bikes for time trails

smush

I really wanna get into do time trials , will i need a specialist time trial bike or can a road bike with a few adjustments cut it ,

SLX01

smush wrote:

I really wanna get into do time trials , will i need a specialist time trial bike or can a road bike with a few adjustments cut it ,

A TT bike will always be faster thats why they exist. You can enter on a road bike many people do and you may even beat slower people on TT bikes but a TT bike will be quicker.
You can put tri bars on a road bike, get an aero helmet, skin suit etc all likely to save a few secs.

FSR_XC

No point in buying a TT bike until you have done a few events and know you want to continue.

I only ever use my standard road bike & have managed a sub 25min pb on a TT10. Thinking of some aero bars for next year.

merak

A lot of the fun of TTing is racing against your previous best - if I were you I'd enter a few events on my road bike to see if I liked the sport before splashing out on a TT bike. Many clubs run weekly mid-week evening time trials on a local sporting course where you can just turn up, sign on and ride. Why don't you check if there is one near you?

Sleeping_menace

The suggestion to run a few races on your road bike, with clip on aero bars is sound. Run a few races..see how it goes, See if you enjoy it as much as you think you will before treading down the path of building a full blown TT bike.
Don't get me wrong, to me personally, the TT bikes are the ultimate expression of what can be done with a road bike, and are a hell of a lot of fun, but they are rather single-minded of purpose.
You'll find that the more your bike is set up for TT, the less everyday-friendly it will be and the more your rides will be dedicated TT training rides, vs every day puttering around on it. After all, how many everyday bikes do you see with 165mm of drop from the seat to the bars?

Having said all this tho, I do 3-4 40 mile training rides per week on mine.. and enjoy it so much more than my other road bikes that I've all but stopped riding them.....

Pross

I've always ridden a standard road bike (PB of 24.20 years back with clip on aero bars). Get some clip ons, maybe an adjustable stem, remove some spacers to get lower. Deep rim wheels help as will a skinsuit and aero helmet. It may also help to move the saddle. If you then get into it you can invest in a TT bike.

danowat

No, you don't NEED a TT bike, although you will probably go faster on one.

Akirasho

... remember that a time trial bike can be venue specific... some courses may favor a road machine (technical and/or hilly) while others benefit from a full on TT rig (fairly flat where you can spend a significant amount of tiime on the aeros or drops)...

I use three different rigs depending on needs.







... the Cervelo is best served by flat out and backs or courses with sweeping turns...

smush

that is one mint time trial bike ,
i think im going to enter some see how i go and take it from there , convincing the missis i need a new bike might not be easy though .

Matt the Tester

oh hey i have the same bar tape as you on my TT bike!!


shame mine isnt a cervelo...