TT Bike - 2kg difference

willbevan

Hi guys,

Another which bike thread, sorry, but with a specific question.

I'm looking at getting a bike through cycle2work, not quite yet as its winter and i have a cheap btwin sport 2 16s i will not outgrow soon...

The bikes ive noticed are all focus... a TT, a carbon road, and a ali road (with carbon fork)

Now my question really is about weight......

The TT bike is 2kg heavier than the ali road, now would i actually be able to go faster on this? Yes i do actually want to use it for time trials in 3-4 months, as joined a local club and would like to compete

Or would getting say the ali road, putting some aero bars on it (still be lighter than the carbon road) be a better option?

I know its not just about the weight, so any help, or direction to places i could read up to learn would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks

Will

PS. links to bikes

TT
http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx? ... ria%202008

10.05kg

Road Carbon
http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx? ... ike%202007
8.4kg


Road Aluminum
http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx? ... bro%202008
7.5kg

simbil1

TT bikes are supposed to be stiffer and aligned for maximum power transfer at the cost of some comfort. More importantly, they will have aero components and put you in an aero position. Air resistance is the biggest factor you need to overcome when riding a flat TT and even on a hilly TT the increase in speed on the downs is likely to overcome the weight penalty on the ups.

If you look at this that was recently posted in another thread:

http://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm

You will notice a good 1mph gain on a 'tri' bike compared to a racer on the drops.

There could be an argument for getting a normal road racer and adding tri bars if you do a mixture of normal riding and time trials.

il_principe

I'd suggest that buying a TT specific bike on the basis that you plan to do some time trials may be a tad foolish; what if you just don't enjoy TT'ing at all? I'd suggest going for the best road bike you can afford, you can always attach tri-bars, but will have a more flexible bike in terms of use. You wouldn't want to go for long weekend rides on a TT bike for example.

Finally (and I say this as a Focus owner) don't limit yourself to Focus, now is a good time to buy discounted 2007 bikes so have a good look around.

Down the Road

Go to a BIKE shop and talk to the guys who ride. They might know something and be able to help you out.

willbevan

one of the reasons im thinking of going to a TT bike directly is that i dont really want to buy a road bike, then want to buy a TT bike (i will be doing a lot of races i think with the club ive just joined)

Now my main question is... 2kg... will the difference in airflow really make up for the 2kg difference?

simbil1

According to

http://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm

The TT will still be faster even though it is 2kg heavier on the flat.
The 2 bikes are equal on a 3% up (both going 10.7 mph with 160 watts). Going down the same slope, the TT hits 32.3mph whilst the racer is 29.7mph. So once you get hilly enough with lots of corners that need to be taken more slowly, the racer will have the edge.
I've no idea how accurate the site is, but if you are focusing on TT you should get a TT bike. If you will be doing sportives, long sunday club rides and the odd TT, I'd recommend a road racer with tri bars and possibly a second set of wheels.

willbevan

oh cheers for the link!!!! will go have a play at that

chrisw12

Will, no offence, but I think your question is irrelevant and the numbers will be irrelevant. The weight of the bike is a non issue. A few points for debate.

Is the focus tt bike that aero, would you have any gains over a normal bike with it?

Do you really want to be ridding around/training/commuting on a tt bike? (I do in summer but it can be a pita, road bikes are much more versatile.)

The advice about bike shops, well perhaps I'm unlucky but all my lbs are very good but they haven't got a clue if you ask them about modern tt bikes.

blackhands

This is not a TT bike - its a triathlon bike and seems to have very steep angles which would make it difficult to ride in traffic etc.

As people in the past have got under 50 mins for a 25mile TT or close to 19 mins for a 10 mile TT on road bikes without tribars then I wouldn't worry too much at this stage - just ride a road bike with decent wheels (say Planet X 50) and get a good aero position. Don't worry about weight or think that carbon is essential - it isn't.

cougie

Just get a nice road bike thru the scheme. TTing will only be a tiny percentage of the time you'd be using a bike for. Most of your time will be club runs or general training and a TT bike isnt the best for normal stuff and useless for club runs.

Get a decent bike and race on that and see how you get on.
Then add clip on bars to see how much faster you are.
Then next season you may be good enough to warrant a TT bike.

Most club cyclists will rip the pi** out of you if you turn up on a TT bike with all the gear and no idea.

chrisw12

cougie wrote:

Just get a nice road bike thru the scheme. TTing will only be a tiny percentage of the time you'd be using a bike for. Most of your time will be club runs or general training and a TT bike isnt the best for normal stuff and useless for club runs.

Get a decent bike and race on that and see how you get on.
Then add clip on bars to see how much faster you are.
Then next season you may be good enough to warrant a TT bike.

Most club cyclists will rip the pi** out of you if you turn up on a TT bike with all the gear and no idea.

Sorry, wrong attitude (not saying it's your attitude.) just saying everyone has to start somewhere, because you're slow/new doesn't mean you can't have good kit.

cougie

Just some friendly advice - it will happen. Cyclists can be mean ! ;-)

John.T

The Focus Tri frame does not look any more aero than the road ones. The weight difference would only be noticable on hills. With the very steep seat tube angle it would be uncomfortable to ride at anything other than race speeds. You would be better off with a standard road bike. Fit aero bars for your first season of TTs and if you really get into TT then change the bar set up for a full on TT bar and get a seat post with no layback to get the saddle forward. A pure TT frame only give any real advantage if it is built to be as aero as possible and these cost a lot.
I guess from your post you are fairly young. If so it would be a bad move to restrict your riding to TTs only. You may want to try road racing or Sportive rides and a TT bike is useless for these. Someone will probably disagree with me here but you don't see many TT bikes on Sportives.

cougie

You can get the Planet X bikes on that scheme I believe.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.com/road/inde ... AGE_id=234

£999 for carbon and full ultegra.

willbevan

cheers chaps, thinks thats pretty much made my mind up, road bike, and get some aero bars...

Reason i am still consindering it, the current cheap bike i have, you(well I) can't change up and down gears when on the drop bars, as to go up (well harder gear) it has a little button on the side, which i cant reach...

Now with aero bar clip ons, i bet im going to get the same anoyance...

Well as far as being fairly young, im 27, but only started cyclign really a month ago as injured myself running and since i can get a bike through the cycle to work scheme i want to get something that is going to suit me the most...

The club i cycle with does about 20-25 internal races a season, all time trials and thinking whats going to be most fun for that really.... but the fact that i could always just switch over to proper aero bars and get the end shifters etc... well decent road bike first as it can be used for everything!

Thanks

Will

chrisw12

Now you've made your mind up...

I stated that I thought your question was irrelevant in that you were basing a bike choice on weight, add to that I didn't realise that you already had a road bike.

Now since you already have a road bike, why go and buy another one? If the gear shifters are annoying you then either live with it or change them.

If you aim to do tt's next year AND you already have a road bike then I'd definitely look at getting a tt specific bike.

Yes you can stick clip ons on a road bike and get by, but you will always be asking could I go faster. Yes you might hate tt'ing, but I doudt it, I bet you get into it.

leonlikestrees

I really wouldn't want a TT bike as my only bike. Great for TT's , bloomin awful for everything else. Get a nice road bike. If you really get the bug, get a TT bike on the scheme next year!