Why are triathlon bikes heavier?

Why are Triathlon bikes Heavier than Road Bikes? 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.

Why are TT bikes heavier?

A time trial bike is typically 1-2kg heavier than a road bike. This is because the main focus is making a time trial bike more aerodynamic rather than lightweight. TT frames tend to be heavier because of bigger 'aerofoils' and bigger frames. This can put a time trial bike at a disadvantage going up hill.

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).

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.

Why are triathlon bikes different from road bikes?

The major differences between a triathlon bike and a road bike is the geometry of the frame — more specifically, the seat tube angle. A triathlon bike has a much larger seat tube angle (76 to 78 degrees) than that of a road bike (72 degrees for a typical road bike).

Why Should You Switch To A Triathlon Bike?

Can I use a triathlon bike as a road bike?

Yes, a triathlon bike can be changed to a road bike. This can be sometimes expensive and consume a lot of time but it is very doable. The main parts of these two different bikes can be swapped to change one into the other. You just have to pay attention to the fit as you do so.

Are tri bikes faster than road bikes?

It's generally known that triathlon bikes have aerodynamic and geometric advantages that make them faster than road bikes. With all variables remaining equal over the bike leg of a triathlon, the tri bike wins in speed.

How much faster is a triathlon 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 comfortable?

Triathlon bikes are not designed to be comfortable, they are designed to be aerodynamic, light, and to allow the rider to exert maximum effort against the pedals to get the most speed out of the ride.

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.

Are triathlon bikes heavier than road bikes?

Additionally, TT bikes are heavier than road bikes so even beyond the issue of handling; they're not ideal for climbing. Most triathlon courses, however, do have substantial sections on which the advantages of a TT bike will be felt.

What is the lightest tri bike?

At just 1,195 g in a medium, the Katana is one of the lightest tri-specific frames on the market – the latest iteration now includes disc brakes.

How much does a Tour de France time trial bike weigh?

Today, bikes weigh in at just under 15 pounds—but not any lower, since the UCI's minimum bike weight is 6.8kg, which translates to 14.99 pounds.

Does weight matter on a TT bike?

The short answer is NO. Weight of a TT bike (within reason) does not matter at all. The longer answer is that on any course that is not an average of a 10% uphill the aerodynamics will trump the weight by a wide margin.

Is it hard to ride a triathlon bike?

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 much faster do tri bars make you?

Reduced Frontal Area = Reduced Drag

After installing aero bars, riders typically find that they're going 1 to 2 mph faster at the same level of effort.

How much faster is a triathlon bike than a road bike with aero bars?

TT bikes have only a marginal gain of 17 seconds over a road bike for a 40km distance. In fact, what you are buying is the position rather the frame; that is the major benefit if you opted for a TT bike.

Why do pro triathletes use road bikes?

Road bikes are super lightweight and great for climbing

If you live somewhere that has any sort of undulating terrain, a road bike is a great tool to be able to fly up the climbs. Often times when climbing, even if on a triathlon specific bike, you are not in the aero position.

What is the average bike speed in a triathlon?

The average bike time across Ironman races is 6h18 min which translates to a speed of 17.8 mph or 28.6 km/h. The women cover 112 mi in 6h44 min (or 16.6 mph or 26.7 km/h) and the men in 6h12 min (or 18.1 mph or 29 km/h).

Can you put drop bars on a triathlon bike?

For example, over time, one can (1) keep the drop bars and clip-ons on the triathlon bike and just use it that way for training and multisport racing.