Triathlon and TT bikes

Travis said:

Is there anything special about a triathlon bike which makes it
unsuitable for commuting use?

[font=Arial][font=Times New Roman]Troll?

Simply look at the characteristics and requirements of the two bikes... there is your answer..

Ever seen how stupid those tossers in their 200k+ sports cars look stuck in traffic on the way into the city every day? I'd turn myself inside out to chase down/drop some doodle commuting on a full TT setup 🙂[/font][/font]

[PHP][/PHP]

gplama said:

[font=Arial][font=Times New Roman]Troll?

[/font][/font]

[PHP][/PHP]

hhhhmmmmm.............. my spider senses are tingling .... .....

[PHP][/PHP]

Travis said:

Is there anything special about a triathlon bike which makes it
unsuitable for commuting use?

[PHP][/PHP]

you would have to be very lucky to find a transition area both near home and at work.

Disc wheels can be a bit risky on busy roads

do you get to wear DT's or race suites at work?

paniers aren't very "aero"

Travis said:

Is there anything special about a triathlon bike which makes it
unsuitable for commuting use?

its a race bike with a more specialised riding position targetted at
holding a constant speed with minimal cornering and
no interaction with anyone else. Is your commuting like this?

Andre

Aeek said:

Travis said:

Is there anything special about a triathlon bike which makes it
unsuitable for commuting use?

its a race bike with a more specialised riding position targetted at
holding a constant speed with minimal cornering and
no interaction with anyone else. Is your commuting like this?

Nope, lots of cornering, lots of hills, plenty of traffic to dodge -
point taken.

I ask because a nice looking reasonably priced second hand Cervelo Dual
in my size is available. I looked up reviews of the bike on the net
and found that the triathlon riders seem to be raving about it.

The aero bars look nice but i wonder about their practicality,
particularly with regard to the comfort of the riding position and how
well I'd be able to dodge obstacles while leaning way out like this.
So you've confirmed my suspicions.

gplama said:

Travis said:

Is there anything special about a triathlon bike which makes it
unsuitable for commuting use?::Troll?

Simply look at the characteristics and requirements of the two bikes...
there is your answer..

Knowing little about triathlon except that it involves running, cycling
and swimming (I think??) I don't know the characteristics of a
triathlon bike and how this would differ to a road bike. As a rank
noob-ie I've got to ask these things... 🙂

Quoted message said:

Ever seen how stupid those tossers in their 200k+ sports cars look
stuck in traffic on the way into the city every day? I'd turn myself
inside out to chase down/drop some doodle commuting on a full TT setup
🙂::

Sounds like I'd get a terrific workout then. Even better than commuting
on a row bike. *grin*

The bike I was considering, but now am not because of comments in this
thread, was no more expensive than the road bike I was looking at.
$200K [censored] factor doesn't apply, I'm just looking for a good deal on
a bike.

quote='Travis'Aeek said:

Travis said:

Is there anything special about a triathlon bike which makes it
unsuitable for commuting use?

its a race bike with a more specialised riding position targetted at
holding a constant speed with minimal cornering and
no interaction with anyone else. Is your commuting like this?

Nope, lots of cornering, lots of hills, plenty of traffic to dodge -
point taken.

I ask because a nice looking reasonably priced second hand Cervelo Dual
in my size is available. I looked up reviews of the bike on the net
and found that the triathlon riders seem to be raving about it.

The aero bars look nice but i wonder about their practicality,
particularly with regard to the comfort of the riding position and how
well I'd be able to dodge obstacles while leaning way out like this.
So you've confirmed my suspicions.[/QUOTE]
IMHO the Cervelo is a dog... only suitable for straight line short rides.

dont even think about commuting with aero bars, they are dangerous...why do you think you cant slip stream in Tris...danger danger danger

The Cervelo Dual has a short chainstay of typically around 36-38cm which makes selecting any gear at the either end of the cluster nigh on impossible as the chain cannot flex that much so if you like riding in 15 16 & 17 all the time cool, just toss away the 11 12 13 14 19 21 23 s...short chainstay means short wheelbase...very twitchy, hard to ride safely down a fast hill, hard to keep in a straight line at best of times and certainly not a comfy long ride...ever.

