This was my latest setup for Ironman KY 2013… I am fairly certain that I was the only Schwinn in the field, are there any other Schwinn riders out there? There are many threads with the latest high tech bikes - so lets start one with the lower end bikes!!
I posted a 6:30 bike split, wanted to get an opinion on how much of an improvement could be gained from transitioning to a low end triathlon bike. Would I be better off just training my butt off on my Schwinn?
You would most definitely see an improvement with a tri specific bike without a doubt. However you could easily convert your current bike into a faster bike for a lot cheaper if money is the limiter.
Fast forward seat post
replace the drop bars with bullhorns
get that rear bottle up closer to your butt and out of the wind
Then get fit…
Consider using 2 or 3 bottles and living off the course. No need for 4 IMO. Maybe 3 if you’re dead set of using your own concentrate for the whole distance. But you can add concentrate to you BTA then dilute it with water on course.
Try using 2 bottles in training (carry more than treat them as hand offs (only fill them with water or Perform) as well as in a 70.3 and live off the course and see how that goes. Its’ not the weight, it’s the aero penalty of carrying so much stuff. You might try and get that spare under your seat if you can.
Either way, as mentioned, it needs to get higher, more behind your butt. Wit ha more upright position, it can be fairly high.