Carbon handlebars / aerobars?

[Eden]

Yes a dedicated TT bike would be nice, but I've used up my bike allowance on the new roadie - not only that there is likely not a stock TT bike made that would be small enough to fit me and I really can't afford to buy a custom TT bike right now- Cervelo I definitely know does not go small enough.

Maybe if I wasn't riding as a cat 4 and I was better at TTing it might make sense to go there, but at this level of racing improving my overall fitness makes more sense than buying more equipment. I realize that my position is never going to be perfect on a road bike with TT bars, but I'm not doing the ironman either. The TT's that I do are generally short (10 miles or less) and are part of a stage race. Most of the women at my level are not riding dedicated TT bikes, disk wheels etc. so I don't feel that I am laboring under a huge disadvantage right now.

[SadieKate]

Eden, I put FSA Vision Tech bars on my century comfy Litespeed for 10 mi TTs. I also bought (just last week) a 2nd seatpost so I can have a post/saddle combo I can pull and swap the two together without affecting my time-tested road position.

The FSA bars are available as short as 230mm, but they also make a mini version at 175. At 175, they look incredibly short and don't look like they would give you a good position. Not sure what they're for. My Litespeed is a 51 cm and the saddle is 70 cm high (ctr of crank to top of saddle), in case that helps you visualize the 230mm.

Yes, due to the forward position your weight is now more on the front wheel and you have to think about braking (use more in the front), but the position is definitely more aerodynamic. The bars catch side winds but I think you know all this. Time trial bikes can also be difficult in side winds. Certainly, loads of people use road bikes for time trials and triathlons just fine.



The new seatpost is a Specialized Pave with a big setback that we turned backward to get the extreme forward position. The head on the post is extremely adjustable. This new position has given my IT band new life for the time trials.

Hope this helps at all.

[madisongrrl]

Yes a dedicated TT bike would be nice, but I've used up my bike allowance on the new roadie - not only that there is likely not a stock TT bike made that would be small enough to fit me and I really can't afford to buy a custom.

I actually wasn't saying to buy a TT bike. I was saying that you might not want to put aerobars on your road bike for TT. It might not be any faster....it could even be slower depending on the geometry and set up of your road bike. I see this quite a bit at multisport races. Using your current road bike as is will cost you nothing!