I’m doing the Six Gap century ride in Georgia in 2 weeks. Lots of climbing there, to help me prepare for ITU LC Worlds in November on the Henderson NV course. I’m trying to figure out whether I should take my road bike or my tri bike to Six Gap. My tri bike is a P2, which I’ve had for over a year now and am happy with. A month or two ago I got my very first road bike, a Specialized Amira (girl version of the Tarmac). I’ve ridden about 300 miles on the road bike, including a 100 miler this past weekend. I was in SO much pain at the end of it. I’m sure some of that has to do with the fact that it’s been over a year since the last time I’ve ridden that far, but I’m confident that some of it also has to do with adjusting to the new bike & new position (I’ve never ridden a road bike before this). My back/arms/hands were hurting after only 20 miles or so.
The reason I got the road bike when I did was because I was thinking it would handle the steep climbs & descents at Six Gap better than the P2, but I’m wondering if taking it might be a bad idea if I’m not fully adjusted to it yet. It does seem to do a little better than the P2 on climbs, and I am sure it would handle the scary-fast descents better too. Another reason I wanted to ride the road bike at Six Gap was to help me make the decision of which bike to ride for LC Worlds.
I know I’ll be in some pain at the end of the century ride either way, so I’m having trouble deciding which bike to take. Can anyone help me out with some opinions? The P2 has 650 wheels and the road bike has 700s, if that makes a difference.
You should have enough time to get used to the road position before the Gaps. Here’s a tip - the climbing ain’t fun, and 50+ mph descents can be downright dangerous if you’re not used to the speed, and that goes double on a twitchier tri bike.
I’ve ridden 6 gap 5 times and also own a P2. I road a Trek 2300 road bike every time on 6 gap. I would go with the road bike if you want to descend at much speed. If you are going to hold the brakes and go 20mph down the mountains, either bike is fine. But at 40-50mph on the descents, I’d opt for the road bike. My P2 had crap for brakes. I finally changed them out to Ultegra. I don’t think the wheels would make that much difference if the gearing is comparable. If they are, say a 34/27 on a 650 wheel will be an easier gear to climb in than a 34/27 on a 700 wheel. What cassettes and cranks are on these bikes? I’ve done a lot of riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway on my P2 on high speed descents and its ok, but those descents are nothing like as technical as 6 Gap. I feel no real difference on the ascents, if anything, I favor the P2 there as its stiffer than the aluminum road bike. Is the Henderson course very technical? Hope this is helpful.
Thanks for the input. About the gearing- both bikes have compacts and I believe I will be going with a 27 cassette on either bike. Where I live it is flat, flat, flat… so I have very little experience going downhill at speed. I’ve been told that the road bike would be much safer and less scary. I guess I’m trying to weigh that against the possible increased pain of not being used to the position on the road bike, which at the end of this weekend’s 100-miler was downright misery.
Always err on the side of safety. I love 6 Gap and have done it numerous times but it is not a ride for tri-bikes if you’re not experienced with the fast, curvy descents. There was a fatality a few years ago from a rider who went off the road. She was from Florida, I believe.
I would base 99% of the decision on what riding geometry your body is used to. There is a distinct difference between road and tri geometry, as your body told you on the previous century ride. If you think your body is now acclimated, then I would go with the road bike. If your body is more acclimated to the tri-bike, then I would ride that. The handling issue should be less of a factor - you should be a good enough rider to control either bike in the mountains.
I rode a tri-bike in the Blue Ridge mountains all the time when I lived back there, and didn’t have much issues. In winter, I usually rode a road bike on the rollers/trainer. I noticed that in spring it took me a couple weeks to get comfortable on the tri bike again. My tri bike had 650c wheels - I don’t think it makes that much of a difference in climbing - although it will give you smaller gear inches options for really steep hills. I would say that is very secondary.
6 Gap was my first ever century. It is a wonderful wonderful ride. With that said, I would not even think about doing it on my tri bike. I echo pretty much everything everyone else has said so far: descents are very fast, very twisty, very fun, but nothing I’d attempt without the brakes within close reach. Have a great time!
