Triathalon Bike More Comfortable????

[itself]

Check this article out:

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/bikes/difference.shtml

Some interesting points about angles and comfort, as opposed to adding aero bars to a road bike.

Thoughts?

Lisa

[SheFly]

I'll admit to SKIMMING the article.

That said, while I agree that a tri bike is better for tris than a road bike, I DO NOT agree that it is more comfortable for general riding. Not that the article states a couple of times that this is a good bike IF you ride in the aero position - this can be tiresome for many people after a certain amount of time.

A couple of weeks ago, we went out on our TT bikes (very similar to a tri bike) for 2.5 hours. By the time we were done, I literally wanted to cry! I don't have this same issue when I go out on my road bike. Simply, the aero position is not as comfortable for me for long periods of time.

Also note that the article stated this was a good bike for "solo" rides. Most group rides specifically do not want tri bikes as part of the group - handling is MUCH different, and can be scary in a group situation (think of having to move from the aero position to get at your brakes, and in a hurry, in a group, it might not happen).

Good article, but be sure to take it in the context it was intended.

SheFly

[itself]

Good points. And I also just read elsewhere that the steeper angle on a tri bike allows the hamstrings to work less, which is a factor when doing triathlons as the legs won't theoretically be as tired going into the run.

Hmm sounds like the aero position for long periods isn't as comfortable as I thought...thanks for the reality check!

Lisa

[salsabike]

Also, I have heard repeatedly that tri bikes do not do as well in hilly terrain. I think the Michigan guys actually does say that in the article somewhere.

[Eden]

Unless your ride is not strenuous you will also get what we (my teammates and I) refer to as TT butt..... it may spare your hamstrings, but the point at which your hamstring (I think - but I'm not a PT or a physiologist, so correct me if it is a different muscle) attaches to your backside gets *sore*. Bent over tends to mean more pressure on your pelvis and soft tissues too, so finding a good TT saddle can be a challenge.

[Pedal Wench]

We've thought about TT bikes for the 24-hour race we do, but realized that the geometry is just too agressive. Ended up with aerobars in a very up-right (non-aero) position so we can get the relief for our hands/wrists and stretch out our backs, but we're still in our optimized riding (road bike) position.

[wnyrider]

Here is one from the minority. I have a multi-sport bike that has a 76 degree seat angle with all-in-one aerobars. This happens to be my everyday bike. I did add an adjustable stem to bring up the height of the handlebars to increase my comfort. I do have some back,neck and joint issues, and for me this bike has been incredibly comfortable to ride. I like to go for long rides and at times I like to go fast. I have climbed some steep hills too. Only caveat, I almost wiped out taking some corners too fast. My old road race bike had become too painful to ride for any length of time. I am not promoting buying a such a bike in general, just wanted to add my experience.

I brought up this question here before, and it came shortly after I started researching new bikes. I noticed the difference in seat angles of the same model bike, but in the different sizes. For example, the Trek Madone 5.2-- has a seat angle of 75.5 and head angle of 70.2 in the XS (47cm) size. Whereas the L (62cm) size has a seat angle of 72.5 and head angle of 73.9. Makes the XS seem almost like multi-sport in geometry. I know I have to take the bottom bracket into consideration along with all the other parts, but I am just throwing it out there for thought.

[Tri Girl]

I too, skimmed the article.

I'm the oddball, I suppose.
I first started out with a road bike, set up for triathlons. It was OK, but was never really comfy. I did multiple centuries on that bike (and an Ironman triathlon) before upgrading. When I got my tri bike- it felt like it was *made* for me. I can ride that thing for hours and hours without one iota of pain/discomfort. I've done multiple centuries on that bike, and even did a 3 day supported bike tour on it.
Personally, I disagree that climbing is more difficult. Could be because my tri bike is lighter than my road bike, and even with the compact double vs. the triple on my road bike- I still feel like I have significant more power (but don't know if that's the bike, or the rider who is probably stronger).

Since I don't have a road bike anymore, I ride my tri bike on all the group rides/t-shirt rides. I'm smart enough to know not to go down in aero when others are around. I ride the bullhorns unless I'm all alone. I'm FAR more in control on that bike than I was on my road bike. Considering I spend more time in aero than not, I'm very stable and in control in that position. I can eat a sandwich, drink, and even sleep in aero (ok, not sleep), while holding my line on the road. I can reach my brakes for a quick stop if need be while barely moving from aero.

Just a different perspective from what's already been said.

[colby]

When I ride my road bike, I do want to "relax" into the aero position. When I ride my triathlon bike, I don't ride aero ALL the time, because it's just not comfortable to sit in one position for hours on end. I do all of my interval work and mid-week rides as aero as possible, I climb hills as long in aero as I can, etc. For my long rides, I ride as much as I can aero, but it takes me several weeks to build up to more than 3 hours of aero riding. At first, 2 hours is about all I can take. During triathlons, the truth is that I ride aero as much as I can, but rarely is an event long and flat and perfect for riding aero ALL the time - there are hills, other riders, etc, even over multiple hours.

My road bike isn't as high-end as my triathlon bike, though, so I try not to make exact comparisons. I think I have adjusted to the geometry, but I could certainly adjust to riding a road bike, too. It's just weird sometimes to not have aero bars. ;)

[aicabsolut]

Unless your ride is not strenuous you will also get what we (my teammates and I) refer to as TT butt..... it may spare your hamstrings, but the point at which your hamstring (I think - but I'm not a PT or a physiologist, so correct me if it is a different muscle) attaches to your backside gets *sore*. Bent over tends to mean more pressure on your pelvis and soft tissues too, so finding a good TT saddle can be a challenge.

Hahaha ...my friends and I use the same term, though it's not just the hams but the glutes. I can get TT butt from riding in a more aero position on my road bike. Add more stress on the hip flexors from a TT or tri rig plus more stability control required of the core, I wouldn't tend to use the word "comfort" when talking about an aero bike fit.

[itself]

Now Triathlon bikes have the H bar to use when you are not in the Aero position. Is this comfortable and is it a total pain to have to reach for your shifters at the end of the aero bars?

Thanks for all the wonderful responses!

Lisa

[aicabsolut]

For those with an aggressive setup, it is not comfortable to ride at the bar ends either. Tri bikes are always annoying when it comes to having to move between shifters and brakes (which is why they aren't great for hilly terrain). I see many people on TT/tri bikes who grab onto the pads on the aerobars when they are trying to relax, because those are the easiest to reach compared to staying aero or moving to the ends. The pads are also higher up than the flat top of the base bar.