does it matter the brand of TT bike?

[smilingcat]

So I've more or less decided on getting a tri-bike for use as TT. Its slightly more relaxed than a full blown TT's.

I test rode a guru chrono'alu bike. tad big but they are all custom. It felt smooth, didn't feel jumpy. Felt like a solid bike without any noticiable flex in the frame. Like the feel just not my size for the test ride.

I've tried QR seduza on a mag trainer and also Cervelo P2 on a mag trainer. Both of them felt pretty good. Didn't get a chance to take it on a road... I'm sure they ride smooth without the jumpy or twitchy feel.

Also looking at Orbea and Kuota but... I'm starting to get a feeling like at this level of bikes, what really matter is my leg power, weight etc. My weight isn't a limiting factor like 230lb weight limit for guru or 180lb?? for my pedals etc. And minor adjustments can be made with stem length, crank length... and even seat position can be adjusted so frame geomery is all pretty much the same. You can adjust the seat position enuf that effectice seat tube angle can be made to look like any other.

The thing is with guru, I can have pick and choose my color scheme :) seduza I'm not too fond of nor Caliente (like the older color scheme) and P2 color scheme is okay kuota so so...

So I guess I can spend extra thousand to get my color choice with guru or save a thousand by going with P2 ...

What is your take on TT frames/bike at this level? Do you think its just personal appeal? or do you think there is still some merit in the frames?

I still like ti frames but carbon seems more readily available these days.

so my current interests are:
guru carbino (I think that is what its called)
Cervelo P2
Orbea
Kuota
QR

any personal experiences on these bikes?? Any of these would cause my diet to be on PB&J sandwitches for the foreseeable future.

Shawn

[Artisan]

I just got a new QR Seduza last week. I have not tried out any other tri bikes, this one was just the right price for me at the bike store I help out at. I must say I really am enjoying it. I don't know if it's because it's all carbon or if it's the aero set up..or both combined but I feel like a rocket on it. It is so easy to get it moving up to speed and maintaining it. Black and red combined together as a color scheme has always drawn me in like a moth to light. I'm sorry they don't have a color scheme you are thrilled with. Good luck on finding the right bike and color scheme.

[RoadRaven]

Well..... it depends how much money you have.

However, as long as you get a good frame as aero as possible, then you can upgrade everything else.

You can get a bladed seat post, change you aero bars, put bull horns on the bike, get the type of wheels you like...

I have a Giant TCR Aero2. And we have slowly modified it from the shop model to the TT specific bike it has become...

[smilingcat]

hi road aven,

I guess I could refit a road frame into a time trial bike... but right now I just have an old steel frame bike on a trainer and my road bike, an Obera bike. So looking for a bike for TT.

I guess my question needs to be rephrased. when you were looking for a new bike, certainly you've tried several bikes before settling on the one you bought or you've ridden other bikes in the past. And my question is has/did it make any real noticiable difference in your performance.

I think performance depends on the wheel and how aerodynamic you could get on a given bike. Handling wise, I think they are all pretty much the same. they all have similar head tube angle (how stable or squirrly), seat tube angle (better for climbing/endurance/speed), length of chain stay (stability, weight distribution, shock absorption along with seat tube angle...) and so on. So maybe I should settle on a frame that I like in terns of color and price and forget the rest. Then build them up with the components I can afford.

For me, I don't think my performance would be all that different between Cervelo P2, Gurubike, QR Seduza/Caliente, Kuota, LiteSpeed Blade, Griffen etc.

Or does it?

Shawn

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Cat...

My partner TT bikes have been a Giant, an EMC2 and his latest is a Cervelo.
He would recommend the Cervelo if he was answering this question.

The other name I know in your list is Kuota, and i would like one of those please.

Weight is not such a consideration in a TT bike unless the TTs you do are over hilly courses.

Also, with a TT bike you might be able to get smaller frame than your ride bike, simply because of the different position you ride in.

The biggest difference on a bike will be the aeros and bullhorns, which not only help you get more aero yourself, but also present less resistance to the wind.

