I have been on a tri bike for the past 7 years. I hopped on my son’s Giant OCR road bike last night and WOW. I love it. So much more comfortable. Better handling.
Now I know why I keep shoving my ass back farther and farther on my tri bike. Time for a change.
The QR is going on ebay.
So what’s your poor son going to ride now?
Every trigeek should also own a road bike. I can’t believe that there are people that only own tri bikes. Tri bikes are things that you race a triathlon on. For everything else ride a road bike.
“So what’s your poor son going to ride now?”
A seven year old tri bike.
I love my high maintenance t.t. bike, but sometimes I wish I could make do with a simple road bike with clip ons.
I’m giving some serious thought to selling both bikes and getting a Soloist. Just one bike for all purposes. Keep it simple. Hey, it works for Simon.
I agree with Cerveloguy. Everyone who races should have a tri bike AND a road bike. I do most of mileage on my road bike, using the tribike for time trials, races and the occasional ‘want to fly like hell’ ride. Road bikes handle better, are a better ride and just make sense. Anyone going into tri, should learn to ride on a road bike first. I don’t know how many times I have been on the road in a race with tri geeks who don’t know how to handle a bike. It is just plain dangerous! Learning to ride a road bike correctly with a roadie group is the first priority for all riders. It just makes sense and will make the bike portion of our races so much safer. Just my two cents worth.
"I agree with Cerveloguy. "
Hej,
An expat Swedish gal living in Canada, and one that agrees with me. Now how cool is that.
Vi ses.
What you need is one of those black, all carbon, Specialized Roubaix bikes. I think you could hit a 4 foot deep pot hole and not know you did, on one of those things.
Also, I think you could ride completely naked on a Specialized Roubaix, and your balls wouldn’t feel a thing on one of those bikes. In fact, I encourage you to visit a Specialized dealer to test that out. “Hey, I heard if I rode one of these Specialized Roubaix’s, my balls won’t feel a thing, is that true?”
Dealer: “Of Course.”
You: “Can I test that out?”
Dealer: “Of course.”
Seat angle is, or looks like 72 or 73. You are kicked back on that rear wheel. Other than the wind knocking you down, its probably climbs like a goat, too.
Nah…I wouldn’t do that to the poor kid. Time for daddy to get a new toy! I’ll get some clip ons and I bet I ride tri’s just as fast. I will report back on that theory…
OK, I need some ideas for my new toy. Let’s hear it. Road bike eye candy. Needs to be light and comfortable.
“I need some ideas for my new toy”
Have a good look at the Cervelo Soloist as it does double duty as a road/tri bike. If you like the compact frame also look at a composite Giant TCR. There’s a lot of nice traditional road gemetry bikes out there also. How much money do ya wanna spend.
I LOVE my Klein ! ! ! When and if I have the millions,I will get my tri bike,till then,I LOVE my Klein. I can ride in my bars over any terrain and any curves. I was told by my fitter to ignore all brands,just by the closest to the measurements he gave me…Best advice I ever had.
TxDude,
I believe the phrase is something along the lines of everything in moderation. Where you went wrong was giving up your road bike entirely 7 years ago.
Now go out and get a new road bike and remember, everything in moderation! Ride that road bike! But remember to ride the tri bike too once or twice a week.
If you want some real fun after getting your new road bike, join a cycling club.
Your cycling will improve for a lot of reasons.
New toy (road bike). Play with it more.
Rediscovered joy of riding a road bike. Will want to ride more.
If you join cycling club, competiveness of fast group rides. Challenging each other and good workout. Usually easier to push one’s self in company of others more so than when alone.
Riding in different positions on a regular basis will strengthen muscles that have not been used for 7 years. This will lead to overall improvement in strength.
There are probably many more reasons but someone else will have to jump in.
Glad to hear your excited, now go with the flow!
“I need some ideas for my new toy”
I do but I though the Soloist aero tubing might be a advantage. Interesting to hear your comments. I love my TCR and ride it a lot more than the P2K but must also be suffering from the “need a new toy” syndrome. Maybe I’ll stay as I am. Thanks for the reality check.
go with some non traditional road eye candy…Kestrel 300 in ruby or amber weave…mmmm…putting together an old 200SCi with ruby weave as she’s been my lust bike since…well…since they came out way back when. That aside…I really like the looks of Orbea bikes (non EE editions) and you could never go wrong with a Colnago…but then there is always…
I need to win the lottery…this fetish is making me poor.
I used to work in a “roadie-only” shop and was openly mocked for being the token “Speedo wearing dork” but despite the constant hazing from the Cat 2/3’s I can say that riding with roadies will improve your time trialing. That being said there is NO WAY anyone should show up for the weekly roadie hammerfest on a pure TT rig. Most of us do not come from a road racing background and as a result lack many of the fundamentals of proper bike handling, not to mention group ride etiquette.
A common complaint that I hear from the roadies is that tri-dorks, while oftentimes are physically STRONG, are dumb. Defending my sport I humbly reply that many of us are not particularly adept at understanding the nuances of pack riding as most tri guys have never completed a UCSF road race or criterium. Road bikes are the real deal (TDF has been around over a century whereas the Hawaiin Ironman is only 25 years young) and if you want to improve your cycling strength go out with some roadies.
Miguel in the 'No…El Tribato
I’ll second the vote for a Klein.
I was just out hammering for 50 miles w/ some roadies on that thing. I love that bike.
“A common complaint that I hear from the roadies is that tri-dorks, while oftentimes are physically STRONG, are dumb.”
Wife and I just completed a 120 kms ride this morning by ourselves in our local rural area. A tune up for the century we’re doing next weekend. On the way we met a triguy on a Cannondale tri bike. Really nice guy. He is training for IM Canada. He rode with us for awhile and we had a pleasant conversation. When he decided to take off he turned in front me and hit my front wheel with his back wheel sending me off into the gravel. Fortunately it was no big deal but I felt like I was riding a mountain bike for a few seconds.
That’s when I told him that old standard roadie circle joke that the reason why roadies don’t wave at trigeeks is because they don’t want them to crash when the take their hands of the aero bars to wave back.
I’m a tri newbie.
This is my first summer of tri’s which I’ve been doing on my Giant TCR1. I’ve signed up for IMLP next year and figured I’d buy myself my first “sexy” tri bike in the off season. Now, I’m not so sure. My LBS fit me for “tri positioning” on my Giant and I find myself really comfortable on the bike. I just came back today from a 120 km solo ride and most of it was in the aero position. The only discomfort was in the saddle area.
I’ve ridden the Lake Placid course so I know how hilly it is. Perhaps I should stick to my road bike. Never having been on a tri bike I’m starting to think that I might be disappointed with its handling and comfort.
I have been on a tri bike for the past 7 years. I hopped on my son’s Giant OCR road bike last night and WOW. I love it. So much more comfortable. Better handling.
Now I know why I keep shoving my ass back farther and farther on my tri bike. Time for a change.
The QR is going on ebay.
You may be more comfortable but you will also be slower. Mountain bikes are even more comfortable to ride.