Apart from silly bars, how easy to live with is a TT bike? I mostly ride road nowadays (or just turbo trainer at the moment due to injury), and due to work/family commitments rarely get out for more than an hour or so at a time. As such I mostly ride flat out for my limited time and compare my results to previous rides.
Is a TT bike a total PITA to ride as a normal bike? I guess the geometry is going to be a bit specialist?
Rather you than me. Can't you just do the same on a road bike?
Aye probably, just looking at new bikes and wondering if a TT bike is excessive (wanting new toy syndrome)
Mine is overgeared for normal use and very low at the front I only use it for racing its geared 55/45 with a 11/21 cassette so not suitable for normal every day use
God no, it'd be awful. You can turn a normal road bike into a TT bike fairly easily but a TT bike is very specialist. You can't use it in road or crit races and they're frowned on in Sportives. Less safe in traffic too cos of the more head down position.
Realistically, even at club level it doesn't make much difference to times, I've seen plenty of people on £4000 TT bikes put in slower times than guys on regular road bikes.
they are stiff as well - I know a guy who commutes on one (because that's the bike he uses for training and it's all he has) and he finds it uncomfortable
they are a very specific tool, like a full on DH bike, so better to get a road bike
Or get and aero road bike - eg Felt AR etc
I have one - its light its carbon and its fast ..... I still use a 500 quid road bike for riding outside racing and race training ....
Mrs S got measured up at http://www.bike-science.com/ in bristol to turn her Planet X Carbon Pro SL into a TT bike.
It now looks hideous with the saddle slammed forward and the TT bars out front, but it gives her a fair approximation of a TT pose, and can always be backed off if she wants something less aggressive.
It's currently sat on her Turbo trainer for the winter with a specific rear tyre. With much more of this weather she'll be out on the road with it soon again.
As long as you always ride the same bike you can compare times for every ride. But a TT bike and your first few rides after that may well give you a big improvement over your road bike times but once you are used to it you'll just be riding like against like again. Unless you want to compete in TTs I really think you'd be better served on a road bike.
I had a cervelo which had a reversible seatpost clamp which brought the saddle forward for TT'ing and back for road mode. You can also buy seat posts which bring you fwd in to a tt position on a road bike.
Not alot you can do with the height of the head tube unless you fit an adjustable stem.
Nah, could road race this no problem, just change the bars etc.
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Nah, could road race this no problem, just change the bars etc.
Would it not fail the UCI rules on aerofoil sections (3:1) etc?
Not in a "chippers race" if they pulled their face you could also mention that no one should wear overshoes as these are classed as an aerodynamic aid.
Tangentialy to the UCI rules and linking back to the OP, considdered a track bike (or at least a fixie?), if anyone asks just say you've only got an hour at a time to train so you're going for the hour record and blame the acheingly soo last year bike choice on the UCI.
I did this for about a year, figuring that it'd be OK. Horribly uncomfortable. If only one bike - make it a road bike, and get clip-ons if you plan on doing any testing.
Planning on actually racing it? If not don't even think about a TT bike - what's difference does your absolute speed make otherwise?
Just pride and wanting a new toy! Currently have a track bike (with brakes!) a CX and an 80's steel road bike with dura ace drivetrain..... just looking at road bikes around £1500 and wondering if they'll be any better really than what I already have!
Thanks for advice all!
just looking at road bikes around £1500 and wondering if they'll be any better really than what I already have!
No they wont be, [s]your secretary[/s] [i]the bike[/i] might seem brilliant at first, and you'll wonder why you waited so long to [s]get that divorce[/s] [i]to change it[/i]. But then you'll feel like you hav to buy [s]her[/s] [i]it[/i] new [s]shoes[/s] [i]pedals and finishing kit[/i] as [s]she[/s] [i]it's[/i] new and nicer and deserves it. But one day you'll be a middle aged fat bloke out with your shiny new [s]lady[/s] [i]bike[/i] and you'll see your [s]ex wife [/s] [i]old bike[/i] [s]being ridden[/s] [i]being ridden[/i] by some new bloke who's faster and better looking than you and you'll want [s]her[/s] [i]it[/i] back.
winter hackCurrently have a track bike (with brakes!)
winter hacka CX and an
winter hack80's steel road bike with dura ace drivetrain
Yea, you definately need something new and shiny, do it!