Training for my first tri this Spring and recently purcased a P2. I have spent lots of time on mt. bike and have been riding a road bike pretty hard since last Summer to get into shape with no problems, but being on the stock areo bars of the P2 feel very twitchy. I thought that time on the bike would solve my problem but so far no big improvement. My biggest problem is when I am on my areo bars and need to quickly reach my rear brake, or shift my weight the bike feels really twitchy. I am thinking areo bars that would allow me to get my elbow wider might help. I did get a bike fit when I purchased. Any suggestions?
Planks. 25 minutes a day.
No seriously, core work will help you feel more comfortable.
Riding a route where you have confidence helps, even if it’s a 1km loop around an industrial area on a non windy day. Head out, do some laps sitting up for the corners, then gradually stay down more. You know the road is smooth, you know the speed you can corner at, so build that confidence. And if it’s getting onto the brakes that causes you wobbles, then just drill that. Up down up down, up down for 20 minutes.
Wider pads may be worse, as it would increase the moment on your bars from your remain arm when you take the first arm off the bar. More likely, you need to learn the technique of taking the pressure off and the micro adjsutment as the other arm moves.
You need to get used to it, it sounds like more time on the bike riding in the bars is in order.
A P2 is not a twitchy bike, give it some more time and you will get better.
jaretj
tighten the headset?
It really does take some time in the saddle. Core work is fine, but is more about how long you can stay there, not actual balance. All the muscles you need to gain balance will work hard everytime you need them to by riding.
Of course the suggestion to get your headset checked isn’t a bad one. Making sure everything is in working order will give you confidence that will translate into extra stability.
Sometimes the rake of the fork can make a big difference in how stable a bike feels. Small rake usually is more stable. Longer rake usually gives some more comfort (shock absorption), but makes the steering touchier. Switching out a fork is pretty expensive these days, though.
When I used to work on bike handling, I would go to a big empty parking lot and work on things such as cornering, countersteering, etc.
If you are brave, try riding on the bars while on rollers. That is a sure fire way to learn stability!
Some things just take time to get used to.
Training for my first tri this Spring and recently purcased a P2. I have spent lots of time on mt. bike and have been riding a road bike pretty hard since last Summer to get into shape with no problems, but being on the stock areo bars of the P2 feel very twitchy. I thought that time on the bike would solve my problem but so far no big improvement. My biggest problem is when I am on my areo bars and n****eed to quickly reach my rear brake, or shift my weight the bike feels really twitchy. I am thinking areo bars that would allow me to get my elbow wider might help. I did get a bike fit when I purchased. Any suggestions?
Stop reaching for the rear brake. Seriously. It’s a tri bike, not a mountain bike. You don’t use the rear brake on a tri bike in the same manner that you use it on a MTB. In fact, most roadies rarely, if ever, use their rear brake except in some strange circumstances (like wet roads and technical high speed descents) Same applies to TT bikes.
what size p2?
how tall are you?
how many spacers?
how long is your stem?
how far forward/back is your seat position?
trying to get an idea of anything is odd about your fit or not. you can sometimes get twitchyness when the bike is a size too small and you end up way too far forward over the front wheel.
^^^ This
How much of your weight is on the bars? Your weight should be in the saddle, not on the arms/bars.
When I first started, I found that spreading the aerobars and pads a few cm on each side helped get me used to it. Then I gradually brought them back in.
Where are your eyes when in aero? If they are beyond the front axle you will be more twitchy. Besides moving your seat back, which may worsen your power or aero position, the only cure for that is a longer frame. Having said that, my first bike was too short for me once I started getting steeper, but I got used to it. Fork changes might help, too.
BTW, if you ride MTB, I’m betting that your core is plenty strong. At least for me, when I ride my MTB after a break from it, my core muscles feel like I just did a core workout.
If you’re worried about scrubbing speed on a fast technical descent (which can definitely be scarry), you could consider Hed’s Third Brake Lever.
Its usually something like a car passes me and then turns right and I have to hit the brakes unexpectently. This morning I was going down a hill in the bike lane and I hit a rough patch on the road and was reaching for the brake to slow a bit while getting bounced around a bit, had a bit of a scare.
I spent the last hour biking around neighborhood at slower speeds and just practice reaching for the brake, waterbottle and shifting my weight around I think I have gotten my confidence back.
My point was you should be reaching for the front brake, not the back.
what size p2?
how tall are you?
how many spacers?
how long is your stem?
how far forward/back is your seat position?
trying to get an idea of anything is odd about your fit or not. you can sometimes get twitchyness when the bike is a size too small and you end up way too far forward over the front wheel.
Its a 54
I am 5’7"
2 spacers
my seat is in the forward hole and pretty much in the middle of the seat rails, my eyes are straight above the front axel when I am on the bars.
how long is the stem?
everything is is within totally normal range so that is good =)
If you haven’t ridden aerobars much try not gripping the extensions tightly. You body english and elbows do most of the steering / course correction when on the aerobars, not your hands. Other than the relax your upper body.
how long is the stem?
everything is is within totally normal range so that is good =)
How do I measure the stem?
how long is the stem?
everything is is within totally normal range so that is good =)
How do I measure the stem?
usually the size is printed on it, in millimeters. something like usually between 80 or 120mm or so.
how long is the stem?
everything is is within totally normal range so that is good =)
How do I measure the stem?
With a tape measure or a ruler. from center to center.