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Road bike vs tri bike in training?

kkocan's picture
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started by kkocan on December 22, 2006

I have completed my first season of tris and am hooked. I have set a training plan for IMWI and have a simple question. When piling on the miles, do most people use their tri bike, as that is what you need to get used to, or if you have a road bike do you use that bike more as in may be a bit more comfortable and allow you longer rides? I rode my road bike most of the time this summer and closer to my first half IM I started riding the tri bike more.

________________________________________________
2008 Main Races:
VA Beach Shamrock Marathon
Desoto TTT
WV Mountaineer HIM
IM Wisconsin

mdd's picture
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mdd posted 1 year ago.

I ride my tri bike for all of my solo rides and I use a road bike for group rides which is usually once a week for the group rides and three times a week for the solo stuff. I think it is important to ride the bike you will be racing on most of the time if possible.

JamieM's picture
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JamieM posted 1 year ago.

I'm usually on the road bike, and save the tri bike for specific tempo and test rides. Though I use the tri bike with increasing frequency as races approach.

glbrum's picture
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glbrum posted 1 year ago.

Since you've got both, there's no harm in switching back and forth. I do group rides on either bike (usually the road though) and solo rides on both also. I'd say that once you get closer to doing your long rides, 80-90+, you should be using the tri bike and also for race simulation rides. You can use it now if you want or you can no use it til the race. There's really no streadfast rule on when you use what.

lloydte's picture
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lloydte posted 1 year ago.

flipping heck...should I use my road bike or tri bike.....I've only got one!!! guess I'm using that one then....how many wheels you got!?!?

JohnieTri's picture
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JohnieTri posted 1 year ago.

I use my road bike on the trainer inside, tri bike on road outside. As spring approaches, I'll stick with the tri bike.

-Johnie

Anton's picture
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Anton posted 1 year ago.

Your're supposed to have a tri bike? (sarcastic joke)
Did the tri bike thing for awhile...never quite felt comfortable having ridden a road bike for 30 years. Have more power,more scoot and more comfort on a road bike and have two as well as a battery of clip-ons I use to get more aero for races.
Ride on what you feel is more comfortable and allows you to get the better workout. As races get closer use the tri bike...

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com

Ironmom's picture
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.

I only have one bike, so that's what I ride. My tri bike is very comfortable though and fitted by a bike shop. Even when I've borrowed my husband's road bike, I've always been happy to return to my tri bike.

Have you gotten your tri bike fitted by a good bike shop? If it's not a good fit, it might not be as comfortable as it should be. When I had my bike set up, I didn't go for the most radical aero position, because I knew I'd be doing long rides for IM. So I went for a good compromise between aero and comfort. If I was just going to do sprint/olympic, I might set it up in a more aggressive position. It's possible that your tri bike is set up in a more radical position than you can comfortably ride right now for any length of time?

Also I found that it took awhile to build up the specific muscles that riding in an aero position uses. So for awhile, it was not as comfortable. When those muscles are used long enough, the aero position feels natural and comfortable.

Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/

kkocan's picture
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kkocan posted 1 year ago.

I would not say that the Tri-bike is uncomfortable. It's just that there are more positions to ride on with a road bike.

The area I live has lots of rolling hills. Unless you go to a bike path you are pressed to find any area more than a few miles long where you can stay in the aero position before you have to come to a hill. Thus, even when I take my tri bike out I spend about half the time in the up position on climbs.

________________________________________________
2008 Main Races:
VA Beach Shamrock Marathon
Desoto TTT
WV Mountaineer HIM
IM Wisconsin

solidad's picture
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solidad posted 1 year ago.

This is a good question for me as well. I am pooling christmas money and want to buy a Tri bike. I train mainly alone and rarely do group rides. I am focusing on HIM for spring and a Spint/Olympic season. I have a nice road bike, Litespeed Siena. The debate I have going is should I sell the road bike so I can get a REALLY NICE tri bike or keep it and get a lower ed tri bike??

Anton's picture
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Anton posted 1 year ago.

Keep the road bike...Buy the tri.
Suppose you after a season or two you find you really don't like tri's. You have a bike you aren't interested in anymore.
Use the road for training and hilly tri's and nasty weather. Get the tri bike for tri's,du's and TT. Spend more time on the tri bike as the season gets close.
It really is ok to own more than one bike.:)

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com

Jstyle's picture
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Jstyle posted 1 year ago.

See I think you should ride the Tri as much as possible. I mean why not, it's what you are going to be racing on may as well focus your muscle group on what you will be needing it for.