Looking at getting into TT's - what to do with bike?

dru

Hi guys,

Apologies if this is in the wrong section talking about TT bikes... think they are road not track right?

Looking at getting into this and wondered how to start.

Firstly I don't have the funds or budget to buy a new TT bike.

Should I be looking to just stick a set of aero bars onto a road bike or should I be looking at putting a TT cockpit onto a road bike that I have already or buying a TT frameset and using a donar bike for all the bits and putting a TT cockpit on?

My budget is small, and I've already got most of the bits to convert a road bike into a TT cockpit roadbike, the question is whether or not I should look to buy a TT frameset as well to get any real benefit? Can you get a secondhand frameset for £200 ish?


A friend has also suggested mounting my STi's onto a TT aerobase bar and using this in conjunction with my aero bar extentions and my road frame as a first port of call.

Opinions please on this and all of the above.

Many thanks,

Dru

tatanab

You don't need to do anything, and I suggest you change nothing until you've ridden a few events.

Old git - late 50's, when I were a lad and so on - most club riders (other than fast men or posers) did not have a dedicated time trial bike, it was usually our road race bike or club riding bike with mudguards and so on removed. I rode my first time trials on an all steel equipped fixed wheel bike based on the frame from my 3 speed hub Raleigh.

Seriously, my first line is appropriate - you don't NEED to do anything and it is probably better not to until you are happy with time trialling and any future investment.

RonB

+1 with the above reply. I wouldn't buy anything yet. Just strip down your road bike to the bare min and keep the tyre pressures reasonably high.

You probably have this covered anyway, but it's worth checking out your bike fitting to make sure that you're comfy on the drops when you're putting in a big effort since you'll be a bit more aero that way. Good luck.

moonshine

I rode club events last year on my road race bike with a drops, STI's and a set of clip ons. and did on a really good night last year I did a 29.46 for a 13mile TT. Most of the club strive to break the 30min barrier.

you want your saddle possibly 1.5" higher than on a road set up and as far forward as possible to get you up over the BB.

I had a spare seatpost and saddle, so i marked my road set up, and took the road post and saddle off, and has a post and saddle set up for TT. It meant i could use the bike at w/e for racing, and within 20 min, convert it for a tuesday night TT, and in 10 minutes, convert it back to road.

I bought a new TT bike over the winter and used it for the first time on Tuesday and dis a 31.08 - i'm sure the better times will come as the season progresses, but it shows that it is not all about the bike.

nferrar

Hmm why would you raise your saddle for TTing?

As for the OP, agree with the comments on not rushing into buying stuff for now although my first investment would be clip on bars (make sure you get ones that sit beneath the tops of the the road bars not over as you want them low). I also used a Look Ergostem for a while when doing TT's on a road bike with clip-ons, they weigh a ton and are hideously expensive but allow you to easily switch between a TT bar height (low) and normal bar height. If you're only switching every couple of weeks though you're probably better off just buying a fixed stem with a big drop and switching that in for TTs (as long as both the stems have hinged or removable bar clamps you can switch them pretty quickly). After that I'd look at getting a TT wheelset (aero with a close ratio block) but only once you've gotten the bug...

moonshine

nferrar wrote:

Hmm why would you raise your saddle for TTing?

because it feels right. (in my case anyway) In a TT you are balancing on the nose of the saddle, in a pretty uncomprimising position - the whole body is in a different position than on a road setup. Higher bum, much futher forward over the BB, , lower shoulders etc

My TT set up is markedly different from tmy road set up, and was even on the same frame

inseine

Agree about just doing it and see how you get on/enjoy it.
Nonsense about the 1.5'' higher saddle. If you've got a full aero set up you'll want to move your saddle forxard and up a bit but not that much and that's fro waaaaay later.
I was going under the hour on a standard track bike with normal bars etc and only knocked a minute or so off with full aero kit.

moonshine

ok...makbe an inch rather than 1.5"...i can't recall exactly ay the moment and i no longer have the seatpost i used to use....

I'll have a look at the difference beween the centre BB to saddle height on on my road and TT bike tonight. I definately put it up last year when i used the same frame and it felt better...when on the clip ons, I felt very far back on the saddle.

This migh be exaggerated by the reason that TT bikes are generally more compact than road biles , with shorter stems and top tubes. the combination of the longer stem and top tube on a road buke can make you feel more streched out, as your arms stinn need to rest on the clip on pads, which are a good bit further away than on a TT specific frame..

Anyway, have a bash on what you have...I'd stick with it for a year, see how you go with minimum expense, set a benchmark for yourself and then if you enjoy it (although i'm not sure the word "enjoy and TT are usually used in the same sentence!) then look to next year as a project to improve over this year.. Splach the cash only once you can see the benefit of doing so..

SBezza

My saddle height is the same on all my bikes, there is no reason to raise the saddle, especially by that amount. If you need to raise it that amount, and still have a bend in the leg, then the saddle height of the road bike is well out.

I would suggest to the OP, just try a few events, perhaps with a cheap pair of tri bar extensions. If you really like it, then you can start looking at building a TT bike.

My bike was built up secondhand, frame was £290, so slightly over your budget, but no doubt you could get them cheaper. I have a TCR Aero road frame, and although not a 100% TT frame, it is pretty good.

moonshine

i tell a lie... it is only 0.5" higher.... just checked... :oops:

i was probably thinking 1.5cm..... :oops:

willbevan

as many have said.

ride the events and see if you enjoy them

I rode my first lot on a cheap btwin road bike. Enjoyed them so much I bought a second hand TT bike rather than a nice road bike.

Did try clip ons first though, and would suggest having an adjustable stem if you do. IMHO you can't get a good position for TTing and for road riding on the same bike without compromising and having the front end higher or lower than you want for either. Hence an adjustable stem so you can atleast easily raise and lower it as required. Like the idea of a spare seat post and sadle that someone recommended above