I like the Cateye Strada Wireless. It’s minimal and it tells you about all you really need to know. (That is, of course, provided you’re not training/racing with a power meter.)
You’re not going to learn how to ride that bike with it locked in a trainer. Find a large, empty parking lot like a shopping mall early on Sunday morning or an industrial park after work hours. Practice transitioning from riding with your hands near the brakes to the aero position and back and forth. Ride over some small bumps in the aero position. Practice taking turns. Find out how much you can do and stay aero. Practice reaching for your water bottle. After you’ve ridden a while, try that while you’re on the aerobars.
Find someplace with some hills. Get comfortable staying aero over 30 mph.
Ride the bike, not the trainer. (That’s for now, while you need to learn handling skills.)
By Sept. 7 you should be fine if you spend enough time doing the above between now and then.
It’s going to seem really squirrely at first. But realize that you actually have MORE control over the bike in some ways. You have four contact points with the steering … hands and forearms … instead of just two. Once you relax and get comfortable with it, you’ll love it.
I have a bike computer for my road bike and assume I want one for my tribike as well. What do you recommend and why?
Do you haul your tribike in the back of your vehicle or on a bike rack?
How long would you recommend I ride it on a trainer before hitting the road (possibly literaly) given that I’ve never ridden in the aero position and cycling is my weakest link? What would be a good combination of road biking and trainer riding to make the adaptation?
I have my first oly distance race Sept. 7th. Should I ride my road bike or try the tri bike?
I have a basic Trek Incite 9i with cadence. Nothing fancy and uses wires because I didn’t want to pay 100+ for something wireless with cadence. Computer is personal I think. Do you want cadence or not is the first question you need to ask yourself before deciding and shopping. Are you happy with what’s on your road bike? Any reason not to get the same one again? After using the one on your road bike is there some feature you wish it had or you can live without?
Tri-bike goes in the trunk when it’s just me to keep it out of the elements and a bit more secure. When the wife and I are both going somewhere then it’s on a bike rack because 2 bikes won’t fit in the trunk. I think this question depends more on your car. Inside is better if it fits, if not then a rack is your only option right?
Stay off the trainer and ride this thing outside. The comment about parking lots or industrial parks with low traffic is a good idea if you are truly nervous about it. Being on the trainer won’t help with bike handling skills.
Tri bike as long as you put in a fair amount of time riding your tri bike and you feel safe on it. If I were you, I would be riding that tri bike exclusively to help get your body accustomed to it and to get your handling skills a bit better on it. You have plenty of time before Sept 7th.
Only thing to add, when practicing transition from standard to aeroposition make sure you have a good grip on one bar before letting go to move the other position. I did not the first time. I practiced riding with one hand to make the transition easier.
Ride ride ride is the only way to become confident. You might get some mild stiffness at first but it should be very minor.
Good luck!
I have a bike computer for my road bike and assume I want one for my tribike as well. What do you recommend and why?
There shouldn’t be any question that what you need - at a bare minimum - is an SRM. Probably 2, in case one of them is off by a watt or two. And a PowerTap for both your front and back wheels. You should also get back up CPUs in case any of your first line units happens to malfunction, and a spare set of handlebars on which to store all the displays. You might also want to consider the Cateye that was previously mentioned, although it’s kind of a cop-out.
Do you haul your tribike in the back of your vehicle or on a bike rack?
You’ve misphrased your question: real men pull their vehicles around on the back of their bikes, and the only decision you should be considering is whether to use some kind of bungee arrangement hooked directly to your car or a trailer on which the car can rest. For day-to-day use, there is no distance so great, nor any load of groceries and/or sports equipment so heavy, that your brand new race-scoot is not the most appropriate way for you to get around. Nothing will intimidate the other guys in your age-group at Ironman Canada as much as the knowledge that you’ve ridden to the start from your home in North Carolina. You may need to sell your car to finance all the SRMs you’re going to have to buy in any case.
How long would you recommend I ride it on a trainer before hitting the road (possibly literaly) given that I’ve never ridden in the aero position and cycling is my weakest link? What would be a good combination of road biking and trainer riding to make the adaptation?
