Is it me or the bike? I'm a tri bike flunky!

[IronSnoopy]

Ok ladies, I really need your help/advice about my tri bike.

Brief history: I started out riding on a Trek 1500 WSD bike years ago. I love her. I'm dialed in to a perfect fit and am very comfortable on her at any speed, on any terrain: hills, corners, etc. Today I rode 52 miles, averaged 18 mph, and hit speeds of 24 mph several times on flat terrain racing friends.

A year ago, while training for IM Louisville, I purchased a Cervelo P2. It's supposed to be "da bomb" of tri bikes, right?

Is it possible to just not click with a bike? :confused:

I've had 2 professional bike fits on the Cervelo. When I bought it, I was F.I.S.T. fit to it -- and thought I was just "mental" about the instability I felt because I was switching from the road bike to a tri.

The LBS fixed a few things with my fit, told me I'd need an adjustment period to get used to riding much more aggressively and sent me on my way. I had a crappy IM bike split -- would've been much more comfortable/faster on my cheaper, heavier Trek.

I spent all winter riding the tri bike on the trainer, still trying to get used to it. I had a second bike fit with a different LBS about 250 miles ago on the Cervelo.

They spent 2 days with me, measuring everything on and off the bike. They changed out my stem for a longer stem, lowered my seat, lowered by bars and widened my aero bars. It felt OK on the trainer but in practice -- it's not a lot better.

I still hate the Cervelo. Highly dislike it. I still don't feel comfortable, and I'm actually slower (much) on it than my Trek. I had it out for 40 miles this week and my average speed was 14.9 mph. :(

Is it possible it's just not a good bike for me? My husband and 2 of my training partners have various models of Cervelo and looooooveeee them. No one seems to understand why I don't like mine.

How long does it take to "get used" to a tri bike? I'm going on my second season and roughly 1700 miles.

[Running Mommy]

Sounds to me like a tri specific geometry is just not for you. I'd sell it and call it a day. Just because all the other "kids" ride on doesn't mean you have to.
Love the one your with I say...:)
It's hard to find a bike that fits you as well as the trek does, so no need to cast her aside.
Just my opinion and all, but heck I say don't pressure yourself to ride tri specific if it doesn't work for you.

[ilima]

I agree with RM. Sell the P2 while you can get as much money as possible for it. 1700 miles is sure giving the bike a chance.

Have you thought of posting over on slowtwitch? FIST is a system based on riding steep, but there are a number of folks over there that are riding slack. Here's a recent thread on the matter.
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=1842053

While FIST works for a lot of folks, it doesn't work for everybody.

[celerystalksme]

i always suggest that road racers use the roadbike with clip on aerobars before taking the plunge and getting a tri bike. did you ever try that? give it a shot. if your trek with clip on aero bars feels great, there might be a chance to find a tri bike and a tri bike fit that will work for you. if you don't like your trek with aero bars, i suspect you're probably just not comfortable with a riding position so stretched out, so low, and so unstable for overall maneuvering.

[silver]

I just recently rode the louisville ironman course and I'd say that with the rollling terrain, turns, and traffic, that road bike geometry would be more beneficial on that course.

I'm one who sticks with road bike geometry in the tri world. I don't even have aerobars even though I'm thinking of giving them a try. Most of my riding is on rolling terrain on winding roads, I just don't think that what tri bikes were made for.

now I say all this, but I do have several tri buddies who have just gotten tri bikes and report 1 to 2 average mph improvement in speed.

Do what feels good for you! Are you doing IM Lou again?

[celerystalksme]

I just recently rode the louisville ironman course and I'd say that with the rollling terrain, turns, and traffic, that road bike geometry would be more beneficial on that course.

I'm one who sticks with road bike geometry in the tri world. I don't even have aerobars even though I'm thinking of giving them a try. Most of my riding is on rolling terrain on winding roads, I just don't think that what tri bikes were made for.

now I say all this, but I do have several tri buddies who have just gotten tri bikes and report 1 to 2 average mph improvement in speed.

Do what feels good for you! Are you doing IM Lou again?

if the course gets technical or if there is a good climb involved, you are right...a tri bike is not the right tool for the job.

[IronSnoopy]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I really appreciate it! :)

I'm doing IM Arizona in November. I grew up out there, so it's like a hometown race for me. I'm so excited!

Lou was incredibly hilly for a girl from the flatlands of Illinois. I definitely chose the wrong bike.

I didn't put aero on the Trek first. I went straight from the road bike to the tri bike. Everyone told me it would be an adjustment, and I'll admit I don't adapt to change as quickly as most people, but still...this is out of control!

