The T14 is one of the frames on my short list for building up a tri bike. The gang at Blue are shipping up a frame to a quasi LSB so I can verify a decent fit, but the sizing doesn’t look like it should be a problem.
Now, I live and train in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, so a good chunk of my training can have some pretty fast and technical descents. Especially for the larger riders out there, where they are tightening the head tube angle compared to most tri bikes, how do you find the handling. From what I have read, the trend is to go to a 71-72 degree head tube angle, and seem to run about 4 cm rake. The Blue is up to 74.5 angle with a 4.5 rake. I am a little concerned it might be a bit twitchy.
I’m riding a T-12 and haven’t noticed any handling characteristics to worry about at high speed. It feels quite stable. I don’t recall what the head tube angle on my T-12 is though, and whether or not it’s the same as the T-14. I know the seat tube angle changed but I’m not sure about the head tube.
Pretty sure the headtube angle can’t be changed like the seattube angle!!
Anyway, I rode a T12 last season and while I had no handling issues, it certainly doesn’t ride like a road bike when in the forward position on the aerobars…nor should it. That’s not what a Tri or TT bike is designed to do.
The fastest I’ve had that thing going is on the decent into Keane at IMLP…not exactly a curvy, sweeping decent but not straight either. No problems there…could I have attacked the turns a bit harder on a road bike…yes but again that’s not what a TT bike is designed to do, certainly not one with a headtube angle like the T14.
The fastest I’ve had that thing going is on the decent into Keane at IMLP…not exactly a curvy, sweeping decent but not straight either.
To put it into perspective, the descent into Keene is a 5+ minute downhill, with riders reaching sustained speeds of 50+ mph.
I think you’re misunderstanding the question. The OP is afraid that the handling will be too responsive (akin to a road bike) and less stable (akin to a tri bike). He wants it to behave more like a tri bike, but the geometry suggests that it will behave more like a criterium bike.
I think you’re misunderstanding the question. The OP is afraid that the handling will be too responsive (akin to a road bike) and less stable (akin to a tri bike). He wants it to behave more like a tri bike, but the geometry suggests that it will behave more like a criterium bike.
Exactly. My current road bike is a 64 cm frame, so this will lower the cg somewhat. But that frame gets twitchy around the 35 mph mark. I have had the front end start to slide out on me on curves on a descent. Mind you I still am learning better technique in this regard, but you sit 190 lbs up that high and you are bound to have issues. On the other hand, I am the favorite to pull a group along - apparently I do a pretty good job as a wind stop.
So given this is approximating more of a road geometry in the front end, but assume a forward position with the usual weight loading, what might I expect?
Pardon the ignorance here, but this will also be my first tri bike, and I have been told that they are very different handling beasts, so I know I have adjustments to make next year. Even going so far as to consider side mounted pedals to bring the cg down to help in this regard, but I am not quite at that point yet.
Given that the blue is a “tri” bike with a steeper HTA than most road bikes and that you typically have more weight on the front wheel and less ability to shift back on the tri bike I would be very wary of it.
I haven’t ridden a bike like that - I don’t want a tt bike with only 50mm of trail and reduced self centering ability. I would be looking for a frame that had more sensible geometry in your size.
I’m not a frame builder/designer so I can only give you my personal experience with the T14…
Near where I live there’s the Niagara Escarpment. There a spot north of Burlington where it’s quite twisty. I come flying down that in the aero position & I just have to lean a little into the turns. I don’t have to wrestle the bike or hang on for dear life & bleed speed off as I did on other bikes I’ve owned in the past. The steering for me on the T14 is intuitive. I don’t have to second guess the bike, I just flow down the Escarpment.
You might consider giving Chris Pic a call at Blue. He’s the former Pro rider & designer behind the T14.
The number there is 800-470-2606
I hope the T14 meets your needs & you become part of the Blue family
I’m a fairly recent convert from road cycling to triathlons, so most of my experience is with road bikes. FWIW, though, I road the Beast of the East HIM (Hiawassee, GA) on my T12 last year. As the name implies, the course includes pretty decent climbs and descents. There were some downhill sections I could have definitely ridden faster on my Tuscany, but that might be more a matter of me getting used to riding aero than the particular bike. In any case I rode fast enough to win my age group (overall and the bike) so I can’t complain too much. To me the T12 does still feel somewhat twitchy compared to road bikes, but I’ve always attributed that feeling to having more weight over the front wheel.
BTW, the seat post clamp is pretty crappy on the T12. From the pictures the T14 clearly has a different configuration; I hope it’s more than cosmetic.
On the Neworld group ride they go through the decline near Waterdown. I have never driven the course & I dare not look for road signs on my bike at 75 kph. I’ll try to find it on Mapquest or MS Streets & Trips.
guru shares the same rake if im not mistaken, i wouldnt be so worried, but if I were you, and in your location and area, why wouldn’t you ride a road bike?.