it has a very forward riding position so and will probably blow your knees for any ride longer than 15ks where there is any gradient over 3%.

you maybe able to reverse the seat post to get back a bit, but still whippy due to short wheelbase...

if you want to commute...go buy a commuter or a hybrid... unless you plan on longer rides in bunches then get a decent road bike that you can ride for hours without calling for a physio to fix your back, kneck, knees, ankles and wrists...

rooman said:

IMHO the Cervelo is a dog... only suitable for straight line short rides.

dont even think about commuting with aero bars, they are dangerous...why do you think you cant slip stream in Tris...danger danger danger

The Cervelo Dual has a short chainstay of typically around 36-38cm which makes selecting any gear at the either end of the cluster nigh on impossible as the chain cannot flex that much so if you like riding in 15 16 & 17 all the time cool, just toss away the 11 12 13 14 19 21 23 s...short chainstay means short wheelbase...very twitchy, hard to ride safely down a fast hill, hard to keep in a straight line at best of times and certainly not a comfy long ride...ever.

it has a very forward riding position so and will probably blow your knees for any ride longer than 15ks where there is any gradient over 3%.

you maybe able to reverse the seat post to get back a bit, but still whippy due to short wheelbase...

if you want to commute...go buy a commuter or a hybrid... unless you plan on longer rides in bunches then get a decent road bike that you can ride for hours without calling for a physio to fix your back, kneck, knees, ankles and wrists...

Whilst I can't comment specifically on the Cervelo, I can comment that I commute on my one and only bike, which is presently in TT set up. The frame is a Kestrel Talon and has no problem in selecting any gear, isn't twitchy and can even climb hills (at the same pace I can).

I occasionally use the aerobars for a relatively short section that has no traffic lights, no parked cars and no side streets. It presents less danger than other parts of my commute for which I would never use the aerobars. I've left them on during summer 'cos I get sick of changing the config every time I have a race.

If rooman is right about one thing, it's that getting the right fit is the most important aspect (even more for triathletes contemplating ironman distances), but it is no more difficult fitting a tri-bike than anything else.

In summary, if you want to compete regularly in triathlon and also want to commute on the same bike then a hybrid won't cut the mustard. You might prefer a (ahem) normal road bike with clip-on aerobars.

Each to your own...

Ritch

PS. Non-drafting triathlon is not a safety rule - it's a rule designed to make the sport an individual one.

rooman said:

if you want to commute...go buy a commuter or a hybrid... unless you
plan on longer rides in bunches then get a decent road bike that you
can ride for hours without calling for a physio to fix your back,
kneck, knees, ankles and wrists...

I'm buying a Trek 2300. From everything I've heard about them, it
should suit my purposes for both commuting and fast joy riding.

Yes.

"Commuting" suggests you are either employed or studying. Therefore I
assume you are human - not a doorstop or lower form of zooplankton.

Such bikes are therefore infra dig - unless of course my assumptions are
wrong.

"Travis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Is there anything special about a triathlon bike which makes it
unsuitable for commuting use?

jim said:

Yes.

"Commuting" suggests you are either employed or studying. Therefore I
assume you are human - not a doorstop or lower form of zooplankton.

Such bikes are therefore infra dig - unless of course my assumptions are
wrong.

*LOL*

That's harsh!

Travis said:

Aeek said:

Travis said:

Is there anything special about a triathlon bike which makes it
unsuitable for commuting use?

its a race bike with a more specialised riding position targetted at
holding a constant speed with minimal cornering and
no interaction with anyone else. Is your commuting like this?

Nope, lots of cornering, lots of hills, plenty of traffic to dodge -
point taken.

I ask because a nice looking reasonably priced second hand Cervelo Dual
in my size is available. I looked up reviews of the bike on the net
and found that the triathlon riders seem to be raving about it.

