Readers Question (Dave) Can you explain why (having found a TT bike that isn’t too heavy) you wouldn’t want to use it as your all-round road bike (possibly after swapping the handlebars)?
It seems a paradox my most expensive and fastest bike gets used the least. My winter training bike cost £500 and has done over 15,000 miles. My new time trial bike may only do 300-400 miles a year. There are a few reasons I don’t use a time trial bike much for ordinary riding.
The position is very low. It’s very aerodynamic, but, it’s not too comfortable for rides over 2 hours.
The steering on a time trial bike is not as good. It’s certainly more difficult to control on fast technical descents. I think this is due to angles of frame and height of handlebars.
It’s not so manoeuvrable on difficult climbs where you have to get out of the saddle, there are less handlebar positions for when you are climbing on the hoods.
It’s not very sociable to ride with others on a time trial bike. Even turning up with clip on tri bars will have many ‘roadies’ turning their nose up at you. – They will probably be muttering something like ‘bloody triathlete’ under their breaths.
The aero benefits are much greater at high speed. If you plod along at 18mph, the aero drag is not that great, an aero position will make you go a little faster but not a huge amount. If you increase your speed to 26mph, the aero drag factor increases disproportionately – in other words you notice the aero benefits much more.
Tubs. On a time trial bike I race on tubular tyres glued on to the rims. These have advantages because they can be blown up to 160psi / 10 bar and I find less susceptible to punctures. But, there are much more difficult to swap over. On a training ride, I’d rather have clinchers because if you get a flat tyre, it’s much quicker to mend.
If you’re not worried about perfecting a cool roadie image, clip on tribars can be a good addition. They are a little more aerodynamic and give you another position, without sacrificing the comfort of your road bike.
This commuting bike has clip on tribars. They are actually set up quite high, so they won’t make the riders back more aerodynamic. However, they do bring the arms closer to the body and reduce drag this way. It may not make the bike much quicker but some people find them quite comfortable (though it’s a bit further to the brakes)
Having said all that, I would like to do more rides on my new carbon fibre bike because it is just a joy to ride. The problem is I’m often put off by the though of changing the wheels.
either bike is set against the clock , so stick to the old monicker of tt bike low profiles appeared in uk in mid 80s pioneered i think by argos cycles with small 24″ front wheels.
Whatever the sport tri or tt the bike is basically the same.
nice article, thanks
Hi, why are Tribars associated with Triathlons? Indeed why do people someties speak of Triathlon Bikes? Surely a triathlon is simply a Time Trial, and a tri-bike and a T-bike woudl be one and the same? Or am I missing something?