Making my Ruby "Aero" for TTs

[Tokie]

Hi TEers! Any advice on fixing up my Ruby for time trials? I have some clip on aero bars and an appointment for a "fit" at the bike shop. The fit guy says he'll try a different seat post that will put my weight forward more, in combination with dialing in the aero bar adjustment. If he puts my seat forward, couldn't that be a problem for my somewhat shredded patellas, which are very happy with my riding position I have on the Ruby right now? Has anyone tried this adjustment to their regular racing bike? I have a Colnago too, but the frame is just too long for me and it's like driving a tour bus compared to my Ruby. However it has longer cranks and my seat it so far forward on it that my (other fit guy in a town 90 miles away or I would go to him) says I can't win a national championship on it (hahahaha) because the seat nose is so far over the bottom bracket, it's illegal. Perhaps I should turn the Colnago into my TT bike? Perhaps I should drive 90 miles to see my regular fit guy. Anyone in southern Cali have a used miniature TT bike for sale cheap? Thanks for any input! Tokie!

[Andrea]

The best advice I can give you is to get comfortable in your TT position. Not comfortable in an "I could ride like this for hours" sense, but comfortable as in "I can hold my body in the most aero position and still generate as much power as possible" sense.
This is especially important if you're gonna be doing a longer TT (20-40K as opposed to the usual omnium/stage race 3-6 miler).

I naturally like to nose ride- I find myself doing it any time I want to haul a**, so I actually enjoy a TT setup where I'm perched on the nose of the saddle and right on top of my pedals. My best riding buddy, though, likes to sit back on his seatbones and stretch out. He has to really "force" himself into position for a good TT, so he practices the position a lot more so that he doesn't feel awkward & off balance when he's in the aero bars & rolled forward on his saddle. Unless you've got mis-alignment problems and you're riding for hours at a time in that position, the patella thing really isn't that big of an issue.

Good luck!

Oh yeah- and you can apply for what's called a "morphalogical exception" for the seat over the BB thing. I will have to in the future- even on my road bike, the build of my legs warrants the nose being directly over the BB. They mention it in an article on slowtwitch.com: TT position for the UCI Challenged

[Tokie]

Hi Andrea! I've been your fan since I just read "Insert Smartass comment here"!And your "Brickhouse" concept has gotten my brickhouse girlfriend to finally come race with me! As you can imagine, she's not a toothpick and she's strong and fast! Great advice on considering my fit for TT position. I've heard it's not the most comfy - although I do have huge back flexibility- and usually I don't ride TT's longer than 20K, so it should be fine. And I'm thinking that my hands won't go numb in the aero bars! The link to fast twitch was great information, I'll read it a few more times before I go in on Friday. Thanks so much for your information! Carol

[ehirsch83]

Carol,

The thing to remember with switching the position around on your Ruby is that you are going to, probably, have to switch it back when you aren't TTing, which might get annoying. I don't switch my position around for TTs on my road bike, I just put on the aerobars and get as aero as possible. I would give this a try if you haven't already. For me, race wheels and an aero helmet(so probably some mental help with those-hehe) combined with the aero bars gives me just as much power as if I was to change my seat position(this is for 16k-20k tts). I just scoot forward and listen to the air in my ears with the helmet.

[Tokie]

Thanks Emily! The fit guy is ordering the forward position seat post, but he says if I don't like it, I don't have to buy it. I'll try sitting forward on my seat this am on my training ride just to get the feel for it. I've heard that the Aero helmets do make a difference - I like your listening to the air! I will do that in my next TT! Thanks! Carol

[Andrea]

Hi Andrea! I've been your fan since I just read "Insert Smartass comment here"!And your "Brickhouse" concept has gotten my brickhouse girlfriend to finally come race with me! As you can imagine, she's not a toothpick and she's strong and fast! Great advice on considering my fit for TT position. I've heard it's not the most comfy - although I do have huge back flexibility- and usually I don't ride TT's longer than 20K, so it should be fine. And I'm thinking that my hands won't go numb in the aero bars! The link to fast twitch was great information, I'll read it a few more times before I go in on Friday. Thanks so much for your information! Carol

Hahaha! Thanks! I'm glad to have a fan and to have gotten somebody out to some races! I have realized that even though I'm pretty lean (15% bodyfat), I'm muscular & relatively heavy compared to most other serious racers (5'6" and 135-140 pounds). It used to bother me, but now I actually think it's fun... sometimes I get the Phil Liggett-ism of "Big" added to my name, a-la "Big" Jens Voight or "Big" Tom Boonen!

