Quick Newbie Q: Big ring only in Tri's?

[Starfish]

I was just reading an article in a bike rag that stated that the only ring allowed in TT's or Tri's is the big ring.

Is this literally true, or were they just making a point about the nature of time trialing and triathlon riding?

Thanks!

[roadie gal]

I have no idea about TT's but that's untrue for tri's. I don't know what point they were trying to make. There are a lot of hilly tri's around. You need that small ring to be able to save your legs for the run. I've used all of my gears depending on the course.

[ehirsch83]

You are allowed to use your small ring for both TTs and Tris. They are making an overall point- in a TT you are going all out(same idea for Tris) and there is no point to be in your small ring unless there is a massive climb.
In all aspects of road racing(crits, road races, TTs, Tris- I have no experience with MTBs...) You will start off in your big ring and only drop to the small ring if needed.

In TT I start in the biggest gear I possibly can from the holding start and still get a good sprint off the start line(so start somewhere sort of easy in the big ring and then spin up to a bigger gear). 99% of the time in a TT you will not shift, shifting raises your heart rate and you lose wattage.

[alpinerabbit]

There are also mountain TTs and hilly-to-mountainous Tris- you'll want /need options.
I've seen it claimed too, even that they wouldn't even HAVE a small ring. If you know the course and can shave off a few grams by unmounting it, ok...

[Starfish]

Thanks, all. I thought they might just be making a point...but I got scared! I was thinking...well, if I'm not even allowed to have a smaller ring on my bike...well...forget it!

Thanks, all.

[KnottedYet]

I use all my rings in tri. (I like my knees, and want to keep them!)

I would shave off more weight by visiting the port-a-pottie before the bike leg than I would by removing a ring.

[Bron]

Yes, me too. In fact I have a triple on my bike (not tri-specific). When the only thing that's stopping me winning is that extra 100g then I'll think about changing it, but I think that day will be a long time coming....

Round here plenty of beginners use mountain bikes, with loads of low gears for triathlons - if it's your first and it's a hilly sprint, then why not (DH used his city bike, complete with luggage rack and mud-guards for his first tri).

[teawoman]

Ooo...does that mean you're gonna do a tri? Yay! I remember you said last year you were considering it but were dithering a lot...

[Starfish]

Ooo...does that mean you're gonna do a tri? Yay! I remember you said last year you were considering it but were dithering a lot...

Not this year...right now I am training for a pretty big goal event for the bike...and also taking a few days of active rest to try to keep a knee healthy that has been acting up.

Would like to next year...but now wonder if my knee will hold up.

I did discover a real weakness in my gluteus medius, and thanks to some folks here on TE, also have an exercise to work on it. I found an interesting article linking a weakness there to my ITB issue...so am thinking that weight loss and strengthening of some new muscles might be key to being able to start a walk/run program in the fall (which would give me LOTS of time to build up some running).