Aero fitting a road bike
149
Member
1322 days
Airborne posted 1 year ago.
The problem with just shortening and lowering your front end is that your saddle is too far back. Moving the saddle up is not enough, because with the slack angle and the lowered front end, your hip angle will get squashed too much for you to be 1) powerful, and 2) able to breathe.
If you can move the saddle up and FORWARD, and also do that other stuff, you should be OK. Rider position is the big deal, not the aero frame.
2333
Member
1229 days
Triguy98 posted 1 year ago.
You can get a Profile fast forward seapost that will set you at the apporpriate seat angle. After solving that, you have two main problems:
1) cockpit drop. You can be forward and narrow, but your chest will be catching wind, which defeats the purpose of the aero position. This isnt limited to roadies, as more than half the people I see on tri bikes arent low enough in front to truly takes advantage of the tri geometry. You need cockpit drop measured in the tens of centimeters. An aero bar level with your saddle just narrows your front end.
2) Funky steering. There are people who dont really have a problem with the head tube angle making their steering wacky, and there are those who almost kill themselves. Its really a draw on which your bike will be . Head tube angle and your fork play the biggest roles.
IMO, if you cant overcome these two factors, you are better off leaving your road geometry alone. Actually, I think it's better to do that anyway.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
169
Member
645 days
solidad posted 1 year ago.
I don't think I'll have an issue with the front-end steering, so what I think I'm hearing is, make sure I keep the 90 degree hip angle yet dropping my chest enough to not catch the wind. -- I assume this means the elbow pads are below the seat?? Also, I did read somewhere that you also want a 90 degree shoulder angle as well???
I think I'll give it a try and if I can't dial it in, I'll have the components I need once I buy an aero frame....
16
Member
685 days
levels1069 posted 1 year ago.
not to reference that "other site" but look on slowtwitch.com for a full article about converting your road to a tri bike...VERY helpful stuff
169
Member
645 days
solidad posted 1 year ago.
Any idea what the article was called? I can't seem to find it
2333
Member
1229 days
Triguy98 posted 1 year ago.
Heres some reading from that site:
http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/basebar.html
http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/bikefit.html#Anchor-MUST-11481
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
I ride a Litespeed Siena which is a compact geometry frame. Over the past year I have begun getting into triathlons and next year will be exclusively racing tris. I put aero-bars on my road bike, but I'm thinking of retro-fitting more. Is this crazy or a waste of money?
I know the geometry is not quite right at a 73deg seat tube and the bike is a little longer. If I just move my seat up, shrink and lower the stem, put aero wheels and full aero upfront, am I most of the way there or would an actual aero frame make that big of a difference?