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?

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/...i?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.