An aero front wheel gives you more time than a disc on the back.

We have just got our digital camera fixed, so will take some pix of our TT bikes this weekend and explain them for you and that may be of use.

Cheers, Raven

[Running Mommy]

I roll on a Seduza.. Or SEX ON WHEELS as they advertised it last year! :p
I LOVE my baby! But then again I haven't tried the others. I'm a squat thing, so it's about the only thing other than custom that I could fit on.
I would LOVE to go with a custom Guru, those are SEXY bikes!! But a bit out of my price range I'm afraid... :o
I say go with what you REALLY want! Otherwise you'll never truely be happy. If you want a custom paint job- go custom and have fun!

[JesTutripup]

The best bike is the one that's the best fit. it's like underwear.

[smilingcat]

yes good aero wheel on front is much better than a disc on the back. Technically the airflow on the front is still clean while the back wheel sees "dirty" turbulent airflow. You get lower resistance with what they call a laminar airflow.

bullhorn/cowhorns. I'm okay with it. That's just the thing. I sit on QR Seduza, and by adjusting the stem size and position of the clip ons, seats, it fits pretty well. I get on Cervelo same thing, And Guru, well it'll be custom fit so it's going to be more than okay... Or perhaps I'm just not too terribly finicky when it comes to fit. There haven't been too many bikes, where I just didn't like it.

(okay so my road bike was purchased on e-bay. Stem length needs to be shortened by about 2cm and wingbar needs to be smaller, and prefer a 172.5/170mm cranks instead of 175mm. but I'm not too terribly bothered by it)

As for weight, TT bikes are not the lightest. It wuldn't hurt if it were lighter...

I used to be TI frame only... Loved my Lightspeed but I sold it for a mere $1000 with full ultegra STI setup with spare brand new rear deraillure, extra cassette (11-23), sella Itallia Flight saddle, aero wheel...If I could try a newer litespeed SABER I would be a happy camper.

The new owner of my litespeed is now a 15 year old. Her father did some favors for me so I returned a favor by giving him a good deal for his daughter. She probably has the best bike in US for a 15 year old.

back to topic...

I guess my feeling is they all perform and handle about the same... So I buy it on my vanity sake more than anything else. or should I??

fit is always very important but next is the performance. Handling, shock absorption, flex (loss of energy)... It's the performance thing I'm wondering. are they all about the same?

smilingcat

[RoadRaven]

YES... it does matter the brand of TT bike...

(Don't tell my Giant, but I think I am about to have an affair)

http://www.isaac-bikes.com/index.php?id=271

Carbon forks, and headset, integrated post... lots of delightful features... but oh, just look at the

Isaac Joules AEROTIC

They have nicknamed it "The TimeWeapon"

Isn't it just lustfully delicious?

[smilingcat]

Thanks RR,

hmm how to talk a bike shop in letting me go out for a 5-10mile all out ride on Saturday morning or Sunday morning early... before the traffic gets too congested.

Aerotics looks spiffy like Cervelo P3.

If I try to get a frame in 48cm size many of the bikes will be equipped with 650C wheels and they ain't legal no more for racing. It has to be 700C. So I have to stay with 50-52cm frame. I know Cervelo, Kuota, Guru, Griffen are all UCI legal not sure about QR Seduza.

I found it tad ironic that Cervelo made a 48cm frame P2 but it was equipped with 650C wheel. So what good is it? You can't really race with it.

Well now that craft show is over (yesterday June 9) I have my time back. I sell cookies at a craft show, go figure food at craft shows for my additional income. Anyway, it has interrupted my riding for the past 2 weeks. So back to training and looking for a new bike. Window shopping at times is so fun and its cheap. :D :D It wont be so cheap when I put my money where my mouth is though... Guru or Cervelo or QR. I haven't been able to find too much about Griffen so its out. Kuota, just not too fancied by it. Cervelo P2 is cheaper than Guru so less time with PB&J for breakfast-lunch-dinner. Tough choice. :D :D :D

meowmeow

[RoadRaven]

My partner says he would choose a Cervelo every time - but his sole criteria is the fastest bike he can get... and if money were no object at all he would buy the P3.

