Building TT Bike with Road Frame (Dedacciai Atleta)

ashnorman

I'm looking to get a tt bike with a planned budget of £1,200 - £1,500.

I've long been considering the Planet-X Stealth which by all accounts you can't go wrong with for £999 for the base model, leaving me a few £'s spare to switch / upgrade some of the components.

However, I've been offered a Dedacciai Atleta frame for around £500 (ex-display). For that price I'm tempted to go with it and build my own tt bike. Given I'll be buying all of the other components as opposed to a ready made road bike,I can get closer to a tt bike geometry. The idea of a more personalised bike also appeals.

Is it pointless though? Am I significantly better off just going with a purpose built tt bike?

cougie

Without knowing the other frame - I'd just get the Stealth.

super_davo

That's a cracking price for an Atleta frame - if it were in small I'd be all over that.

But if you want a TT bike get a TT bike - a road frame adjusted to fit will always be a bodge.

At this time of year I would check out Timetriallingforum for second hand stuff. PX stealth is an OK but entry level TT bike, and the £1000 spec will have bargain basement wheels though everything else will probably be very functional. TTers will always try to buy whatever speed upgrades they can - and TT bikes tend to be rarely used and well looked after. £1000 second hand should get you somewhere significantly better than a base spec Stealth.

svetty

ashnorman wrote:

I'm looking to get a tt bike with a planned budget of £1,200 - £1,500.

I've long been considering the Planet-X Stealth which by all accounts you can't go wrong with for £999 for the base model, leaving me a few £'s spare to switch / upgrade some of the components.

However, I've been offered a Dedacciai Atleta frame for around £500 (ex-display). For that price I'm tempted to go with it and build my own tt bike. Given I'll be buying all of the other components as opposed to a ready made road bike,I can get closer to a tt bike geometry. The idea of a more personalised bike also appeals.

Is it pointless though? Am I significantly better off just going with a purpose built tt bike?

A bargain is only a bargain if it's something you need, otherwise it's a diversion....

matt_n-2

I'm in a similar position, been TT'ing the second half of this year and have been using my road bike set up for TT with extensions.

The main issue is the seat tube angle, most road bikes are 72-73 degrees, TT bikes range from 75-80 degrees, giving you optimal position over the BB when in the TT position.

I've really struggled to get my saddle forward enough and in reality I need an in-line post and a TT saddle to improve it.

The front end on road bikes is also a lot higher than TT, my 56cm road bike has a 16cm HT, a 56cm TT bike would probably be 110mm ish, getting you lower. The HT angle also is also steeper on a TT bike.

From reading around it seems quite common to downsize a bit on a TT rig too, I normally ride a 56.5cm top tube, I reckon I need a 55ish top tube TT bike with a 120mm ish head tube to get me a in good arm position over the front end.

In sum, it will also be a compromise adapting a road bike into a TT and I reckon after faffing around, you'll end up still wanting / buying a proper TT anyway.

I'm by no means an expert but as I'm in a similar position thought I'd say my views to date.

I've been scouring eBay and the like and £1500 should get you something pretty decent, probably an Exocet with a decent cockpit if you want Planet X, but also keep an eye out for Giant Trinity, Cannondale Slice, Felt B series, Cervelo P2 etc.