You should carry the trainer around with you to exagerate any shortcomings in your technique and thus make them easier to correct. Furthermore, it’s sometimes difficult to precisely self-diagnose problems of this kind, so you’re going to need help from others. The way to go is therefore to locate the fastest gang of road-riders in your area and head out with them on one of their group rides. With your trainer. Rest assured that this exercise will surface any and all errors in your riding style and that you will receive loads of helpful advice on how to correct those flaws.
I have my first oly distance race Sept. 7th. Should I ride my road bike or try the tri bike?
Yes. For absolute certain you should use one of those bikes - don’t be a hero and try to run the whole thing, and remember not to start riding until AFTER the swim portion of the race.
Ha! Ask silly questions, I guess I should’ve know what I’d get. Thank you for the smile and the distraction from watching out of my window for the FedEx truck!
This is not a joke, but when you take your bike out for the test rides, first focus on clipping in and out of your pedals. Even better get some MTB pedals and wear your running shoes until you get comfortable. If you are riding clipped in, wear knee pads and gloves for a few hours. You will go down and your knees will make impact first followed by your hands.
It is always embarrasing wearing knee pads but when you go down because you cant clip out then you will appreciate it. I went down three or four times in the first few weeks of my first experience with a tri bike without any padding and recovered well but have the scars to “HTFU” me. I went down really hard on a training ride that put me out for a month. Just typical growing pains of the process.
Triathlon is not the safest of sports, but it can be safer being honest with yourself and skill level. Protect yourself and you will never look back.
I needed that two years ago when I bought my first road bike, complete with clip pedals Knee and elbow pads would’ve been a great idea! Thankfully, I’ve learned to fall gracefully when I fail to unclip. The position is great, it’s the aerobars that concern me. Yes, I am one of those klutzy types who can’t ride a bike unless at least one hand, preferably two, is on the handlebars. I was thinking more of wrapping my bike in bubblewrap before riding to protect it rather than me
And the wait continues… whoever said, “Patience is a virtue,” lied.
I don’t like bike computers that cant download to your computer to keep track of your work, I don’t have a power meter yet, but I hope to get one some day… in the mean time I use the polar its expensive but I love to be able to compare workouts and monitor performance or just see how fast I was this morning on my regular route against last month or last year… but thats just me, I wouldnt buy anything that can’t download to my computer.
on the back… when I can… got to share the car with wife and 3 dogs
no trainer please
if you were a pro or a seasoned athlete I would say with out any doubt the road bike… but if you are just starting start off with the right foot and go with the cervelo, just be careful
Wow … this post makes me think there ought to be a law that you’re not allowed to do triathlon or even to ride a tri bike until you’ve spent at least a year on a road bike doing club rides and learning the basic skills. If your skills are so lacking that you have to do all that stuff, you have no business being in a triathlon where your mistake may not only hurt you, it may seriously hurt others.
There are basic cycling skills you should be responsible for knowing before you dare to enter yourself in a race and inflict yourself on others. I may have mistakenly assumed that the OP had some cycling background before they went out and purchased a Cervelo P2C. If not, then my bad and their bad, both.
I also just got a P2C (2008 I think cuz it’s got the red 3T forks) a few days ago. How much did you pay for yours if you don’t mind me asking? Also, it’s something that was on my mind b/c when I shopped around, I think I saw something different elsewhere, but what are the components of your stem/aerobar setup? Mine are the matte black ones (2007 model?) with the skinny brake levers. Are they supposed to come with the 2008 bar/extensions/stem (the wet black ones) or just the matte black ones with white outlined “vision” logo?
Do you mind helping me out with my questions even though I don’t have any to yours? Would appreciate it. Thanx.
I have a few questions to which I would greatly appreciate ST’s input:
I have a bike computer for my road bike and assume I want one for my tribike as well. What do you recommend and why?
Do you haul your tribike in the back of your vehicle or on a bike rack?
How long would you recommend I ride it on a trainer before hitting the road (possibly literaly) given that I’ve never ridden in the aero position and cycling is my weakest link? What would be a good combination of road biking and trainer riding to make the adaptation?