The aero bars look nice but i wonder about their practicality,
particularly with regard to the comfort of the riding position and how
well I'd be able to dodge obstacles while leaning way out like this.
So you've confirmed my suspicions.

Geez, I'd grab it with both hands.
Faster is always better, and you soon get used to the tribars, in fact I
feel more comfortable on my tribars than I do on "normal" bars.

gplama said:

Travis said:

Is there anything special about a triathlon bike which makes it
unsuitable for commuting use?::Troll?

Simply look at the characteristics and requirements of the two bikes...
there is your answer..

Ever seen how stupid those tossers in their 200k+ sports cars look
stuck in traffic on the way into the city every day? I'd turn myself
inside out to chase down/drop some doodle commuting on a full TT setup
🙂::

--
gplama

Even if he/she was sitting up, relaxing, clearly taking their time, with
HR well below 120? Guess who's the doodle now? :-P

Tam

Travis said:

gplama said:

Travis said:

Is there anything special about a triathlon bike which makes it
unsuitable for commuting use?::Troll?

Simply look at the characteristics and requirements of the two bikes...
there is your answer..

Knowing little about triathlon except that it involves running, cycling
and swimming (I think??) I don't know the characteristics of a
triathlon bike and how this would differ to a road bike. As a rank
noob-ie I've got to ask these things... 🙂

<snip>

Good question.

Everyone seems to be assuming that tri bikes are just the same as road
bikes, only with TT bars. Tri bikes generally have a steeper seat tube
angle, addressing the theory that this position enables the rider to use
significantly less biceps femoris (and no more vastus lateralis, vastus
medialis, vastus intermedius or semimembranous) while achieving the same
power output, thereby making a triathlete more capable of running off
the bike. Other studies have shown better run times off the bike for
steeper seat tube angles in races. For more details and a great
reference list, try Ricard, M.D. et al. "The effects of bicycle frame
geometry on muscle activation and power during a Wingate Anaerobic Test"
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, (2006) 5, 25-32.
http://www.jssm.org/

Tam

Tamyka Bell said:

Even if he/she was sitting up, relaxing, clearly taking their time, with
HR well below 120? Guess who's the doodle now? :-P

Tam

....the TTer who should be on a normal bike? 🙄

gplama said:

Tamyka Bell said:

Even if he/she was sitting up, relaxing, clearly taking their time,
with
HR well below 120? Guess who's the doodle now? :-P

Tam

...the TTer who should be on a normal bike? 🙄

--
gplama

Um, some people can't really afford to have a normal bike as well as a
nice race bike. Spare a thought, please.

Tam *would give up food for a few extra bikes*

"jim" wrote

Quoted message said:

Yes.

"Commuting" suggests you are either employed or studying. Therefore I
assume you are human - not a doorstop or lower form of zooplankton.

Such bikes are therefore infra dig - unless of course my assumptions are
wrong.

I must be getting old? I didn't understand a word of what you said??

BruceA

Tamyka Bell said:

Um, some people can't really afford to have a normal bike as well as a
nice race bike. Spare a thought, please.

I've got an old Repco Superlite. Having seen what they change hands
for on ebay, the old jokes about "Customer: I'll have a couple of new
tires for my bike... Shopkeeper: Sounds like a fair swap" come to mind.

I want to upgrade BECAUSE my existing bike is so crappy. But I don't
see the point of buying lots of bikes, particularly since I don't
really have any place to store them.

My main concern is that if I end up getting a nice new bike, it won't
be able to survive a few years of commuting. I seriously do not want
to be up for a new $600 wheel every time I mount a curb too heavily...

BruceA said:

"jim" wrote

Quoted message said:

Yes.

"Commuting" suggests you are either employed or studying. Therefore I
assume you are human - not a doorstop or lower form of zooplankton.

Such bikes are therefore infra dig - unless of course my assumptions are
wrong.

I must be getting old? I didn't understand a word of what you said??

Translation: riding a triathlon bike would be beneath human dignity.
:-)