TT frames and groupsets

love2ride

Hi
This summer I am going to be building a time trial bike. I already have the handlebars.
Does any one know a good tt specific frameset for under £500?
Also does any one know how, where and how much it will cost to get a cheap tt groupset (bar end shifters)?
does it matter which headset I use? If not can you recomend one?
Thanks
Will

edhornby

try ribble for the frame, fork etc, the tt bike they've started donig seems pretty good value.. theyd do you a hset to fit but I don't see tthat there's anything specific about them...



although as you only have the bars you'd probably be better off buying a whole bike, would be better value than buying your own bits separately.....

love2ride

I have the wheels as well.

jon208

The Planet X Stealth comes in a little less expensive than the Ribble.

As for groupset if you're going Shimano then to get you going why not hunt around eBay for stuff people are getting rid of after upgrades? You can always then replace it bit by bit with more flashy stuff if you want but at least it'll get you racing.

If going Campag remember the Record shifters are over £100 and hard to come by on the second hand market.

mister biscuit

I'm not sure you can get a TT specific groupset. I haven't see one around all the usual interweb places.
Since the expensive bit of a groupset is the STI levers, (and you don't need them for a TT bike) then you could probably just buy the a normal groupset and sell the STIs here or on t'bay perhaps? it's a faff, but it might work out cheaper...

105 STI's are 200 quid :shock: and Dura-ace 10spd bar end shifters are a meagre £60

at least a third of the people I see at TT's on faster courses have planet X's - so they can't be that bad...

SBezza

Look around for a 2nd frame, I got a Giant TCR Aero frame for £295 2nd hand, and built it up with mainly second hand Dura Ace groupset parts. Total for chainset, BB, rear mech and bar end shifters was less than £200. I use 105 brakes again bought 2nd hand from a guy on here. Front mech I bought new, an Ultegra one, which was about £40.

The biggest expense was the wheels which I purchased new.

If you want a new frame, as mentioned above Plant X are a good choice, most of the bigger names frames will be over 1k at least.

kilo

I recently built up a cheap tt bike. I got one of the Ribble aluminium frames and carbon forks and it was about £150 all in. A few testers I know have commented that it looks about as aerodynamic as there carbon frames, but they could just be being polite .

With regard to new running gear I use nine speed tiagra, imho unless you are i) dead set on years of testing or ii) pretty handy at it I'm not sure it's worth spending a fortune on ultegra or dura ace.Timetrialing forum is often good for second hand bits. Tiagra works well and I only use my bike for tt's so it's not doing a massive mileage anyway.
I got the bar end shifters, which were ultegra off e bay for about 45 quid. I used the money I saved for Planet X 80 /101's and decent tubs. Wheels like this hold their value better than running gear and are going to make more of a difference to your time than a fancy rear mech.

nephrocycle

how much difference did the TT bike make
I can do 23.10 for a 10 on my road bike with clip on bars but its hassle to put them on and play about with saddle height etc
is the frame that important or are the wheels the main time saver?

jordan_217

nephrocycle wrote:

how much difference did the TT bike make
I can do 23.10 for a 10 on my road bike with clip on bars but its hassle to put them on and play about with saddle height etc
is the frame that important or are the wheels the main time saver?

If you're already doing a 23.10 then I'd strongly recommend some really heavy steel wheels, 24" would be ideal. Wear lots of baggy clothes and attach a sail to your clip-ons. Giving the rest of us a chance Good time nephrocycle!