How much am I looking at for a good new TT bike?

BeauMaximus

I am currently using clip ons on my road bike and getting more into the tts so thinking about getting a proper tt bike.
I am the type of person who likes to buy once, so if i cant afford one yet, id rather wait til i can than buy an entry level, built to a price point type bike. Having said that, neither do i want to spend money unnecessarily on hype/branding or the latest bling. I suppose what I'm looking for is 'best value'.
My question basically is how much should I be looking at spending, without cutting corners but without wasting money too?

To give an idea where I'm at ability wise, Im doing low/ mid 23 hilly 10's, not done a fast course this year yet.
I won my first ever interclub last night with 23:43 for 9.5mile course but nearly 600ft climbing, wet & windy.
Well pleased, hence my thoughts now turning to a TT bike!

Thanks

u05harrisb

you should take a look at the planet x stuff, great value great kit great price, no hype or funny brnding there. give it a look!
Ben

Wirral_paul

The other obvious option is Ribble

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bikebuilder.asp?action=showframes&sub=conf_BBTTC&type=RIBTR

turnerjohn

do you use aero wheels, aero helmet and good low down TT clip ons ? full on TT bikes only good for TT...change of wheels and full on clip ons, aero helmet and your away ... your road bikes not slowing you down tho thats for sure

EKIMIKE

Like above, i'd prioritise many other things above a frame with aero tube profiles.

In fact i'd say get any solid but cheap frame that fits then build the essentials around it. Tri bar extensions are the most important 'on bike' components for aerodynamics followed by wheels.

between Tri bars and wheels i'd put a host of 'body related' elements. Firstly your position on the bike. Then a skinsuit. Then an aero helmet.

You've already got a frame (i assume you can get sufficiently and comfortably low enough on it) and tri bar extensions. So for wheels you may as well get some deep tubulars from China. That's probably £400 including tyres. Skinsuit and helmet i'd guess maybe £130-£200 depending on how much your club charges for skinsuits.

Maybe if you want to convert to a TT cockpit (bar end shifters e.t.c.) then another £100-£150 if you can do the labour yourself?

£600 seems realistic.

An 'aero' tubed frame is one of the last things i'd be investing in. At any rate an aero frame is one with a geometry that allows you to get in the lowest possible position that is comfortable for you. A sleek tube profile is small beer in terms of relative performance gains.

cougie

Weight for flat tts doesn't matter too much - it's all about aero.
I'd look at something like the PX stealth - basic groupset and spend on aero wheels or even a wheel cover.

You can spent ten grand on a tt bike but the performance difference to say a 1k bike isnt 10 times.

mrushton

Prob. something from the Planet X line as suggested and some money for some coaching.

BeauMaximus

Im interested why would you suggest coaching at this stage?
straight question.
It seems to be a controversial subject on here, but i'm probably in the camp of its wasted money unless you can get good enough off your own back and natural ability to think about going pro or of winning something worthwhile.

cougie

Well the engine is far more important than the bike.

If you're serious then it's definitely worth considering. Some people need the discipline imposed by sessions and others are self motivated. You may need the advice or you might not - it all depends on you.

Wirral_paul

BeauMaximus wrote:

Im interested why would you suggest coaching at this stage?
straight question.
It seems to be a controversial subject on here, but i'm probably in the camp of its wasted money unless you can get good enough off your own back and natural ability to think about going pro or of winning something worthwhile.

I assume you're asking because you're thinking of spending a potentially very large amount of money in an attempt to go faster on a time trial?? Lets say a £2000 time trail bike helps you go 30 seconds faster in your local 10 mile time trial. If you spent £250 on coaching and carried on riding your normal road bike and that also made you 30 seconds faster (assuming you listened and put the work in), would you consider that as £250 wasted on coaching, or £1750 extra wasted on getting a bike that gives the same time saving. The coaching would help your all round cycling ability as well.

Serious question - how do you view the above??

It seems to be the opinion of many, as with a professional bike fit, that unless you're getting something you can actually see and touch that its a waste of money. Nothing could be further from the truth, and those that shout about its a waste of money are always the ones who have never had a bike fit or any coaching etc, and so frankly havent got a clue. 8)

Velonutter

I've just built myself a Cervelo P2C with Chinese 88mm Carbon Tubs, Campag 10s Titanium Groupset for under a grand.

I had all the Groupset bits from upgrading over the last few years, already had the clip ons and just needed base bars.

You'd be surprised how cheap you can build a bike if you watch the secondhand ads.

rowman

I'm also in the market for a TT bike but I'm holding off as Canyon are going to release a competitively priced new bike next year with Di2?

Wirral_paul

rowman wrote:

I'm also in the market for a TT bike but I'm holding off as Canyon are going to release a competitively priced new bike next year with Di2?

from 4000 euro's apparently. Looks b!oody amazing (to me) though!! 8) 8)

http://roadcyclinguk.com/news/gear-news/canyon-unveil-speedmax-cf-evo-time-trial-bike.html[/url

BeauMaximus

Wirral_Paul wrote:

I assume you're asking because you're thinking of spending a potentially very large amount of money in an attempt to go faster on a time trial?? Lets say a £2000 time trail bike helps you go 30 seconds faster in your local 10 mile time trial. If you spent £250 on coaching and carried on riding your normal road bike and that also made you 30 seconds faster (assuming you listened and put the work in), would you consider that as £250 wasted on coaching, or £1750 extra wasted on getting a bike that gives the same time saving. The coaching would help your all round cycling ability as well.

Serious question - how do you view the above??

You make a good point, and within that context its an easy decision.
Despite you giving me food for thought on the subject, I can't shake my underlying paradigm that unless you are winning a lot and making great gains out of your own genetic/innate ability, and showing true potential instead of just 'improving', then coaching is not much more than vanity.

In financial terms, the way I have looked at it, is that for a one off cost, you get a permanent 30 second improvement, all other things being equal. With the coaching, it has to be an ongoing thing and thus an on going cost, which, for a coach worth paying at all, would be quite a lot.
Although I suppose you would learn some usefull techniques from your coach that you could then always use.

Also, surely after a while, the coach is going to say OK, now you have improved well, if your serious about TT's, you could do with getting a TT bike. So its a question of which comes first.

Im still on the fence.