I’ll pile on - definitely the road bike! You will be “on” Hogpen for a LONG time and will be a lot more comfy on the road bike. The curvy descents are a blast to rail with a road bike as well. There really would be zero benefit to taking your P2 for that ride since you are mostly going up or coming down.
I am somewhat going against the grain here and saying a tri bike is fine…if it isn’t the official Six Gap ride (yes, I know you are doing the official ride). I live in north GA and have ridden the gaps many times on my tri bike. Sure, Hogpen isn’t that much fun on a tri bike, but it isn’t that much fun on a road bike either. Most of the descents have cambered turns so I haven’t felt handling has ever been an issue. I have always been more worried on straighter descents like coming down the Cherahola Pkwy.
HOWEVER, as I stated…I have never rode the official Six Gap ride, but have heard it is extremely crowded. If it were me, I would rather have whatever bike I felt I could handle better and be comfortable on for a very long 100 miles.
Good luck at Six Gap. It isn’t your run of the mill century ride and there will be plenty of memories you will take home with you.
Yeah, I think the last time I did six gap was 98, and it had about 600 riders, and seemed crowded... To the OP; I did use a 650c bike, early Cannondale tri frame set up as a roadie, and the 650 wheels were pretty nice for climbing. That said, because of the crowds, I'd choose the roadie, just because you have more weight on the rear and steering, and panic steering, if necessary, should be more comfortable.
I’ve ridden 6 gap with a few friends on my tri bike and it was fine. However, six gap century is crazy crowded in the first ten miles or so before the first climb up Neels gap. After that, it spreads out and you should be fine riding all the rollers and climbs on a tri bike. It’s the descents where you need to be careful as several others have pointed out. Take it easy on the descents and stay away from the large packs of riders and you should be fine. After that ride you will know whether you can ride LC worlds on your tri bike or not.
I’ve done it 4 times, all on a road bike. I’m a bigger guy and am standing for miles 4-6 on Hogpen and I cannot do that on a tri bike because my knees hit the bars. You should also check the rules for the ride as many centuries do not allow bikes with aero bars. I didn’t have a compact at the time but I would use one if I went back. My last one was in 06, rained the whole time, still an awesome ride.
I was there in 2006. One word: EPIC. The only time it didn’t rain? When you climbed through the clouds.
Bob
2006 was good, but it made 2010 look like a nice sunny day. It poured several inches during 2010… hogpen miles 3 through 5, I was like a salmon swimming up stream, as the road had a swift moving stream of rain going down the road.
as to what bike to ride… ride whatever is most comfortable, just control your speed on the descents, especially hogpen, because you can quickly go over 50 mph, from coasting alone.
At 6-Gap 2006 I learned how to crash…going uphill. Headed up Unicoi and the water was streaming down the road. I got out of my saddle and apparently the front wheel came up, spun the back, and thump, down I went.
I respectfully disagree that tri bikes are twitchier, especially a P2.
People say that tri bikes are less manueverable and they don’t turn quick enough for a group ride, then they say they are more twitchy, which one is it?
I agree with the road bike advice. Riding this route on a tri bike with lots of people around would make me nervous, and being on my road bike and seeing a person on a tri bike on this route would make me even more nervous. As a previous poster said, you are pretty much either going up or going down, so there’s not much need to be aero. Plus, in general, road bikes for group rides are preferred.
I don’t own a road bike that isn’t steel, so I’ll be riding my Cervelo Dual up and down the gaps. I’ve done it plenty of times outside of the official race, and I rarely get in the aero bars going down the steeper descents (because I’m a wimp), but there are plenty of spots where I am in the bars too (like the first 20 and last 20, and from half-way down Hogpen to Wolfpen).
I’d go with comfort. I was nervous two months ago about riding a tri bike up and down Hogpen, etc., and after many rides I am now comfortable. I plan to take it very easy the entire day anyway, try to avoid the bigger packs on the descents, and just finish the thing.
Should be a very fun event, and hopefully a dry one too.