Anyway... the TT position is natural for some people. I love it. I always try to rest on my elbows then totally relax the rest of my upper body so that I can drop my head down so that the point of my TT helmet is closer to being between my shoulder blades (too bad I don't have one of those custom-shaped ones that is molded to the shape of the back/sholders!) It helps to have the low back flexibility, too. On my previous bike, I'd even move my handlebars down lower on the steer tube (I haven't tried a TT setup with my new frame, but there's room to move there if I need it!)

I'm thinking about getting a TT saddle to use since the one I'm riding now isn't as long as the one I used last year (or as soft in the nose).

[PinkBike]

count me in as an andrea admirer!

[RoadRaven]

Question... Tokie, you are talking about making your Ruby aero for TTs, including a new seat post. So I am assuming you are turning your Ruby into a dedicated TT bike?
So I assume you are getting another bike for general racing?

If so, why are turning the Ruby? Why not get a TT specific bike? One that comes with a bladed seat post, aero frame etc?

And if, for whatever reason, you are going to make Ruby a dedicated TT bike, then get barend shifters on the aero bars, and change your handle bars to the ones without drops. And as your get used to your new position, gradually begin to take the spacers off your stem. The smaller you can make your "wind shadow" the more efficient into the wind you will be.

For all the equipment we get to make the bikes aerodynamic, we are actually the biggest drag, so the smaller you can make your own front end, the more efficient you will be.

Hows the transformation going? Pix?

[Tokie]

Hi RR, I'm not riding now (see "how much is this going to hurt" ththread in health section),cast comes off in 3.5 weeks. I was just switching out mt seat/seatpost for a fast forward seatpost/different seat and clip on the aerobars. It's a pretty quick switch. Unfortunately, the forward position did bother my bad knee, so I need to go in for a re-fit on mt aero position. Otherwise it felt so much better for TTs. I love the aero position! I was leery of buying another bike without knowing if I would hate the position or not. So many things to buy - some bullet-proof wheels for part 2 of my ride across America this summer are at the top of my list(Jackson Hole to Sioux Falls SD!) The Rolfs got kind of tweaked on those rough highways last summer. So I do think a TT bike might be in my future, as soon as I find an aero position that agrees with my knee. I read an article on fast twitch - it sounded like the smallest entry level felt TT bike might be a good start for me. I'm not really a fast TT er, but I have fun. I'll get back to you when my finances say "go for it!" Thanks! Tokie

[RoadRaven]

Ah...Tokie, sorry to hear about your woes. I am in "catch-up" mode having not been in TE since the beginning of Feb. I thought the most logical way to "catch-up" would be to go through the threads forum by forum. Consequently, I haven't got to the Health Forum yet.

When you do get around to a TT bike purchase... after all those other bits and pieces remember you don't have to spend big. We got me a Giant TCR2 which is a mid-range cost, and slightly aero frame. Slowly we have altered it to a more TT profile... picking up components on TradeMe (NZ version of EBay)... a bladed stem, tri-spoke wheels, bar-end shifters. We cut down old drop bars and turned them into bull horns and after a couple of attempts found the right aero bars to attach.

Looking forward to reading about your ride across America... it'll be my Winter (which is just beginning to make its presence felt) so it will be great to read about rides like yours.

[Tokie]

Thanks for the advice RR! I would be completely happy with a used TT bike too, but cobbling one together is a great idea. Only 2.3 more weeks in the cast, then back to training for the America by Bicycle trip. I'll definitely report back to TE'ers on the trip - I hear that the Wyoming leg has lots of wildlife and natural beauty. I get a fiberglass cast this Weds - should be better than this clammy plaster one! Tokie