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!
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...
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!