Is a tt bike good for ironman?
chan73
Posts: 8
Hi all ... a newbie here seeking some advice. This year I've done a few tri's and decided to have a crack at an ironman next year. I know my current bike isn't up to the job and wondered if a tt bike (possibly a Dalkiia F1) would be right for an ironman or if it would be too extreme/ uncomfortable .. or simply wrong for other reasons that I don't know.
All advice welcomed
All advice welcomed
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Comments
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Which IM course is it ? Some arent great for tt bikes.
And how used to riding a lo pro position are you ? Personally I use a road bike with Spincacis on these days. If i was a bit younger I'd prob get on better with a TT bike, but my back was a bit stiff after racing 100s on them - so what time I'd make on the bike - I'd prob lose on the run.0 -
A question I grappled with before IM France this year. I went with the road bike and extensions in the end due to the lengthy and technical descents. If it's Austria, Germany, Switz, Roth, UK or most of the others then I'd go with the TT bike, but like cougie says you need to be well trained and able to ride it for the distance comfortably.
Of the people at France on TT bikes, some looked like they were perfectly happy and probably getting a performance benefit, others looked like they were struggling on the descents and climbs and would have been better on road bikes.0 -
Yeah - good choice for IMFR I reckon - I saw a few crashes last year and i hear the air ambulance was out collecting one crash victim this year.0
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I would use a road bike if I were you. A proper TT position is going to get really uncomfortable really quickly, so unless you take hours to hone your position and get your body used to it, stick with a road bike.0
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Unless you're very fast or very slow, there will be a lot of riders on the road around you, so you have to have a bike you can control easily. Add to this the fact that most Ironman bike legs are hilly, and road bikes with tri bars start to make more sense.
The fast boys and girls will always use TT bikes with steep seat angles, but they will also train in the same position for hundreds of hours and be thoroughly used to generating power in a tuck.
I did Ironman UK on a Trek road bike with tri bars, but had a proper position fitting with a proper coach (Joe Beer in this case). That was worth spending an extra grand on the bike, as getting a position that is comfortable, doesn't make you keep sitting up of the tribars to give your back a break, allows you to breathe comfortably, put good power down and still be able to run afterwards is worth a lot of time.
Whichever you choose, you need to train as you intend to race. A lot! Get to the stage that the bike leg is a walk in the park and you can get off fresh after 100 miles, because it's when you get off the bike that the work starts in an IM!0 -
+1 It's more about you than the bike. I know people who have completed IM on old steel frame bikes with downtube shifters so get out and ride a lot on whatever bike you choose to race on. Make sure it's comfortable and that you can maintain the riding position for hours.
I know a lot of people say IM is about the bike but in my experience it's not. It's about the run and you want to get onto the run in the best possible shape. If you've forced yourself into an uncomfortable, aero position for 5+ hours then you won't be able to put in a good run.0 -
cheers guys .. some very handy advice there that could save me a lot of money and shedload of pain.
I'm doing the swiss ironman so not too many climbs (total 2100m I believe) but it sounds like the unanimous decision is for the road bike. Maybe my current bike (Specialized Tricross) is up to the job based on what your saying, but the lure of something 2kg lighter for around the £1500 mark might be too much to resist.
I spent 30km in the drops at the Dorney Lake tri and my nuts and hands started to go numb ... which wasn't too pleasant, although I wasn't that bothered about my hands. Are you saying I could get around that problem by a decent fitting of my bike? ... or a decent fitting of a new bike?
..and excuse if this is a really dumb question, but can I get tri bars with the gear change fitted to a standard road bike if I bought new, or is this just asking for trouble? I don't think it'd be worth the bother of doing this to my Tricross (if possible?), but if I went for the newer, lighter bike (eg Planet X, Focus Cayo), can this be done easily by the shop? Apologies if I'm way off with this, but when you don't know this stuff ... :oops:
cheers again ... really useful stuff
Every day's a school day0 -
If you have road tyres and a smaller cassette on your tricross (assuming you haven't already) then it'll be fine for IIMCH. 2kg less weight will help a tiny amount on the climbs but will make absolutely no difference on the flat and you could save that weight by eating a few less pies
In theory you could fit gear shifters to the tri bars on a road bike but I've never seen it done, which indicates that it's not a good idea.
