gang, yesterday my bike speed average was 20.3 on the race course (it was my official 1 year anniversary in the sport…shucks). i wonder if i had a tri bike would the same output potentially make me faster?
on the road bike i do not ride in the drops, mostly in the hoods.
thanks,
kittycat
Yes. Probably at least one mph faster, maybe two or three.
If you got the money, you seem to have the willl, just buy it.
Funny you ask. At the 56 mile mark on Saturday, I was 17 minutes faster on my P2K than I was on my road rig non-aero. Big difference obviously.
wait, so you’re not using aerobars? Why not???
Just slap on some aerobars for an immediate advantage over riding on the hoods. Get someone to help you get fitted for the new position.
yes I believe I’m going to go for it–getting the bike that is. i’ll never be one of the top 5 women to finish, but maybe (when marisol is out of my age group…lol) i could be competitive for the top spots in my age group. that is if I actually did the work…lol.
You will be faster on a tri bike if you mainly ride flats non technical courses. I know I am much faster on my tri bike in a flat TT course next to my house which I ride twice a months. I go approximatley 1.2 mph faster.
In your case you will go faster on a tri bike, because you know that with all the aero gizmos and aggresive position you will look bloddy stupid if you are not going fast.
<<my bike speed average was 20.3>>
Well done, you are getting there. It will soon become more and more difficult to go faster.
There are a lot of things to consider. Tri bikes are at their best on flat strait out and back type courses. You can get lower in the front, get more aero and should be faster. However, if the course has hills, curves, decents, etc. you may be better served on a road bike with clip on aero bars.
Ironically there is one sprint tri that I have done numerous times which is a flat course. My fastest bike split was on my Giant TCR, not my Cervelo P2K or QR Kilo. Of course there could be other factors such as winds, training, etc.
You should get clip-on aero bars for your road bike. That alone would make you faster than just riding on the drops.
Ye gads woman - you’ve been racing for a year, and posting here for longer, and you don’t at least have clip-on aero bars for yer bike?? Have we taught you nothing???
The horror. The horror. 
Go to yer LBS ASAP, and buy a set of Profile Jammers, or comparable shorties from Vision or whomever. Put 'em on yer roadie. While you are there, buy the damn Felt already too!!! Get both bikes fitted, and yer done.*
*you just hafta ride the hell out of 'em at that point. That’s the “easy” part.
PS - 20+ mph is moving. Nice work!!!
PPS - you WILL be faster on yer roadie w/ clip-ons, and/or your new Felt. I guar-on-tee it.
well i can tell you that most of the events I’m doing do have some climbs/rollers and a few curvy descents, etc.
the time trial course that I do every week has a long flat backstretch, with some rollers in the beginning.
in the immediate i could take my bike in to get some bars clipped on and see what that does.
thanks everyone!
Yes, you will be faster as has been stated. But, the bike will not handle the same as your current bike…you may need more practice on the downhills. More training will get you more speed than a tri bike will get you. What you may want to do is take your current bike and get aero bars on it (I cant recall if you do or not)…and even lighter wheels to help out on all the hills out there…it is tough to buy speed…no matter what people say.
"in the immediate i could take my bike in to get some bars clipped on and see what that does. "
Absolutely a must do. Really surprised that you haven’t done this yet.
On a road bike however, get shorter aero bars than you would normally use on a tri bike. Because of the road geometry if your aero bars are too long you’ll be too stretched out which can tighten up your shoulders and neck. There are a number of shorty bars on the market specifically designed for road bikes.
Skip the Vision TT mini’s. They suck.
my wheels are the Mavic Ksyrium. if i got something else i would just use them for the TT or for race day. since you’ve seen the terrain out here, what would you recommend?
You killed my mother!
What “iums” you got? There are a ton…none are super light. All are good wheels. May get a better wheel with just some latex tubes and lighter tires…and I hear you like latex…
i guess they are the ksyrium elite…
in reality, i’d rather just train harder than try to squeeze out a small improvement by dropping 500 to a grand on some wheels. you know what I mean…i don’t want to be looking ridiculous with some fancy wheels when i’m not even near peak fitness.
<< don’t want to be looking ridiculous with some fancy wheels when i’m not even near peak fitness. >>
I say again - HAVE WE TAUGHT YOU NOTHING?!?!???!!!
Sure you do. And, yer not exactly riding all that slow right now. (“Don’t sell yourself short, Judge - you are a tremendous slouch”) You would not look ridiculous w/ race wheels at 20++ mph.
“Buying speed” is the ST way. Why train harder when you can just spend $? Keep the economy strong - buy some race wheels, AND clip-ons, AND the Felt. And some nice dress shoes too.
And you may want to try a shorter stem (not sure what stem you have on there now). Will help a lot with handling and with NOT being super stretched out…
AP
KC, that is a self-fulfilling prophecy, the bane of many lifetime MOPers.
disclaimer: unless i decided to really get more serious and dedicate more hard work and time to the sport.
there 