Any advise on whether to use a TRI bike or a ROAD bike set up with clip on Aerobars for IM WI? Based on watching the event the last 2 years it seems about half ride Tri and half ride road.
Thanks
Matt Madison WI
No brainer. TRI.
Just finished the race this year and here is my thought:
Road bike - lots of turning and a road bike is going to be more easier to handle.
clip on aerobars & ergo shifters
Disc - definetely
Canpagnolo - You will shift all the time and will need a system that works all day long! I saw lots of riders having tunning problems with shimanos mainly in the 2nd loop. I passed them on the hills while they were “clclclclclclclclclcl” and no shifting - a couple of them had to pull over due to shifting poblems on the hills.
Also… work on your handling skills will save you a ton of time and energy.
Being from Wisconsin and training on the course will give you a least 15’ advantage on a same level rider that don’t know the course.
Luis
I have done a bit of research on this race and have raced it twice. I would advise you to use a tri bike and deep dish carbon wheels. I would not advise you to use a disc. You will have better results on hilly courses with wheels like Zipp 303 or 404. You will loose efficiency on the hills with a disc. Unless you are a pro who can provide loads of power, a disc will hurt you more than it will help you on this course.
If you have a road bike now, you can survive with the clip-ons. What ever you decide, make your choice early in the year and stick with it.
TRi bike with bar end shifters if you a strong cyclist of stay in the the aerobars for long,
Road bike or tri bike with sti shifters and clip ons if you are there for fun.
I have done a bit of research on this race and have raced it twice. I would advise you to use a tri bike and deep dish carbon wheels. I would not advise you to use a disc. You will have better results on hilly courses with wheels like Zipp 303 or 404. You will loose efficiency on the hills with a disc. Unless you are a pro who can provide loads of power, a disc will hurt you more than it will help you on this course."
This is simply not true. The aero advantage of a disc by FAR outweighs the small additional weight.
what were you smoking when you did this research!?
nearly every piece of literature says that discs are faster in ALL conditions…i don’t see how this race is any different.
the pros use them for a reason…they are faster. it’s a shame that many age groupers don’t realize this too (although…not that big of a shame…b/c i have a disc, and the competition doesn’t 
)
Thanks for al the feedback so far. Since I will only being doing 2-3 events a year I was thinking about a Cervelo Solist with Dura Ace and some nice wheels. However, you now have me thinking more of a Tri bike. Thanks again
Matt
When deciding to ride a disc or not at a race it is not as simple as aerodynamics or weight. You have to take weather conditions, rider size and rider ability and other things into consideration. In the last two years, the majority of the age groupers and pros alike have chose not to ride disc’s for a reason. True, Dave Harju rode a disc this year, but he is a very strong rider and can use it to his advantage.
Disc’s are great and I use mine often over the year, but I wouldn’t recommend it in Madison. I posted a top 100 bike split this year on 303’s and felt it was the right choice.
Good luck in you racing Matt, I’m sure you will do well and have fun no matter what bike setup you choose.
I posted a top 100 bike split this year on 303’s and felt it was the right choice.
That is great, I also have seen and ridden the course…making a blanket statement about any gear other than proclaiming that Shimano Sucks is just foolish. You make it seem like only an idiot would ride a Disk at Moo…that is about as foolish as my thoughts that only an idiot would ride Shimano.
Top 100…and?
I don’t get it…new people, no identity, no name, nothing but “I have done research”. Who are you and what did this research consist of? I think that it is great that you prefer a 404 or 303…but why so vehement about no Disks at Moo?
Clearly the guy is clueless.
WOW. You guys are bitter.
Go to analytic cycling, plug in the numbers for IMMOO for a disc and a 303, then report back to us. I will mail you my Zipp disc if the 303’s are faster.
So a disc+aero wheel+aero frame is 6’ faster on a 180km hilly course compared to a road bike+clip ons?
I wonder if there is an impact on the run? Does an aero frame use different leg muscles on the bike compared to a road bike? I think so but not sure which.
I’ve now done 3 IM using a road bike with clip on’s. I originally switched because my tri bike had 650c wheels and I wanted to move up 700c wheels with a more versatile bike. There are in fact many benefits to racing a road bike including being able to train on it year round. My training is really much different now (meaning I train a lot less) than in the past so comparison for me is impossible, but I honestly now think that my run was better when I got off my tri 78 degree bike than when I get off my road bike. I used to know the answer many years ago about which leg muscles are used on a road bike compared to a TT bike but whatever the answer is I think it may be easier on the Tri bike.
TRi bike with bar end shifters if you a strong cyclist of stay in the the aerobars for long, Road bike or tri bike with sti shifters and clip ons if you are there for fun.
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Sérgio Marques
When it hurts is when it feels good
I tend to agree with Sergio on this one. I was in the aerobars 90% of the time. The course is not nearly as technical as is often quoted.
Disc’s are great and I use mine often over the year, but I wouldn’t recommend it in Madison. I posted a top 100 bike split this year on 303’s and felt it was the right choice.
Sounds like it worked for you, but slick and I also posted top 100 splits using disks, so I don’t think your statement is necessarily definitive of anything. I think a disk is the way to go.
not bitter. I think Slick rode pretty fast in Moo…
like top 27 overall 
Close Francois. I was 27th overall for the entire race. My bike split was only 85th but my run split was 22nd.
Ever watched a TDF or major tour prologue and TT? The courses are often extremely ‘technical’ and all the top riders use their TT bikes (occasionally they run a right STI shifter for a prologue) with a disc rear wheel. I would say go with a Tri bike with a deep front and disc rear, unless it is really windy.
KR