I finally bit the bullet and moved from my road bike to a new tri bike. My innaugural ride was 45 miles through rolling hills. Prior to the ride, I pictured myself tearing through the streets of rural NJ like a Tour rider on time trial course. Not so fast . . . I probably road 25 of the 45 miles on the bullhorn bars because I lacked nerve (i) on descents (not hair-raising descents, mind you, but 28-35 MPH descents on rolling hills), (ii) where grooves in the road and other minor obstacles made me edgy, and (iii) where I had to really slow down going uphill. That said, I loved my bike -- a Trek Speed Concept -- and can't wait to get it out on the road again. Did it take others awhile to get used to the aero position (with no brakes in the aero position)?
--Richard
I've been riding/racing
I've been riding/racing bikes since I was a little tyke, have pretty darn good bike handling skills, and I still had a period of adjustment when I 1st got my TT bike.
It was more of a dialing in the fit and strengthening the neck muscles than lack of feeling safe.
(Although, I think a have a slight case of ataraxia. As I don't worry about much of anything)
I think over time, you will adjust and feel comfortable descending on the extensions. After all there is no point of a TT bike if you're not in the extensions. Because of the steeper seat tube angle vs a road bike, when you sit up on the basebar your hip angle is too obtuse and you lose a good portion of your power.
If after a while you still don't feel comfortable without access to a brake, you could always get one of these.http://www.trisports.com/hedthbrle.html
I thought about getting one myself, but eventually found it was pretty easy for me to just lift out my left arm and grab the front lever to scrub a bit of speed. I practiced riding with either arm out of the extension while keeping in the aero position and now it's a non-issue. It's a very helpful skill to have for not only bike handling but for reaching back for your jersey pocket, food, or water bottles.
Congrats on the new ride!
Yeah, it'll take you a few
Yeah, it'll take you a few rides, but not a big deal.
It definitely takes time.
It definitely takes time. You also need to develop the endurance and flexibility in your shoulders to allow you to comfortably ride for longer periods in the aero position. I still rely heavily on the bullhorns when in heavy traffic areas for safety's sake.
Good luck!
I have one of the third
I have one of the third brake levers that J. Michael mentions. It has enough braking to take the 'edge' off, not enough for a complete stop, but it will slow you down nicely.
I ride my tri bike on the group weekly rides, and it allows me to quickly tap it, and hold the pace line when we accordion on rises, etc. During races, you can carry your speed closer to the apex of the turn, a quick tap of the brake, and you're powering out the other side. No longer do you have to get out of the aerobars to slow down...
yeah. The first time I
yeah. The first time I tried my tri bike out was on a paved pathway. Then I realized the difference between a TT bike and a road bike. I have been riding training on my bike for about 4-5 years, and I will admit I am not always comfortable using in on certain bike routes, just because it is faster and more difficult to handle, compared to my road bike. One of my bike routes is very 'twisty and turny" and it is sometimes really difficult to see the cars, that come around the corner, driving right in the center of the road! In most of the races though, it is fine. I really like riding in aero position, I find it more comfortable than riding on the drops on my road bike. Are you having an issues with muscular tension in your back, neck or shoulders? Or is it just the position of the brakes and the difference in speed and how it handles?