road bike with aero bars = better for hills?
394
Member
290 days
Sully800 posted 34 weeks ago.
blavelle;84681 wrote:
I know the road vs. tri bike thing has been brought up a billion times but nothing on my situation. I live in the pocono mountains and, as the name implies, there are some mountians. Most of my races are classified as "very hilly" and I know a tri bike isnt optimal for climbing. Would I benefit more from a road bike with a set of aerobars? the cervelo soloist is practically a tri bike with aero bars and a flippable seat tube. Also I would like a bike that I could race in college, mostly in TT's. Would something like a cervelo soloist with a decent set of clip on bars be my best bet? also with a soloist I could race road if I felt so compelled but I dont want to take the loss of aerodynamics on a road bike.
I'm in almost the exact situation that you are. I'm just on the other side of the poconos from you but I plan on doing hill races like Black Bear and Athracite. And I am also joining my colleges cycling team and I do a lot of group rides over the summer so a pure TT bike wouldn't be ideal (since I wasn't willing to spend the money on two new bikes.
I ended up getting a Soloist for those exact reasons. It has aerotubing and a flippable head so it can turn into a decent tri bike, yet its definitely built as a road bike. Also I had a set of clip on aerobars that I got for my old borrowed bike so I didn't have to spend anything extra to transform it. I think if you want the flexibility to be able to race in college its nice to start on a road bike. A few years from now when you are making tons of money and you're at a high level in triathlon you can get a P3C and then have the best of both worlds. ;)
2559
Member
1219 days
Anton posted 34 weeks ago.
I live in an area that's hilly and have done tons of races that are too,including three IMLP's.
I've done it three ways. Road bike with aero bars, tri bike and tri bike with road bars and clip ons. I liked the tri bike road bars configuration. Had the geometry for running but let me use the bars on a hilly course as I normally do on a my road bike.
I think you're fine riding a road bike and flipping the seat post and clippin' on. If you can only have one bike...go road.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net
30
Member
255 days
jacmun posted 34 weeks ago.
I have a Scott plasma, and I am surprised at how good it is for tackling hills although it is a TT bike. My road bike is a Giant compact frame and it is not a great config for clmbing. A good mate has the soloist and this is a great machine, I have followed him up a lot of ascents in training, and have to act suicidal on the descents to catch up
1049
Member
836 days
UFTriGator posted 34 weeks ago.
That settles it, then.....get a Soloist because it'll make you climb faster. :D
______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.
2559
Member
1219 days
Anton posted 34 weeks ago.
UFTriGator;84724 wrote:
That settles it, then.....get a Soloist because it'll make you climb faster. :D
You'll sure need that in Florida! :p
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net
1049
Member
836 days
UFTriGator posted 34 weeks ago.
Anton;84728 wrote:
You'll sure need that in Florida! :p
Hey! I saw a hill....once.
______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.
71
Member
292 days
blavelle posted 34 weeks ago.
oh pennsylvania how I love thee so.
"now I only have good days and great days."
357
Member
746 days
kkocan posted 34 weeks ago.
Cool, a PA thread.
I live north of Pittsburgh in very rolling terrain. Unless I go REALLY looking for flat boring roads I easily end up with about 1,000+ feet of climbing for each 20 miles. Most of my century rides are about 6,000-7,000 feet of climbing. It's very much like the IMWI course only the 'big' hills are longer than the two big hills at IMWI. I rode all summer on my tri-bike and only went back to a road bike when the weather turned crappy recently. I avg at least 1.5 mph faster per ride on my tri bike, even with tons of hills.
Now the crappy roads, that's another story all together.
________________________________________________
2008 Main Races:
VA Beach Shamrock Marathon
Desoto TTT
WV Mountaineer HIM
IM Wisconsin
I know the road vs. tri bike thing has been brought up a billion times but nothing on my situation. I live in the pocono mountains and, as the name implies, there are some mountians. Most of my races are classified as "very hilly" and I know a tri bike isnt optimal for climbing. Would I benefit more from a road bike with a set of aerobars? the cervelo soloist is practically a tri bike with aero bars and a flippable seat tube. Also I would like a bike that I could race in college, mostly in TT's. Would something like a cervelo soloist with a decent set of clip on bars be my best bet? also with a soloist I could race road if I felt so compelled but I dont want to take the loss of aerodynamics on a road bike.
"now I only have good days and great days."