TBH you're thinking too hard about the bike and trying to make it perfect when it really isn't that important unless you're at the pointy end of the race. What's far more important is your fitness and strength and how comfortable your bike is.
I can't believe I'm trying to dissuade someone from buying a new bike. Sorry, forget everything I've said. New bikes are fabulous and you should get one immediately 0 -
chan73 wrote:cheers guys .. some very handy advice there that could save me a lot of money and shedload of pain.
I'm doing the swiss ironman so not too many climbs (total 2100m I believe) but it sounds like the unanimous decision is for the road bike. Maybe my current bike (Specialized Tricross) is up to the job based on what your saying, but the lure of something 2kg lighter for around the £1500 mark might be too much to resist.
I spent 30km in the drops at the Dorney Lake tri and my nuts and hands started to go numb ... which wasn't too pleasant, although I wasn't that bothered about my hands. Are you saying I could get around that problem by a decent fitting of my bike? ... or a decent fitting of a new bike?
..and excuse if this is a really dumb question, but can I get tri bars with the gear change fitted to a standard road bike if I bought new, or is this just asking for trouble? I don't think it'd be worth the bother of doing this to my Tricross (if possible?), but if I went for the newer, lighter bike (eg Planet X, Focus Cayo), can this be done easily by the shop? Apologies if I'm way off with this, but when you don't know this stuff ... :oops:
cheers again ... really useful stuff
Every day's a school day
Chan, whatever you decide on the bike, a good fit is essential. You could go for a proper fitting in a shop (if you're buying an expensive new bike from a shop, this should be thrown in). I'd suggest you should try to get the position right on your current bike first. This does not need to be expensive - simple things like moving your seatpost and stem up and down (take a look at Sheldon Brown if you need help with this) can make a big difference to your comfort.
To help you, this is a good fit calculator:
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CC ... ATOR_INTRO0 -
I did IMCH this year for the second time - its a great event. I've done it on a road bike both times, and the real key is that you have to be comfy over the distance. If you can ride on the hoods for 112 miles - thats preferable to 56 on tri bars and the other 56 trying to stretch out your back. Theres a couple of testing climbs on each lap - but nothing too serious.
I'm assuming that as you're already a cyclist - you wont be dodging the cutoff times on the bike ?
There must be someone in the London area that will do you a bike fit - that would be worth looking into. OK you may need a new stem or something, but would be worth while.
Dont bother with the gears on the tribars - most of the time you'll be on the brakes anyway when you need to change gear.
As MrW says - its not about the bike - its 90% about the rider. Have fun !0 -
Well I never ... a bite forum encouraging people not to buy a bike
Really appreciate the comments tho as I believed I really needed a new bike for the ironman and this has let me know otherwise. The fitting sounds like a worthwhile investment, especially if I avoid numbnuts. If I really feel the need to buy something maybe lighter wheels would make the biggest difference.
I'm getting some basic tribars for the London tri this weekend so that might be a big help regarding comfort. I'll also know after 40k about the comfort and will defo find a fitting shop to make sure that's right.
I'll also look into a smaller cassette for next year.
Cougie, any golden nuggets about swiss ironman will always be greatly received
Cheer all0 -
Also, consider what that 1500 notes will buy you in terms of some coaching and a training camp to somewhere nice. Have a week in the alps and an IM bike leg will start to seem like a walk in the park!
A bit of investment in some coaching from someone like Joe Beer or Ruth Eyles of this parish will not only sort your bike position out, you'll be able to see the measurable improvements it results in.0 -
I do think a decent weeks training camp would be far better in terms of improving you than a new bike.
IMCH is very nice - swim is lovely - the bike isnt as hilly as you'd expect. The run isnt that much fun - but to be honest you could be running through the Playboy Mansion Garden by that time, and you'd still not be happy.
It can get very hot there though - so I'd practice running in extra layers to build up a bit of heat resistance.
I'm hoping to take the family over there to spectate the race - so may see you around !0 -
Somehow I doubt the good lady would be too pleased if I disappeared on a week's training camp, (I swung Kilimanjaro this year, so I know not to take the pish) but some good advice and coaching at the start of my training would put me in good stead.
The family will be out there with my in Zurich for a week after the race, so I'd be sure to say hello Cougie.
Interesting point about the heat build up. I get hot as hell so preparing in that way will be a big help.0 -
Just watch as its unseasonably cold next August.....0
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I'm from the north east ... I'm built for cold0