[KSH]

WOW! Great discussion.

I can't really speak to your situation or give you advice... other than... go with what you feel good on.

Now, I have to say, IMAZ is pretty flat and can be windy. A tri bike or at least some aero bars will be beneficial there.

I have a Cervelo One (older model tri bike)... and a Specialized Tarmac roadie.

I am going IMKY in August... and I have decided to ride my road bike there. I'm comfortable on it. I really don't see why I would take a tri bike on a hilly course. So thanks Silver for saying you road the course and you think a roadie would be great on the course.

My road bike is the better climbing bike. So you have made me feel good about taking it to Kentucky. I know I'm going to be the dork on a road bike, but screw 'em. I'll be happy. :)

[Veronica]

Dork on a bike - I'm doing my tris on a lugged steel bike, with a Brooks leather saddle and bar end friction shifters. :p

V.

[IronSnoopy]

WOW! Great discussion.

I am going IMKY in August... and I have decided to ride my road bike there. I'm comfortable on it. I really don't see why I would take a tri bike on a hilly course. So thanks Silver for saying you road the course and you think a roadie would be great on the course.

My road bike is the better climbing bike. So you have made me feel good about taking it to Kentucky. I know I'm going to be the dork on a road bike, but screw 'em. I'll be happy. :)

KSH, there were quite a few road bikes at Louisville last year and I really wish I'd had mine. It really is quite hilly (especially if you train on flats) and a road bike is an excellent choice.

[colby]

WOW! Great discussion.

I can't really speak to your situation or give you advice... other than... go with what you feel good on.

Now, I have to say, IMAZ is pretty flat and can be windy. A tri bike or at least some aero bars will be beneficial there.

I have a Cervelo One (older model tri bike)... and a Specialized Tarmac roadie.

I am going IMKY in August... and I have decided to ride my road bike there. I'm comfortable on it. I really don't see why I would take a tri bike on a hilly course. So thanks Silver for saying you road the course and you think a roadie would be great on the course.

My road bike is the better climbing bike. So you have made me feel good about taking it to Kentucky. I know I'm going to be the dork on a road bike, but screw 'em. I'll be happy. :)

I saw lots of road bikes, most of which had aero bars, but it was a bigger mix than I expected. Maybe put some race wheels on and call it good... you will just be passing the people on the tri bikes after the four thousandth climb and tight corner. ;) CdA has a lot of downhills that turn into uphills, which makes the tri bike have some advantage... you get farther up the uphill without having to pedal - but once you're in it, you have a different battle than a road bike.

On tight turns and hills, not much a tri bike can do for you over a road bike anyway. We get wind out here, though, and I'm glad to have aero for that. I do miss the additional positions I can ride my road bike in sometimes when I'm riding my tri bike, though. Me personally, I took to Lucy like we were long lost pals. It feels good to ride aero, but I lose my tolerance for it after a while (note to self, build core strength).

If you don't like the bike, you'll just be frustrated anyway, which will make the entire ride miserable.

[celerystalksme]

Dork on a bike - I'm doing my tris on a lugged steel bike, with a Brooks leather saddle and bar end friction shifters. :p

V.

i saw a guy with a mountain bike doing the cycling stage of a sprint tri! that was freaking awesome! if i remember right, he did quite well!

i've also seen a guy take a single-gear/fixed-gear to a tri. believe it or not, that guy KICKED MAJOR ARSE! dude was a beast...his $400 bike DESTROYED almost everyones $1K-$7K bikes...

which just goes to show you...the bikes doesn't really do jack poop...in the end, it's all you. every wonder why many kona ironman records and olympic triathlon records are from many many years ago on supposedly inferior bikes? that's right...it's the rider that makes the bike fast, not the other way around.

that being said...i'm ADDICTED to GEAR! must have all the blingy blingy bikes!!! LOL

[Tri Girl]

I'm the opposite of you. I had my road bike for a year and a half and did my first IM on it with a "tri" setup (and that's in quotation because it was never a comfy tri setup). When I got a P2C, the difference in comfort was day and night. For me, the tri setup is super comfortable and I have more power. It could very well be that you are more comfortable/powerful on your road bike setup- and that's totally OK. You HAVE to be comfy on your bike to do the long stuff (and heck, even the short stuff). You've given it plenty of time to see if it could possibly work for you. I say sell the Cervelo and go back to your Trek. If it ain't broke- don't fix it. You tried the tri bike, but it didn't work for you. Not every bike will work for everyone, but at least you tried it. You'll be happier in the long run with your Trek, and if you love it so then you need to be riding it until it gives out on you. Just my thoughts. :)