However, he does say that you should bear in mind that the bike that fits you best is the bike you should have. And this is simply because you will get more speed from a good set of aerobars and a good set of wheels than you will from an aerodynamic frame.

He does recommend the website below... this link is to the review page.
The thing he likes about the reviews here is that this guy pulls no punches... he does not favour brands and even has an explaination about how he reviews things (see top of review links at top of page)

Tom (the reviewer) has been to here to New Zealand for IronMan and he follows the Tour de France.

He opinions are well respected in cycling circles for their honesty and integrity.

Anyways, some of the bikes you have listed are reviewed here by him... have fun making your choice

http://bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/index.shtml

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Cat
Just attaching a pic of my TT bike... and my new wheels... (my partner took a pic for me before it got dark - I don't get home til 6/7ish on Fridays)

My partner had a root canal last week, and to cheer himself up he bought me a present! These Grammo Viper T88s...

I feel extraordinarily spoilt!

The only drawback is they have a weight restriction so before I can race using both of them I have to lose another 9kgs, but will probably TT using the front wheel at the end of the month in the club TT.

They only went on the bike today as he glued the tubulars in place today so I'll try riding on Sunday when everything is well and truly set.

The bike itself is a Giant TCR Aero 2, as I said earlier. We have changed the seat to a woman's specific, my partner made bull-horns and cut down some aero bars for me and fitted bar end shifters to the new aeros (instead of keeping the STI it came with when new). I really want a bladed seat post, but we are waiting til the ones that are long enough come on sale again.

(BTW... I don't TT with the bottle cage on... it is there for training rides and warm-ups... it comes off when I race...)

[smilingcat]

Thank you RoadRaven,

yeah... I've been reading the reviews. So it may look like either Guru or Cervelo P2. though Carbonio nor P2 were reviewed. Atleast, he reviewed Chrono'alu and P3s. ...So the Saber has improved quite a bit from 8 years ago... And nice to know first hand that Ti6/4 tubing tends to crack while Ti3/2.5 doesn't. P3, Guru Ti and even Litespeed Saber is out of my price range. Kuota seems like a nice bike but I'm not quite sold on them. And he didn't have too much good to say about Lucero or the Tiphoon besides both are out of my price range.

Maybe I'm willing to come down to Guru's Chrono'Alu instead of Carbonio. He gave a good review enough so that I might save some $$ and buy Guru's lowest of low entry bike, Chrono'Alu. P2 is very tempting too and your patner is really sold on them and with experience so I have to think long and hard. I think its going to come down to the groupo, wheel set and the total cost of each bike.

My finances took several steps back the other day. All four of my car tire needed to be replaced. :( Not completely worn out but rather damaged from bad alignment. So it'll be a while before I can buy a TT bike. It's good to work in an engineering company. dragged one of the boys with me to the shop so I wouldn't be taken for a ride.

Your partner is so generous and nice. Gosh feeling bad, so he splurges on you? WOW!!! How do you manage that? :p

And lastly, thank you for the photo of your bike. Boy the seat post looks really long. Beautiful bike though and you are thinking of upgrading???

me--ooo----wwww,
Smilingcat

[RoadRaven]

Thats really bad timing on the part of your car to need new tyres! I think you need to have a chat with it and tell it to more considerate of its needs in relation to yours next time...

The seat post is out to its maximum length because we got the smallest frame we could for me and I am also told I have long legs for a woman! I guess its also accentuated as the front end gets lower...

I don't know Guru, so the Cervelo is what I would suggest, but if you can't feel much of a difference, then like Artisan and RM suggest, make your decision on the colour and also on the back up service and warrenty offered by the bike shop... I guess you have a few more weeks to come to your decision now...

If you are interested I have just popped pix of my road race bike and tt bike next to each other here;

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=10176&page=4

[roadie gal]

Fit is really what it's all about. If the fits are about equal then try to test ride the bikes. I've noticed a huge difference in the feel of different carbon bikes.

