Road Racers... whats your TT bike?

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

Post Reply
davidalone
Posts: 622
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:27 pm

by davidalone

So lots of us here are club/enthusiast racers. I am one too, with a pretty serious team ( one of the bigger/more successful ones, locally.)

As road racers, most of our racing is done on... well, a road bike. and I already have a pretty nice road bike I like.
BUT the occasional stage race has a TT, and of course you have our national TT races. so there will be a couple of occasions a year where you'd want to pull out a TT bike. maybe the odd triathlon, too. well of course you could slap some clip ons onto the road bike, but it isn't ideal.

so, my question to you road racers is: what is your TT bike? I don't see the merit in laying down a huge wad of cash on a superbike ( say, an S-works Shiv, scott plasma premium, Giant trinity, Cannondale Slice RS, cervelo P5, etc.) that gets taken out probably 15-20 times a year ( including the training rides.) . but we do know that TT is one area where you can buy free speed.

anyone come across a reasonale solution for this? the previous generation of bikes ( cerveo P3, Cannondale slice, plasma 2,) is where I probably feel the value is at now. they are aero with data to back it up and they're of course alot cheaper now. you could set it up with simple parts like rival or 105 ( I know, I know, this is weigh weenies, but hey, economics trumps all.) and have a pretty good TT weapon.

or... go OEM?

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
LouisN
Posts: 3508
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:44 am
Location: Canada

by LouisN

Since Im doing just one, maybe two short TT's a year, and have no budget for another bike, I just put a TT saddle/topper combo and an adjustable stem plus extensions on my road bike (changed the extensions to lower Profile Design now).

From this:

Image

To this:

Image

If it can give some ideas...

Louis :)

Bregnhoj
Posts: 73
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2013 5:52 pm
Location: Vejle, Denmark

by Bregnhoj

It isn't really the bike that counts, so to say.

If you're a good rider, you'll get just about as good a time on a P3 or even a Canyon Speedmax AL. Slap a pair of TriRig brakes on it, and a nice aerobar instead of the aluminium ones fitted.

I'd say that a good time trial is more about the right position on your bike, rather than the bike. Maybe you should spend some of the saved money on a bikefit to optimize your position on the bike.
My bikes incl. De Rosa Superking and Cervelo R3
Twitter & Instagram - @mathiasbregnhoj

mattr
Posts: 4671
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 6:43 pm
Location: The Grim North.

by mattr

TBH, just get a frame (any frame?) that gives you a good TT position.
Weight isn't the be all of a TT rig, neither is the aero of the frame itself. (OK, it makes a difference, but most of the drag comes from the blob sat on the saddle, get that right and you are almost there.)
Half way decent set of wheels and kit/drivetrain off an older/spare bike and you'll be set.

I'm currently (and slowly) building up a speedmax AL F+F that a mate failed miserably to sell before he moved (downsized).
Total spend so far is a bit of skin off my knuckles where a bolt had seized. I reckon i'll top out at under €250. Already had an almost complete D-A 9 drivetrain, saddle, brakes, wheels in the house, it all works fine, just a bit tatty round the edges. All i'll need to actually buy is the cockpit stuff, base bar, extensions, shifters and brake levers.

I'm sure if you did a bit of a trawl of your various boxes of kit, you could find most of the bits you need. (or get a cheap groupset in last years colours from the net)

Probably get a decent enough frame from ebay or your local tri forumites.

cyclenutnz
Posts: 854
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:18 am
Location: Cambridge, New Zealand
Contact:

by cyclenutnz

None of the OEM frames that I know of are particularly compelling from either a geometry or aero features perspective.

If you want to put something together for minimal expense/max return - the old Ally Cervelo P2 (aka P1, P2SL, P2k) is a solid frame that is fast and well sized. Or the carbon P2.

Of new bikes the Fuji Norcom Straight is looking very impressive as the lowest model is the same frame shaping as the top one. I suspect that will be my leading recommendation this season as a UCI legal TT bike that doesn't cost the earth. Unfortunately it has a TTV front brake which will not be to everyones liking but the indications are that it is a fast bike. Or for a bit more money the new Trek Speed Concept 7.5 - superbike aero at a much better price.

For a savings of slightly under 5s in a 40km TT the Tririg brakes really don't make sense until you're down to shaving off the last few seconds (poor ROI). And if you're doing that you really should be on a superbike (likely with integrated calipers) as they make a lot more difference than that when compared to the P3 generation bikes.

Getting good bars is a key part of the equipment picture - which is a problem as there aren't any slick aftermarket bars at a reasonable pricepoint. Which is part of what makes the Speed Concept 7.5 as it has the mono bar.

Position should drive all of the above decisions. Your choice of frame will dictate whether you need high or low stack bars (or vice versa). Be prepared to consider the Adamo saddle as part of getting into a good UCI legal position (depending on how tall you are), or maybe Fi'zi:k Ares/Bontrager Hilo. If you can adopt a slick position and generate good power that way you will fast regardless of what you're riding. Though choosing good kit will make you that little bit faster...

Irish
Posts: 788
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:57 pm
Location: Ireland

by Irish

While a good tt bike is nice to have, the most important things in beating drag are a good position tribars and aero helmet.

mattr
Posts: 4671
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 6:43 pm
Location: The Grim North.

by mattr

They are pretty inexpensive brand new!!

User avatar
martinSL
Shop Owner
Posts: 129
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:28 am
Location: North Bend, WA

by martinSL

I do TTs also only a handful of times per year but unfortunately this is where the results of the stage races get significantly changed - therefore TT is of some significance to me.
My observation is that despite good blob's aero (helmet, skinsuit, attachment of numbers, ...) the bike does make a difference or rather a well selected TT bike does allow for much better aero position of the blob plus it has its own aero advantages. So the geometry of the bike, especially the new superbikes without standard stem, is important. TT is not a long distance affair so comfort is not highest on my priority list but the highest power and most aero position is. TT bikes are also cool looking so aesthetics might play a role too. Other factors might be: what disc wheels will it accept (some frames have issues with wider disks like Super-9), does it have aero positioned brakes which don't catch the chain and are not a pain in the .... to adjust\service (last moment wheel changes can be advantageous), cable routing - electronic shifting is a plus in TT IMHO, proprietary or any bars, stiff BB, ...
----------------------------------------------
Racing and Training Cycling Tires
www.tiremaniacs.com

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



wasfast
Posts: 336
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:03 am
Location: San Diego California

by wasfast

I only race TT's and have for the last 6 years. Riding a TT bike is quite a different experience than a road bike. Unless you devote considerable time riding the TT bike in training, I'd suggest that adapting your road bike will yield better overall results for the amount you'd be doing TT's. Especially for the non-TT specialist, I'd steer clear of the superbikes. I'd also discourage getting fully integrated aerobar setups. Initially, maximum adjustment is the payoff until you can get a position sorted out.

The biggest challenge with using a road bike for TT's is getting enough saddle-pad drop and the slack seat tube angle. Non glamorous items like a Profile Design Fast Forward seatpost and adjustable stem can get you "close".

Spend money on the skinsuit, helmet, rear wheel cover and position (fitting etc). The cost/performance ratio for the sexy superbike and wheels is not very good in comparison.

Post Reply