Are triathlon bikes hard to ride?

Triathlon bikes are squirrelly aerodynamic beasts. They are great for speed, but frame geometry, riding down on aerobars and weight distribution (especially with bento boxes and bar-mounted hydration systems) can make tri bikes especially difficult to handle as compared to road bikes.

How long does it take to get used to a triathlon bike?

It depends on a myriad of things that are specific to the rider. However, it is widely agreed that it takes around two months of regular use or riding around One Hundred Miles to get used to the handling and triathlon bike position.

Can you use a triathlon bike as a road bike?

A triathlon bike can still climb, descend, corner, and accelerate quickly, but not quite as well as a road bike.

How much faster is tri bike vs road bike?

The BikeRadar website claims the advantage a TT bike gives you is 60-70 watts at 40 km/h, that is, it takes 270-280 watts to ride a road bike at that speed and 220 watts to ride a TT bike. Translated into seconds, a TT bike gives you 9 seconds per kilometre advantage. This is six minutes in a 40 km time trial. Insane.

Are triathlon bikes good for climbing?

When cycling uphill you'll benefit from a lighter road bike, as the geometry allows you a more comfortable and efficient ride. The aerodynamic advantages of a tri bike are negligible when climbing and you may be forced to utilise the quadriceps more, which can hinder your run performance.

Why Should You Switch To A Triathlon Bike?

Why are triathlon bikes heavier?

A triathlon bike is heavier than a road bike by 2- 4 lbs or 1 to 2 kg. The reason is that the aim is to make a triathlon bike more aerodynamic rather than lightweight as it is in road bikes. The triathlon bikes come with bigger aerofoils and bigger frames than the road bike.

Do triathlon bikes have gears?

Your standard racing bike (triathlon or road) has 10 gears attached to the rear wheel, collectively known as the cassette. Each one of those gears is a cog.

How much does an average triathlon bike cost?

Still, it is pretty easy to spend $1,500 to $2,000 on a quality starter triathlon bike and end up with a very good ride. Here are a few things to look for in your entry-level tri bike, along with a few recommendations.

What is special about a triathlon bike?

SEAT POSITION

One main difference is simply the way the seat is positioned. On a triathlon bike, the seat tube is steeper than a road bike. The angle of the seat tube on a triathlon bike forces the hips to sit forward which gives the rider less tension on their quadriceps and hamstrings.

How often should I ride my TT bike?

Some athletes can ride the tri bike just once per week and feel just fine on race day, while others need to spend nearly all of their time on it as race day nears. If you feel good on the tri bike and want to just perform one key workout each week on it, then that should be sufficient.

Why do tri bikes have aero bars?

As the name suggests, they allow you to get into a more aerodynamic position by lowering your upper body and bringing your arms in-line with your torso. Unlike other handlebar positions, aero bars provide both hand grips as well as arm rests, allowing you to significantly reduce the pressure on your wrists and hands.

How heavy should a triathlon bike be?

With that in mind, how much does a TT bike weigh? What is this? So for those of you that have been asking, “how much does a TT bike weigh” the average weight of a TT bike is 9.25kg (20.39lb).

Do I need a tri bike for Ironman?

Yes, a dedicated triathlon bike will help your performance, but you can still do well without one.

How do you train for a hilly Ironman?

If You're Training for a Hilly Bike Course…

If the downhills are steeper than you are comfortable descending on your triathlon bike, train on a road bike during those workouts. While climbing alternate between both seated and standing. A good tactic is to alternate standing and sitting every 1 minute.

Do triathlon bikes have brakes?

Disc brakes aren't new, they've been used on mountain bikes for years but have recently found popularity on road and triathlon bikes. They use a round metal disc called a rotor attached to the hub of the wheel and a mechanism called a caliper, bolted to the frame or fork.

What is the best cassette for triathlon?

Rear Cassette: 12/28 for most courses, consider a /30 or /32 rear cassette for extremely hilly courses.