I have my first oly distance race Sept. 7th. Should I ride my road bike or try the tri bike?
Something wireless. Fork-mount wireless is cheaper than something that gives you cadence. Cateye is a good choice
Depends on what else I am hauling. Bike lays in the back of the SUV if it’s only 1 bike, goes on an internal rack if it’s 2 bikes or 1 bike/1dog, on the roof if there are 2 bikes+1dog or 1 bike+2 dogs.
Just go ride outside. You’ll be able to figure out the mix. Do be careful when putting your bike on the trainer. There is not a lot of extra room around the rear dropout and it’s easy to scratch the paint. Not a huge deal unless the bike is your new baby.
If you can ride comfortably in the aero position, ride the tri bike. Earlier this summer I fitted a girl on a P2C Saturday morning and she raced the bike the next day. She did just fine.
I would not worry about the aerobar set up. They are all the same some shinny and some not, just depends on what they recieved when your bike was built by Cervelo.
They did the same with forks, on my blue 07 P2C my fork is mat black, my buddy same bike, same fork is shinny.
Finally! My new P2C is arriving today after a bit of a delay with FedEx! I’m thinking of skipping classes just so I can sit and look at it this afternoon!
First, I really want to thank Geoff at Colorado Multisports. He was my fitter and did an awesome job of not only finding a great position, then bike, for me, but also in patiently providing education and feedback on cycling, bike care and triathlons to a person who is still a relative newbie. Geoff, you were awesome. For anyone in the Boulder area (or other areas, I live in NC and took advantage of a vacation trip to be fitted at Colorado Multisports) who is looking to be fitted for a new or on an existing bike, definitely stop here.
I have a few questions to which I would greatly appreciate ST’s input:
I have a bike computer for my road bike and assume I want one for my tribike as well. What do you recommend and why?
Do you haul your tribike in the back of your vehicle or on a bike rack?
How long would you recommend I ride it on a trainer before hitting the road (possibly literaly) given that I’ve never ridden in the aero position and cycling is my weakest link? What would be a good combination of road biking and trainer riding to make the adaptation?
I have my first oly distance race Sept. 7th. Should I ride my road bike or try the tri bike?
I recognize these might all be silly and I might well look at them tomorrow and regret looking like a fool on ST (probably not the first time, I know), but right now I am so full of nervous energy that I needed a distraction. Thank you for your input and patience
1. Mavic Wintech computer; the one with the computer sensor integrated into the skewer... very aero, very cool!! I have had mine for about 4 years, and it's awesome! Wireless, too.
2. Bike on back of car; who wants all the grit and stuff in the air flying over top of the car and messing up the bike? Plus it destroys your gas mileage.
3. On the road is the only way to go.
4. Only if you're comfortable on it from the aforementioned road training.
No, I have about 2 years now on the road bike. But as I said, grace is not one of my strong suits. Not coming from a biking background, or any athletic background for that matter, I try to proceed with caution while not underestimating myself and selling myself short.
The only thing I will add, a safety/riding comment. When riding in that parking lot or lonely road, practice looking behind you. The first time I tried that in the aero position I drifted a few feet and almost off the road. Now I know how and to what extent I can look behind me safely.
That was the closest I have come to wiping out in 5 years of road riding, I will now go and knock on every piece of wood I can find.
1 I´ve used cateye wireless. It´s worked fine for me.
2 No way, inside the car.
3 NO WAY. NEVER ride a bike you want to race with on a trainer. You should have an old aluminium/steel frame for indoor riding. It not only corrodes the screws and small parts, it wears down and can eventually even destroy the frame. (I´ve had friends who have cracked their alu frames on a trainer)
4 Yeah, go ahead and try to refrain from using your new bike. Take it if it´s draft legal.
Knee and elbow pads would’ve been a great idea! Thankfully, I’ve learned to fall gracefully when I fail to unclip. The position is great, it’s the aerobars that concern me. Yes, I am one of those klutzy types who can’t ride a bike unless at least one hand, preferably two, is on the handlebars. I was thinking more of wrapping my bike in bubblewrap before riding to protect it rather than me