Convert my Road bike to Tri bike is it worth the effort?
3818
Member
1498 days
kylie posted 1 year ago.
A true tri bike has slightly different geometry. Adaptations to a road bike can get close, and often close enough (depending on what races you are targeting, how competative you are, how you feel getting off it and running, etc).
If this bike is working for you, it sounds like you have most things in place for it already, and just the setup of the shifters is frustrating, I'd say it is worth it because if you don't enjoy riding the bike you won't ride it.
If you are looking at a new or another bike soon though, then you'd have to reconsider if the frustration of the shifter placement is worth the $$ of the change, or if you will keep this bike as your road bike (or sell it) and add a tri bike.
Miles of Life --- Powered by MarkyV
59
Member
459 days
saydee1800 posted 1 year ago.
I am looking to buy a tri bike down the road maybe 2 year. It is not that bad to shift were I wont ride it. I am look to do Ironman Wis in 1 or 2 years 2009 is the target so I will buy that tri bike by then. I feel great of the run when I do bricks. Most of the time I can run faster than when I am just running
Brian
61
Member
1111 days
wilsondaj posted 1 year ago.
I rode a converted road bike with forward sear post, and bar end shifters all of last year with great success, I got a true tri bike this year and I didn't find a huge difference.
The differences I did find were that the tri bike handles a bit better, a road bike has a different head tube angle which affects handling when you are forward. I found I could achieve comparable body angles on both bikes by playing with my stem and seat position.
If you have a good road bike I would say convert it. Unless the tri bike is a big upgrade (I went from aluminum to carbon frame which I did notice) then I dont think its worth it.
Whatever you decide good luck with the training
D
829
Member
1225 days
JamieM posted 1 year ago.
If you're comfortable on your bike, other than the shifting, and you're planning on getting a tri bike in a year or two, then I'd say it's not worth it. Save the money and put it into the tri bike.
59
Member
459 days
saydee1800 posted 1 year ago.
I have wnet tri on my trek. order mt aero shifter and t2 bars
thanks for all your help. But I feel it better to switch I can all way go back for the $30 buck to a road bike.
134
Member
903 days
Homebrewermike posted 1 year ago.
I don't think a tri bike is as big of an advantage on a course like IM Wisconsin due to all the hills as it might be at say IM Florida. I did IM WI last year and tried to get aero at every opportunity. But there were several times when I was climbing that I would have preferred road bike hooded brakes for another hand position and some more leverage. If you can get to an aero position on a road bike with some add-ons that might be the best of both worlds. Look into the forward seat post as wilsondaj suggested.
3283
Member
1266 days
RV posted 1 year ago.
I have a road bike converted for tri's - I did all that you indicated other than swap out for a base bar. I talked to my FIST bike fitter and asked if it would be a good idea to swap out the bar and get bar-end shifters. He gave me a great big no on that. He went on for a while as to why it was not the best idea. Mostly due to the geometry differences. Wish I remembered all the details. He also recommended saving that $ for a true tri-bike.
I did IMWI on my current setup and will use that again this year. I was in areo for IMWI nearly all of the time - it is a fairly technical course lots of rollers and some tight turns on downhills.
The conerted road setup works well - that said at some point I will get a tri-bike and restore my current bike back to a road bike.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
59
Member
459 days
saydee1800 posted 1 year ago.
I do now have the fast forward seat post it has made a big differance. I dont know if it me but since I put it on I can average 10% more speed. Thanks guys about the IMwis info.
Any more you can give will be great.
Are there alot of people with convert raod bike at Ironman Wis
I am new to the triathlon sport. I have been running marathon for 4 years. Now I am looking to get a little more out of the rush. I went to the local bike store and I even went to a running and triathlon store asking if I should buy a road or tri bike. I was told road. So now that I have this bike I have and aero bars, tri seat, and even a fast forward seat post. Now I was look at getting so base bars and bar end shifters. I hate having to go to grab the road bike shifters all the time. I was told that I will never be able to convert this bike to a true tri. Is this true or is it worth puting on the bars
Please help
Brian