Do most of you train with both a tri bike and a road bike? I currently only have a tri bike (Speed Concept 7.8) that I do all of my training and racing on. My soon-to-be coach highly recommends using a road bike as well. I guess it will really depend on my budget but want to see if others use a road bike in training…
Sort of depends on your training patterns. If you always train alone, never do group rides, have lots of nice straight open roads to ride on, and are fully comfortable on your tri bike all the time…then not much benefit in a road bike.
However if you start to train more, you might find that will include some group rides, or trickier terrain, or more slow rides where the TT bike isn’t as comfy (aggressive TT positions are sometimes only comfy when going hard). Maybe you want to do some bike races, or get groceries with your bike, or commute to work. Having a simple road bike for those things is nice, and may encourage you to train more.
If your tri bike has di2 shifting, it makes owning only a tri bike a bit easier, since you can shift from the hoods.
The variety can be good mentally. And road bikes are more fun for a group or casual rude and are better hammering climbs and somehow feel more “pure”. But I think physically, specifiety rules.
Specificity is important, but variety can yield a broader range of fitness, allow for better recovery when you do go suoer-threshold (hill, out of T2, corner accels, etc), and teach better handling. A road bike is more effective in a more variable power output–accels, sprints, standing climbs, more sprints, etc. Group rides help here, or just rides where you chase cars, do high intensity pops, or hammer descents. Road bikes are inherently more stable due to rider positioning in relation to the wheels and ability to move around more. The better you are at high intensity, the faster you recover in a race when you do pop above threshold. I recommend having both to my athletes.
For even more of this, get a MTB.
If I can swing purchasing a road bike this season would it matter which type? For instance I’m looking at Specialized and Trek… Trek makes the Domane and the Madone, the Madone being more aggressive and race-like. The same for Specialized’s Amira vs their Ruby, with the Amira being their more aggressive, race bike. Since I already have a racier bike, does it make more sense to get an endurance road bike (Domane or Ruby) or will the more aggressive bike be better suited?
That totally depends on your fitness level, flexibility, strength, injury history, budget and desires. Generally more an endurance bike works better for a triathlete, but not always. In my shop we fit you first, then find the right bike. I recommend that approach.
It doesn’t matter at all. You might think about getting something that can take a bike rack, in fact. A cheap steel or aluminum bike etc.
If I can swing purchasing a road bike this season would it matter which type? For instance I’m looking at Specialized and Trek… Trek makes the Domane and the Madone, the Madone being more aggressive and race-like. The same for Specialized’s Amira vs their Ruby, with the Amira being their more aggressive, race bike. Since I already have a racier bike, does it make more sense to get an endurance road bike (Domane or Ruby) or will the more aggressive bike be better suited?
Specificity is important, but variety can yield a broader range of fitness, allow for better recovery when you do go suoer-threshold (hill, out of T2, corner accels, etc), and teach better handling. A road bike is more effective in a more variable power output–accels, sprints, standing climbs, more sprints, etc. Group rides help here, or just rides where you chase cars, do high intensity pops, or hammer descents. Road bikes are inherently more stable due to rider positioning in relation to the wheels and ability to move around more. The better you are at high intensity, the faster you recover in a race when you do pop above threshold. I recommend having both to my athletes.
For even more of this, get a MTB.
I was so ready to vehemently disagree with you after the first 3 words but then kept reading. I thought it was going to be another “you’re a triathlete so you should only ride a TT” post.
glad you read word 4: BUT…
I agree with what Jack said. The big driver is your training pattern and where you ride. If you only train alone, in non-mountainous area, then getting a road bike would really not be that much of an advantage.
However, if you anticipate or enjoy group rides, are considering possibly doing some bike racing or gran fondos, you live in an area with lots of ups and downs and twists and turns, and if you had a road bike you would ride more, then a road bike is a wise purchase and a good second bike.
I would suggest that the second bike that most triathletes should own is a cyclocross bike. In many ways, it is the perfect complement to a tri bike. A cross bike opens up a whole new world of cycling. It can allow you to escape the traffic, wind and monotony of your usual paved routes. For me, it feels like a completely different sport than the serious “work” I put in on my tri bike. I ride more as a result. The more relaxed geometry/fit makes it my go-to bike for easier days.
A cross bike also makes a capable road bike for all but the most demanding group rides or races. Just throw on a pair of road tires or swap wheels with your tri bike. I have mine set up with 32C slick tires most of the time, which are enough to handle most dirt roads and light trails without being absolute pigs on asphalt.
It also makes a good commuter. Finally, riding off-road can help build triathlete’s notoriously poor bike handling skills.
^ This. if you’re a triathlete first and foremeost and just want a second bike to do group rides, the cross bike is a really versatile machine.
^ This. if you’re a triathlete first and foremeost and just want a second bike to do group rides, the cross bike is a really versatile machine.
Plus cyclocross racing in the fall/winter is a killer way to extend the season and have a great time.