Tri Frame vs. Road Frame For IM Training

Triathlon Forum
1

I used to train and race on a road frame (a steel Gunnar), set up for tri. This set-up got me through 5 seasons of sprint, olympic and long course racing culminating in a 1/2 Ironman in '05

Last February, I stepped up to a carbon tri bike (Kalibur). I trained and raced (sprint, olympic and long course) exclusively on this bike.

I’ve decided to go for my first IM in '07 (CDA).

After a lot of research, reading and pain in the ass question asking (I don’t officially have a coach), it seems that I would be well served to do the majority of my training (w/ lots of hills) on the steel road frame with the exception of really long, non-hilly rides. Then, get back on the Kalibur exclusively approx. 2-3 months before the race.

Finally, the question:

Do I revert the Gunnar back to a more traditional road geometry set-up or keep it as it was set up for tri (including clip-ons)?

2

Wow…get ready for a fire storm. I am planning for a great season in 07 on top of playing RD for a new half…tonight I am putting my new 2007 Record groupset on my ROAD bike for training. I will be on a kalibur as well soon, but I do much of my training on the Litespeed Ultimate.

3

Traditional ROAD set up on the Litespeed (meaning forward seat, aerobars, etc.)?

(What’s with the a/s switch?)

4

Road bike - no aero bars. Why - cause it is more comfortable for long miles and there are more folks near me who are on road bikes.

5

Chip, what’s the story with the typo in your handle? Excuse me if it has been discussed already but I have been offline with a hard drive failure.

6

Yeah Chip, whats up with the handle?

And whats up with the website for rocketman tri? Theres no info on that thing. Where the hell is the race?

7

I personally train and race on my tri bike. It is sooo comfortable, and specific to what I am training for, that I really see no reason to train on a road bike. I do spend a good bit of time on the mountain bike in the winter.

Good luck on the IM!