Having ridden that saddle (and others similar to it), and the one Chelsea has here…I still prefer the ISM with zip ties.
Note: I’m also the idiot that rode an unpadded saddle on my trainer bike for 12+ hours a week for three months and broke my pelvis in the process, so take my preferences with the entire 5 lb bag of salt.
Have u tried bisaddle?
I’ve wanted too, but the price is too heavy. The saddles i have, i can make work even though i believe the bisaddle would be more comfortable.
Yep. It’s a great saddle. But I still preferred the feel underneath me of an ISM PN 1.1 with a zip tie tightening it in by, oh, 2mm or so (for triathlon, anyways).
For a road bike…I’m really partial to the Fizik Argo R3.
You posted this before the Press Conference, I think.
Since she appeared to be sick, and wearing a mask to protect her fellow competitors (tick), have to assume either that new Ventum won’t get a decent outing (but Clutterbuck’s will).
She will be very keen to validate her AQ. Does that mean she’ll struggle round? idk Perhaps she’ll just go to LP to do that. Given inconsistency, an effort to race enough to compete in the IM Pro Series seemed always a stretch target.
@marcag The thigh space has gone to Ventum from WYN - that uncropped image would’ve been fine!
Yeah, but i figured for other reasons. She doesn’t seem to handle expectations and stress very well and I assumed she would stress herself out of the race with the level of competition. In Kona, when she won, there were zero expectations on her. Even though I’m not a fan, I feel bad for her getting sick from her kid. I’ve been there several times myself going into my A race.
I wonder why the Bolide she got hold of after she and Canyon got fed up with one another didn’t suit her. There was some chat upthread about that bike being light and nimble. Presumably Pinarello said “we’ll supply in kind but minimal cash” and Sodaro found that she liked the Tempus (after testing several brands as described in Eric’s article) and Ventum had some spare funds in the budget.
Brandon (on here and Ventum Bikes) gave some insights on the PTN pod (at 1:10):
Best bike in Triathlon is a stretch like saying Shedeur is a first round pick, comes off as a copy of a bunch of designs on market already and not unique. Maybe since it’s no longer weird looking they’ll sell more?
More companies are doing integrated hydration then not…(on new designs)
I don’t believe there is a best bike in triathlon. Everyone has different needs, preferences, requirements, and budgets. Pick the one that best fits your personal needs.
You are bang on. And if you are a pro add “the sponsor that will properly support you”
This was the biggest criteria in Chelsea’s choice
“How fat is the check you’re going to cut?”
I have to think that support meant more about working with her on bike fit, front end solutions, hydration solutions, etc.
There are sponsors that like to dictate rather than collaborate.
So less money for more choice…got it.
When she was with Canyon she had all the resources she could have wanted, but she didn’t like the fit, so she jumped to Pinarello when her name was still hot. Name is less hot, they get rid of an expensive contract.
I remember when Specialized was really at the top of their game from a resources perspective and their bike was still good, they could get the athletes they wanted as their total package was so much better and the dollars weren’t too far off. But now if we look at these from a different lens…if you are jumping from brand to brand, is it really about “support” or is it about “money”.
I understand this is a cynical view, but if you look at the current US sports landscape you’d understand why I have it.
You are much closer to the grindstone on this.
But I hear that sponsors have also found there are athletes with whom collaboration is a challenge.
I wish Ventum well.
I don’t believe Pinarello ever “sponsored” Chelsea… she just rode that bike. Never had their logo on her kit or referenced a relationship.
This is so true.
There is a sponsor I met that invested a ton of money as a ‘fan of the sport’, only to have a bunch of prima donna, 3rd tier athletes biting the hand that fed them.
Sponsorship is a two way street. Some sponsors and athletes get it.
Chelsea is not a hard person to work with. Au contraire.
her name is still hot enough to be the only one to have a thread about the bike change…
I tested Chelsea yesterday. We had a perfect weather day for testing.
She did 14 tests. All around positions and 3 helmets.
This bike is a VERY good bike. My optimism was neutral going in. I am now a fan.
But as you say it’s all about fit. She fits well on it or at least produces very good numbers with the fit she now has.
My guess is that is the case with virtually all the high end bikes, the fit is what really matters. I bet one bottle sitting on the top tube has more variance than any difference in frame design. Now she just needs to get herself healthy and stay that way long enough to actually do a race… (-;
