Transforming my Roadbike
6
Member
1276 days
Scooter0007 posted 3 years ago.
Regarding aero bars, the best that I have ever used are Syntace C-2s. These are around 350 grams (the lightest around), very adjustable and after 3 years and 8K miles, I have no issues.
My new TT bike came with Profile Ironman Carbon aerobars. These are comfortable and allow for 100% internal cable routing if you use bar end shifters. Looks are great but they are around 200 grams heavier than the Syntace bars.
A good set of wheels are Bontrager Race X-lite Aero. These retail for around 700.00. Bladed spokes, hidden spoke nipples and very stiff. For hilly courses I use my Bontrager Race X-Lites with Continental Supersport tires. These are the fastest spinning wheel/tire combination that I have ever used.
4404
Member
1624 days
beads1985 posted 3 years ago.
Here is a good article about road and tri bikes
http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/bikes/difference.shtml
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
232
Member
1220 days
ironmike12 posted 3 years ago.
I have a Trek 2300, and bought the Syntace C-2's, and they did not fit. They also did not offer an shim or adapter, check your handle bar size and go from there. I ended up going with Profile Design bars, they are the closest to weight in comparison to the C-2's...almost 100 grams heavier. C-2's are super light.
2333
Member
1229 days
Triguy98 posted 3 years ago.
I would waste your $$ on the integrated bars. Some clip ons will serve you perfectly. Find a ahorter pair designed for raod bike geometry, unless you get that seatpost that woves the saddle forward a few degrees. New wheels are always nice, but I am willing to bet that the simple addition of clip ons will be all you would need. A benefit to retaining your road bars is the added hand positions for climbing, sprinting, etc. It takes a while to get used to the aero position, so i wouldnt purchase those things to close to race day. Give yourself several weeks to get used to em.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
414
Member
1273 days
trithis04 posted 3 years ago.
I was just in Lake Placid this week to check out the course and do some training on site before the race. I think you'll be fine with your current set up. As Triguy mentioned, a road set up might be a benefit for this course. Race wheels would be a good idea too. I'm going to run Zipp 404s; the bike course has some climbs (nothing crazy) and a fair amount of steady grade. Some medium V wheels will help your acceleration after the climbs.
[FONT=Impact]-Jason
"Fatigue will make cowards of us all!"
6
Member
1276 days
Scooter0007 posted 3 years ago.
Iron Mike - you are correct that Syntace did not fit oversize bars nor did they offer an adaptor. They now have an adaptor to fit oversize bars and adaptors to raise the aerobars about an inch if they are too low. This is much easier and cheaper than replacing the stem everytime you want the aerobars on your road bike.
Scott
2333
Member
1229 days
Triguy98 posted 3 years ago.
http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/techctr.html
Is an excellent is up to date site with TONS of details on the road bike and tri bike differences. In it, he highly recommends the Profile Jammer GT for road bikes, as it designed for them. Good site, it will keep you occupied for a while.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
I'm doing my first IM (Lake Placid), and I'll be using my Trek 2300 road bike, which I've been riding for about 4 or 5 years. I was thinking about upgrading my clip on profile aero bars to an integrated aero bar set up (and getting a seatpost or the new tool out to adjust the saddle forward further). I was also thinking about purchasing race wheels.
Are these upgrades that I really need in order to successfully tackle the Lake Placid IM bike course? If so, do any of you have recommendations for a solid set of reasonably priced integrated aero bars and reasonably priced race wheels (700)?
Much Thanks,
R Squared