So i’m in this weird state right now that i’m sure most of you have been before. I am a college student, racing half ironmans. Currently have a road bike set-up, Giant TCR 0 <size medium–I am 5’9> with Hed S-Lite aerobars…stem dropped as low as possible with spacers removed. Using a powertap.
I keep thinking about selling my road bike to buy a tri bike. The reason for this being I want to have a really competitive season and I don’t really feel like I can get that good of a position going on my road bike compared to the really aero positions I see these days with all you ST’ers and your Cervelos. I tried a Fast Forward seat post, it was ok, I didn’t feel my position was great. I just feel like I got a super short stem for the road bike but I still feel too spread out, but I didn’t like the feel of the fast forward much. Similar experiences? I’m not in the place where I can have two bikes, i’d need to sell my Giant. FYI, I don’t train with roadies or do roady rides.
But how is it to train on your TT bike all the time? Especially if it is an aggressive set up like cervelo with low bars Oval/HED bars? Does it kill your wanting to ride your bike for hours and hours if you are forced to sit in your aerobars—And also, how is climbing in these bikes, because I do a fair share of hill workouts.
Speaking of which, how much of a difference is the aerodynamics between road frame and TRI really? IE, at say…22 mph, using a tri-spoke/disc set up, how much will the difference be between using a cervelo and road frame with standard drop bars in a half ironman or even a sprint?
I have read so much data saying people run better off the bike using a tri bike with the different geometry, have you all noticed this? Is it that noticable? Is it worth buying a different bike over? I know people say it’s not about the bike it’s about the position…
ALSO, let’s talk about computrainers for a minute. Are they worth it? I have a kurt kinetic and don’t use it very much because i’m from AZ…but at the same time I have used computrainers before and they feel wonderful. I keep reading articles about pro’s sitting in their garages doing pre-set intervals and LT work on their computrainers vs outside because it is easier to control and track progress, do repeats, etc. What do you all think? Would I be crazy do being doing this living in Tucson, AZ where it is nice outside? I do have the mentality to do long indoor training if it is more beneficial (Spent my previous year in Oregon winter when it was raining/cold on my trainer for 4-5 hr rides every week for months).
Who else has switched from a road–aggressive Clip on bar setup to a specific TT bike if you can only have one bike?
I know this was long, I appreciate any of you who read through it and give me your feedback and experiences. Thanks.