Who rides the oldest bike in triathlon competitions? I’m not talking about a backup bike solely used for training.
There is a gentleman in my community who always wins the 80+ age group in local triathlons, in part because he is the only entrant in that age group. He’s my hero. He rides a Softride beam bike from the 1990s. When I first saw him on that bike, I thought to myself that I want to be an old guy on an old bike when I reach that age, assuming I live that long.
Nice, 90s softride is like the tri version of back to the future delorean
I remember such a moment too… When i was a kid there was a 70 year old at the runners club wearing terminator ray bans and black bad boy racing club gear
In my last two races, I used my 1990s vintage Softride Road Rocket, with the straight, aluminium beam. Brought it into the present time with some Zipp 404s. I suspect someone will want to trade me their Ventum, straight across, when I beat them 2 more times =)
Probably first timers riding a Dave Scott Centurion they picked up on Craigslist.
There are also some hardcore TTers who probably still rock a Hooker frame from the late '80s.
There is a gentleman in my community who always wins the 80+ age group in local triathlons, in part because he is the only entrant in that age group. He’s my hero. He rides a Softride beam bike from the 1990s. When I first saw him on that bike, I thought to myself that I want to be an old guy on an old bike when I reach that age, assuming I live that long.
Back in the '90s, I used to see a lot of older guys (70+) casually riding around the Rose Bowl on old Colnagos, Pinarellos, and Masis. I decided back then that one of my goals was to one day be one of those 70 year old guys riding a 30 year old Italian steel bike around the Bowl. I had a Mondonico custom built in '97, and I’ll be 70 in 11 more years.
As for an old tri bike, I still have a Specialized Allez Transition from '91, although most of the components have been upgraded. The last time it was raced was in 2008. I still have enough era-correct components to restore it, I’ve been toying with the idea of doing that and doing a reverse sprint or 2. Still have some old Tinley and Tri-Fit clothes as well, but I’d have to drop a few lbs…
That Hooker setup looks pretty dope. Smaller front wheel too it seems?
24" front wheels were a common feature of '80s “funny bikes” to help the rider get lower. The higher contact point (elbows vs. hands) for aerobars, and a UCI ban on differing front/rear wheel sizes killed off the designs.
Is a smaller spoked front wheel more aero? It would be lighter and more compact for travel
Would be intereting to see a carbon iteration of the Hooker style tt bike… With lefty aero fork
Draw backs
The smaller wheels were lighter and accelerated more quickly, but the rolling resistance was higher and they were marginally less aero (the wheel is smaller, but needs to spin faster since the speed at the outer diameter is the same regardless of wheel size).
Ironically, many tri bikes tried 650c wheels (Dave Scott was a big proponent, and QR was also on board) when the acceleration/weight benefits would have suited roadies far more (I think Alano used a 650c bike for some climbing races, but they never really got any traction in the pro peloton). 650c wheels also helped smaller riders get better fits and not have front wheel/shoe overlap.
Found this nishiki 650c road…
https://velospace.org/node/583
Dave scott ironman bike mentioned earlier came in a 650c front/700c back for smaller size fitting and steering…was the name for that type of format a terry?
I had a 650c cannondale tri bike, it felt fast, but at 62cm frame, it felt hairy in fast sharp corners or hitting potholes. 700c definately has handling confidence. Now that tyres are 5mm wider that might be less of a factor with a smaller radius front wheel?
Terry did a lot of 650c front wheel bikes to help fit smaller riders.
Not sure if there was a standard industry term for the 650F/700R bikes. The “funny bikes” were typically 24"F/700cR, and had cowhorn bars (ex. the Shogun Kaze…sold in the mid-80s as a triathon/TT bike).
The smaller wheels were lighter and accelerated more quickly, but the rolling resistance was higher and they were marginally less aero (the wheel is smaller, but needs to spin faster since the speed at the outer diameter is the same regardless of wheel size).
Not buying that they’re less aero. The top of the tyre will be going twice the speed of the bike, regardless of size.
There would be slightly (very slightly) more drag from spinning the wheel bearings faster as well as the smaller diameter tyre interacting with the ground, but it would be small indeed.
Regarding 650 wheels, my understanding is that the main objection to them among the pros was that the neutral support mechanics that were on the course during the big races didn’t carry them. The same issue now exists with the competitors having to standardize their brake configurations.
The smaller wheels were lighter and accelerated more quickly, but the rolling resistance was higher and they were marginally less aero (the wheel is smaller, but needs to spin faster since the speed at the outer diameter is the same regardless of wheel size).
Not buying that they’re less aero. The top of the tyre will be going twice the speed of the bike, regardless of size.
There would be slightly (very slightly) more drag from spinning the wheel bearings faster as well as the smaller diameter tyre interacting with the ground, but it would be small indeed.
That’s why I said marginally. I can’t find the tests, but the results surprised most of us at the time since we just assumed smaller wheels would be MORE aero. PNF’s success on 24†wheels also fed into this assumption.
Steve Hed even made a bike with 20†wheels as a prototype based on that assumption (looked oddly like a folding commuter bike).
I had a custom tri bike with 2 24†wheels
Left it behind after I moved
Have left good bikes behind over the years
Don’t know what I was thinking
.
My first bike was the baby blue/white version of that Centurion! I thought it was the coolest back in the day!
“Dave scott ironman bike mentioned earlier came in a 650c front/700c back for smaller size fitting and steering…was the name for that type of format a terry?”
“Terry” is a brand that sold complete bicycles, components, and clothing directed toward female athletes.
We have a condo far from our home and I have a 2nd set of tri gear there. I race on my Cervelo P2K (year unk). Have come close but no podiums there.
A 2003 Trek 5200 triple. I recently did 2018 IMSR, 2019 Oceanside, and 2019 IMAZ on it. I can’t justify buying a new bike with a wife and 2 young kids.
The smaller wheels were lighter and accelerated more quickly, but the rolling resistance was higher and they were marginally less aero (the wheel is smaller, but needs to spin faster since the speed at the outer diameter is the same regardless of wheel size).
Not buying that they’re less aero. The top of the tyre will be going twice the speed of the bike, regardless of size.
There would be slightly (very slightly) more drag from spinning the wheel bearings faster as well as the smaller diameter tyre interacting with the ground, but it would be small indeed.
That’s why I said marginally. I can’t find the tests, but the results surprised most of us at the time since we just assumed smaller wheels would be MORE aero. PNF’s success on 24†wheels also fed into this assumption.
Steve Hed even made a bike with 20†wheels as a prototype based on that assumption (looked oddly like a folding commuter bike).
If I remember well, the smaller wheels had more rolling drag, not more aero drag
