Either way, as a compromise, many triathletes choose to retrofit their existing road bikes so they can be used for regular riding and racing. With just a few simple upgrades and tweaks, you can turn your road bike into a triathlon machine, making a real difference come race day.
Can you use any bike for a triathlon?
For your first triathlon, any bicycle that you have access to will work fine. … If a bicycle fits correctly, you’re more likely to enjoy cycling and find it easy to spend time riding. A good fit also reduces the likelihood of cycling-related injuries.
Can you put triathlon bars on a road bike?
How does one install aero bars on road bikes? Road bikes typically do not come with aero bars, so specialty clip on aero bars can be added. … Most road bike handlebars can accommodate aero bars, but it’s important to verify that your bike’s handlebars are compatible.
What makes a triathlon bike different from a road bike?
How They’re Different. The most notable difference is the design, or geometry of the frame of each bike. Triathlon bikes have a steeper angle of the seat. Seats on a road bike are positioned at, on average, 78 degrees while the angle on a triathlon bike is closer to 72 degrees.
Can I do an Ironman on a road bike?
Road bikes are comfortable to ride as long as you get the right fit. They handle better and give a rider more confidence. They also give the rider multiple positions on the handlebars, which is important when riding 112 miles in an Ironman. … I also put tri bars on my road bike.
Can you ride a gravel bike in a triathlon?
The 700c gravel wheelset is the same dimension as to what you usually ride on your tri bike. … Triathletes can use gravel riding as a great opportunity to grab some friends and go exploring without worrying about your pace or power- just enjoy the ride!
Do you need a tri bike for an Ironman?
You Don’t Need a Fancy Bike…
First off, it’s not about the bike. Seriously, you don’t need a snazzy triathlon bike to do well in one of these races. I passed a lot of Cervelo P3s and aero helmets on my road bike, a Trek Emonda I’d equipped with aero bars.
How much faster will a tri bike make me?
In general you will see a 1.5 mph – 2 mph boost in speed between a TT and a road bike… assuming the rider is using regular shorts, jersey and helmet along with no aero wheels. Most of that is due to the differing rider position (i.e. more aero).
How much time do tri bars save?
If you’re talking about clip-on bars on a standard road bike and, as you say, your position using them has been optimised and you’re not shipping excessive power, the usually quoted figure for time saved over a 40km TT is around two minutes.
Do clip-on tri bars make a difference?
Yes, typically you will obtain an improvement in speed by adding clip-on aero bars to your bike. How much extra speed is dependent on many variables though (mostly how it changes your aerodynamics) but a couple of km/h faster is certainly possible.
Why are tri 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.
How much faster is a 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.
Are triathlon bikes good for long distance?
Yes. However, triathlon bikes are not tour bikes. Triathlon bikes can be ridden for long distances, but they are designed for relatively straight and flat ridding. You wouldn’t want a triathlon bike on any multi-day gran-fondos or do any serious mountain climbing or descending with a tri-bike.