Currently riding a Felt Road bike full carbon. Only competed in sprints and Oly’s but doing my first 70.3 this summer. I was hoping to get some suggestions on upgrades for my bike to get it running more like a TT.
I’m thinking clip on aeros, fast forward seatpost to increase angle, maybe and aero helmet, and I would like some aero wheels instead of my cheap stock wheels. Would love something 40mm-80mm depth. Any suggestions? Also keep in mind I can’t afford top of the line upgrades!
Get the FF seatpost, clipons off eBay, aerojacket for your rear wheel, packing tape over the vents in your helmet. Biggest part of your potential aero gain will be body position and a couple thousand miles adjusting to it. Flo 60 for the front wheel if you can swing it.
Inexpensive as in how much $ you planning to spend?
Once you confirm that you can get in a great aero position on the frame, and that the bike handles acceptably when in it, you could sell the road bars and STI shifters, and get a complete aero cockpit.
Or just sell the bike and get a TT bike =)
I was hoping to get everything I mentioned gently used and stay under $1K
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I run a similar setup myself. My list, done cost-consciously:
The aerojacket made a noticeable difference, but that’s no surprise. Getting the clip-on arm rests low enough has been the challenge, followed by getting the seat far enough forward.
good luck.
What wheel do you run up front? Also what tires do you use, if you don’t mind me asking? and thanks for the advice!
What wheel do you run up front? Also what tires do you use, if you don’t mind me asking? and thanks for the advice!
Continental GP4000S.
Two part answer, sorry.
I currently use an Easton 90mm carbon tubular up front with a Hutchinson tire. Near the end of last season, I got a great deal on the wheel and a similarly great deal on the tire. (I started with a Continental Sprinter, which I blew on the first ride - hit a walnut - then my LBS gave me a screaming deal on the Hutchinson). I used that wheel for one race in October.
Previous to that, I used a Neuvation aluminum aero clincher with cheap butyl tubes and Performance Bike house tires. It was ever-so-slightly more aero than my stock bomber wheels; 32-spoke Mavic Open Pro’s. I used that wheel for 2 years.
On the back, I use my stock rear wheel (32-spoke Open Pro, DT Revolution spokes, Campy Chorus hub) with the Aerojacket. Heavy, but almost indestructible. Current rear tire is a Specialized Roubaix (28mm!) with a cheap butyl tube. I do plan on upgrading the tire/tube combination for this season.
Retro-tech, yes? Remember though - the position is everything. Your body is more of an aero obstacle than the bike - so use the bars & seat work you’re talking about to get a correct position. You can use the fit guides on this site, or cell-phone selfies, or whatever. I see many, many riders on dedicated tri bikes who’s backs have enough angle on them to serve as decent ski slopes. All that money just to push their chest through the wind…
Get the FF seatpost, clipons off eBay, aerojacket for your rear wheel, packing tape over the vents in your helmet. Biggest part of your potential aero gain will be body position and a couple thousand miles adjusting to it. Flo 60 for the front wheel if you can swing it.
Add a cover for the rear and you’re there.
I was hoping to get everything I mentioned gently used and stay under $1K
If you’re going to drop a grand on upgrades - it makes sense to just sell your carbon bike and find a used P2 or something similar. I see them sold all the time with race wheels for under $2k. You can probably find deals on ebay/craigslist/etc of people who got out of the sport and just need the money.
Currently riding a Felt Road bike full carbon. Only competed in sprints and Oly’s but doing my first 70.3 this summer. I was hoping to get some suggestions on upgrades for my bike to get it running more like a TT.
I’m thinking clip on aeros, fast forward seatpost to increase angle, maybe and aero helmet, and I would like some aero wheels instead of my cheap stock wheels. Would love something 40mm-80mm depth. Any suggestions? Also keep in mind I can’t afford top of the line upgrades!
For your bike, this right here is what you need!
A Fast Forward seatpost will put you too far forward and make hell out of your handling. A better option is to use a Thompson setback seatpost and reverse it. You just have to flip the top hardware. You can also reverse some Bontrager seatposts. That, a set of clip on aerobars and the race wheels of your choice is all I would do. The next move is to get a Tri Bike and keep this one for road rides
A Fast Forward seatpost will put you too far forward and make hell out of your handling. es
No it won’t.
I did this long ago and used a road bike conversion for a few years. I went with a full TT front end using separates, not an expensive integrated bar. I also used a straight of post instead of a fast forward. The post got me far enough forward and I like the look better.
Add race wheels as deals present themselves. Wheel covers or a renn disk are a great way to go.
I muck prefer a full TT front end to clip ons on standard drop bars. That setup just feels clugey.
It looks like I’m getting some mixed ideas about the FF seatpost. Should I stick with my thought on getting it? Or will my straigh post be fine even when I get into aero position?
Actually a FF seat post may cause serious problems. I put one on my road bike a while back in order to simulate the position on my tri bike. The handling was so bad I was afraid to ride it. The problem is lack of “front center” (distance between the center of the crank and the front axle) caused too much weight on the front wheel. The bike was all over the road… (compared to my Giant trinity which seems to turn much like a bus).
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bump
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Ive got my road bike set up with the FF seatpost & aerobars - seems to work well for me so far.
I have also read plenty of comments here & elsewhere on the FF seatpost either causing no issue, or causing some handling issues, so although it works for me, it may be a concern. Id suggest seeing if you can find one used here or on ebay maybe - that way you wont be out much $ if it turns out to be an issue on your bike. Also, make sure before you get one that you make sure it is long enough - they are shorter than most seat posts, so if you have your seat up on the higher end, it may not work for you.
Ok thanks for info everyone!