I ride a Sampson Diablo set up as a tri bike. They have some dampening system in the tubes that gives it a very nice ride.

[JmcG]

I ride a Cervelo P3 size 48 and love it (but it does have 650c wheels). Have you looked into Aegis? (My next bike currently on order pending my paint color.......) Custom paint job, carbon frames, hot bikes! I know for their Zaero frame, they make 2 small frame sizes for whichever wheel size you want - 650 or 700 (I'm going with the 700s since I can this time). Not sure about their geometries for T2 or Trident (their other 2 tri frames). Call them up - talk to Greg or Pete and they'll help you with any questions you have. Here's the website:
www.aegisbicycles.com

Good luck!

[RoadRaven]

My finances took several steps back the other day. All four of my car tire needed to be replaced. :( Not completely worn out but rather damaged from bad alignment. So it'll be a while before I can buy a TT bike. It's good to work in an engineering company. dragged one of the boys with me to the shop so I wouldn't be taken for a ride.


So... how are the finances looking Cat? And have you come to a definate decision yet? My partner was asking if you got the bike yet... I said not sure as your car's wheels got in the way...

[RoadRaven]

I ride a Cervelo P3 size 48 and love it (but it does have 650c wheels).

My partner has been offered a P3 new at almost cost price... he is VERY tempted.
How would you say it compares to other bikes you have ridden? Stiffer? How does it handle?

Do you think it makes you faster?? (thats what my partner wants to know... will it make him faster... ) I remember you said in your thread when you first got it that it felt fast...

[JmcG]

My partner has been offered a P3 new at almost cost price... he is VERY tempted.
How would you say it compares to other bikes you have ridden? Stiffer? How does it handle?

Do you think it makes you faster?? (thats what my partner wants to know... will it make him faster... ) I remember you said in your thread when you first got it that it felt fast...

Yes, Yes, Yes! The bike definitely makes me faster. My husband hates when I ride that bike with him b/c he's working so much harder to keep up vs. my riding my other bikes. Once I got on the P3, I could just feel how responsive it was. The bike is very stiff, but the geometry is so that every bump you hit on the road doesn't translate straight up into your body, so it's a more forgiving ride than most other AL bikes I've ridden. I had a QR Tequilo before the P3 and it completely beat up my body on every ride b/c it was a really harsh ride. The P3 feels wonderful to ride! It handles extremely well too - I'm as confident on sharp turns and corners on the P3 as I am on my road bike. I would definitely recommend this bike to him.

Is your partner thinking of the AL or the Carbon frame? If it's the carbon, I haven't ridden it but have a friend who rides the P3C and loves it. He's definitely faster on that bike than the previous bike he owned as well. I think there's something about the fit of the bike, the quality of the ride, and the stiffness of the frame that all translates into faster bike splits.

Hope this helps! Let us know what he decides!

[RoadRaven]

OK... just quickly, cause I have to go make school lunches and get to work...

But he has replaced his road racing bike with an R3... just last week

And as part of the deal we also got him the P3 for TTing on (thats the one Cacellara has, same colour/model) - I told the boys in the bike shop that if he didn't buy it I would be in the next day to get it for his birthday anyway, so figure that into the sale price.

Oh, it is such a nice bike - much nicer than in the pictures and it looks real fine in pictures!

[tricanada]

I have a Guru Carbonio Tri and love it. After much research on different brands, I chose Guru because it is fully custom made for me. I had fit issues like crazy on my other bikes and figured it was worth the extra money to get a bike made to my specific measurements. I don't regret my choice at all and would recommend it to anyone.

[RoadRaven]

OK... Better clarify

It is the Cervelo P3 carbon my partner has to time-trial on. He did his first TT (race) last weekend and really liked the way it felt.

He has ridden the Cervelo R3 too and finds it quite a different ride to his EMC2 TeamEquip he has been using. He has noticed that it feels different when standing, but hasn't yet raced on it (he will this Saturday) and will be better able to compare the difference/s once he has done so.

(Oh, and my apologies Fabian, for spelling your name wrong in my last post!)