I’m contemplating the switch from tri specific bike to racing on a road bike. This is based on the fact that I live and race in a moderate mountainous part of the country.
What I want to know is (1) what clip-ons do you use and why? and (2) have you experienced any leg issues on the run.
Thanks.
Profile Airstryke - because the pads flip up so you can still ride in a road position without taking them off. I was not able to get an ideal position with these (a little stretched out), but was faster with them in training tests. Stayed in them for most of the race and it was cheaper than buying a tri bike - no lower back issues either. Next season though, I am throwing down the cash for tri bike.
Yes on the leg issues - ITBS which showed up at mile 18 on the run. I’m pretty sure this was not due to the bike position and more due to lack of distance run training and some biomechanical issues (pelvis was out of alignment).
I did Kona on a converted road bike with a Profile Fast Foward seatpost (available at www.chucksbikes.com under the tsunami brand for around $20) and HED bars. Doesn’t feel much different than my current P3sl pushed to 80 degrees. Although the road bike didn’t corner for shit steepened up like that with all the weight over the front wheel.
Another friend of mine did his first IM at Kona last year in 10:40 and that was a sloooooow year on a second hand felt F75 with aluminum fork. Then he went and ripped off a 9:40 or so at IM Australia this year only his 2nd IM. He posts here by the way and has very “Hairy Legs.” The only hurt the road bike seemed to put on anyone was on his competitors;)
But seriously, If you’re not going to steepen up the bike some Profile Jammer GTC bars are sweet, I have the HED clip lites which are crazy light and pretty comfy but pricey. The oval jammers looked really nice as well.
I did IMLP on a serotta nove with hed clip lites. I felt great on the run but choose that bike to suit the course.
I am doing either the great floridian or IMFL next year and thinking about a kuota kaliber.
Spend the extra cash and get set up really well. www.PKracing.com or www.signaturecycles.com type of fit service.
Kevin
I don’t, but off the top of my head, the winner of IM Switzerland Christoph Mauch does…
Practically speaking, you will ride/race faster on that which you are used to. If you primarily ride the road bike in a road position, that is what you should race, especially since you live in a hilly area. Physiologically and biomechanically you will adapt to the position and run adaptations of that which you train the body to tolerate. For the hills, a tricked out road bike is often lighter than a tri-specific bike.
If riding a road bike, the shorter jammer bars will be your best bet. Hed and Oval Concepts each make a nice pair. Others can be cut shorter to simulate the design on a cheaper budget. Road bikes aren’t designed to sustain a great amount of weight over the front wheel due to the shallower seat tube and fork rake.
At IMLP I rode a Soloist with 3T BioArm clip-ons and did not experience any leg issues. As said before, I also chose this setup because of the course profile. I think the main factor here is TITS - Time In The Saddle. If you’ve put the training miles in on a tri bike setup, stick with it.
Would something like IM Moo with its numerous short hills, several of which are in the 7-10% grade count as the kind of place one might consider a road bike or is it really just for the big mountains?
My current (and only) bike is a Litespeed Ultimate road bike - standard road bars (Deda 215) and Profile Carbon Stryke clip-on’s. This will be my 3rd IM WI on the same bike - no leg issues on the run, but since I’ve been on the same set-up for 5 years, I reckon that’s no surprise. Sadly, I don’t have a tri bike, so I don’t really have another point of reference. I like the Carbon Stryke’s for several reasons - the elbow pads are fairly low - can be a problem if you like to ride with your hands on the flats, although I can get them on the outside corners o.k. The extensions are super-adjustable in terms of length and rotation, and the construction is very solid. With all the rollers on the WI course, you’ll be out of the aero bars quite a bit, so go with what’s comfortable.
I’ve done 7 Ironmans and 12 half-ironmans on a Colnago C40 with Syntace C2 clip-ons.
I agree that the biggest determinant of success is race-specific training. If you generally ride a road bike, race on a road bike. If you buy a tri bike…Ride the heck out of it to prepare.
The Syntace are nice because they are stable and relatively light.
Cheers,
Jonathan C. Puskas
I used HED s-bend bars with Profile Design flip up pads. S-Bend allow for lots of comfy positions both forward and back, and flip-ups are nice for climbing.
I don’t exactly hammer the bike, but I ran a solid marathon in Austria with no leg issues.
On my road bike I have carbon drop handlebars. I’ve been told that you can’t just put any clip-on aerobar’s as they will break/crack the handlebars. Does anybody know of any specific clip on aero bars that I could put on carbon handlebars? Thanks.