s.
An ITU type position with shorter road geometry tri bars would work well for you. Also look into the “big slam” position. It’s a position suggested for people with back pain or neck/crotch discomfort. Give John Cobb an email as he hangs out here once in awhile. This modified road position is described in Zinn’s book “Zinn and the Art of Triathlon Bikes”.
Chrissie Wellington and Simon Lessing both won IM on road bikes as did LVL at Kona and still owns the IM Kona record since the mid 90’s.
With or without aero bars?
Of course with aero bars, but as I mentioned, check out the “big slam” as you lower your seat but slide it back to compensate. As a result you’re high in the front in proportion on shorty aero bars. According to John Cobb it’s actually quite aero as well as good for the low back pain riders.
Of course with aero bars, but as I mentioned, check out the “big slam” as you lower your seat but slide it back to compensate. As a result you’re high in the front in proportion on shorty aero bars. According to John Cobb it’s actually quite aero as well as good for the low back pain riders.
OK thanks cerveloguy. Your username would indicate a preference for a pure tri bike, no?
I am thinking of setting my road bike up as the “aero” bike (and what I’ll use for the IM), and borrowing a friend’s road bike (gathering dust) as well for training.
“Your username would indicate a preference for a pure tri bike, no?”
Not any more. I rode tri bikes for five years but always had crotch/neck pain on long rides. I’m now on a Kestrel Talon but haven’t changed my ST handle.
“Your username would indicate a preference for a pure tri bike, no?”
Not any more. I rode tri bikes for five years but always had crotch/neck pain on long rides. I’m now on a Kestrel Talon but haven’t changed my ST handle.
Can you or anyone else recommend a specific bar for this setup I’m after? There are hundreds out there it seems.
13 IMs with maybe 3 or 4 on a tri bike. Last two IMs back on the road bike with clip ons and 808’s. Overall, I feel like I’m more comfortable and get more power and not that “un aero”. Haven’t really noticed any difference in my bike times over the years. I guess you could call it the slam position.
I also had some back issues - herniated disk, I’m 50 and not very flexible ( I think I can still touch my toes). Thus, I like the slightly higher position for training, climbing and even racing.
Run all 26 and pass all the shufflers and you’ll easily make up the 10 min you may loose on the bike depending on the course. Too many on ST are aero weenies and should focus more on their runs. Me included.
Road position is more comfortable for me too. I have clip ons but I rarely get on them, I guess they’re more for decoration. Like the 5 wood in my golf bag.
I am thinking of setting my road bike up as the “aero” bike (and what I’ll use for the IM), and borrowing a friend’s road bike (gathering dust) as well for training.+1. I have a Giant TCR Advanced and would like to set it up for an IM, what should I do in addition to adding aero bars? What are the (any) benefits of changing the full cockpit.
How much harder is 112 not being in the aerobars?
Just get behind somebody and draft… Sorry I could not resist.
the benefits of changing your full cockpit is that you can shift in the aero position thus staying aero for a onger part of the ride.
what else should you do? depends on the bars and how much time you have to play with position.
I had good luck with profile aerobars because they have lots of adjustability fore and aft, for lots of races, I kept my seat right where it was then braught the bars further back.
when I switched my soloist into a “tt” bike, I also used the forward seat position which worked ok.
I did 3 IM’s and didn’t realize there were bikes just for triathlons, so I put aero bars on a road bike and can’t imagine there being any difference with a “triathlon” bike.
Marketing professionals must drool when they see triathletes coming 
if there is a lot of climbing I would most definitely use my road bike, with clip on aero bars
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…although I have never been on a true tri bike, I feel comfortable using my Giant TCR c3 in the races I do. (sprints, oly & 1 half) I have Profile Design AirStryke clip-ons and try stay aero for the duration, however, its nice to sit upright on the hoods if needed to stretch the lower back & rest the hip flexors a bit or use the drops when going down fast hills.
I did switch out my bar stem to a shorter & slightly upward angled position, got a new comfortable Specialized seat & got a bike fit. ( I was too hunched over, too stretched out and sitting too low as per LBS guy) My wrists are comfortable and feel they sit in a natural position with the AirStryke. However, I dont like how I have to adjust my position and take my right hand off the bar to shift though…but it definately works for now.
…years ago I did my first race, a bi or du-athlon (run,bike,run) I rode my Diamondback mtn bike, yes knobby tires, hand pump and all, heavy…I remember hearing this, whoosh,whoosh,whoosh,whoosh coming up behind me…I was like, “what the…???”…then I witnessed the express train speeding by me…guys were leaning on their forearms and had a disc covering the rear wheel,…weird,…hmmmm…oooooh, ok so thaaaaaaaaaaats what i should be using…funny
well at least you outswam them =)
whoosh,whoosh,whoosh,whoosh coming up behind me…I was like, “what the…???”…then I witnessed the express train speeding by me…guys were leaning on their forearms and had a disc covering the rear wheel,…weird,…hmmmm…oooooh, ok so thaaaaaaaaaaats what i should be using…funny
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Given your condition, you need to simply realize that you can only do what you can do, given your current limitations. We are all like that, just some of us/them have less limitations!
Ride your OCR with the aero bars. Use them as much as you can tolerate and go as fast as you can, remembering to save something for the run.
My back is FK’d (broken several times). I ride a tri bike in a fairly comfortable position for IM. Better to make a small compromise with your position for comfort so you can ride as aero as you can for as long as you can. No use having some whizz bang super aero setup and only riding like that for an hour and then being in a roadie position for 5 more hours. Better to have a higher front end and be able to ride it for 6 hours! and still be able to run off the bike.
Just my 2 cents