TT / Triathlon bike or Road racer thingy

[smokeey]

Benmac said:

Notwithstanding the "fit for purpose" element of why a road bike is a much better better than a TT bike for general riding; you look like a bellend* riding a TT bike if not racing.

Chap near me rides one. Whenever I overtake him, which is whenever I see him, I make sure to be sat bolt upright on the tops of the bars as I offer my cheery hello.

Well we've already established that I need a road bike (yesterday, actually), but thanks for your input.

With regard to looking a bellend; To any non cyclist, riding around in lycra is going to make me look a far bigger bellend than what style of bike I'm riding

Edited to make sense.

Edited by smokeey on Sunday 31st July 20:24

[Magic919]

That's true. It's just some of the other cyclists that feel their opinion is so important.

[Mr Will]

smokeey said:

Another question, how do people live with the really pointy seats on the racers? They don't look particularly comfortable for the arse but even less so for the bks, do you wear special underwear or something??

Saddles are like shoes - too big is just as painful as too small. You need one that is the right size (and shape) for your sit bones.

Most decent bikes come with a middle of the road saddle that suits most people reasonably well but if it is not comfortable then it is cheap and easy to swap. Just make sure you get your bum measured first - you might need an even narrower one!

Regarding the (already answered) Road vs TT question. If a road bike is an Elise then a TT bike is a Radical. Yes, the Radical is faster around a track but it's impractical pretty much anywhere else (and you'll look a tool driving it to the shops).

[d8mok]

I'm just about to advertise my cannondale supersix for just shy of £1k. New wheels (ksrium equipe s) SRAM red, Ultegra /105 mix.

[Batfink]

I ride a TT bike everyday. It does the job I need it for which is to sprint fast home from work.
I do some longer rides as well now on it which was not something I thought I would do and I can get a twinge in my back after 50 or so miles but its not too bad comfort wise if you have strong arms to take your bodyweight. I spend most of my time on the aerobars which can strain your neck a bit as well.
Worst thing is fast downhills. If you try to stop fast the extra weight on the front gets you doing a stoppie.
Ideally I want to swap to a road frame now but theres no money to do that so I get by with what I have. If you really want aero bars stick them on the road bike.

[okgo]

At best on a normal commute of a normal distance you'll be saving a handful of minutes IMO for all of the downsides of riding a TT bike.

[smokeey]

Quick update..

Finally managed to get to Decathlon today. I planned to have a look and maybe get a feel for some of them (size wise) but the place was heaving with kids and family's and all the decent bikes we're chained up. Did see a couple I like the look of though.
Will try and post a link

Few more questions, how the hell do you change gear on the racers? I found the levers but they only seem to move one way??

Are they all weather bikes? The tyres on them all looked very "summery".

Is there a place where cyclist can go and ride without traffic etc, I live quite near the velodrome in Manchester, can the public use it when there's no racing going on ?

[smokeey]

These are the 2 bikes that caught my eye, opinions welcomed.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-720-af-road-bike...

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-700-af-road-bike...

Also saw a few MTB and wondered if one of those would be better suited. It's the road bike I really want but just not sure it will get used as much as a MTB would.

[mph1977]

smokeey said:

These are the 2 bikes that caught my eye, opinions welcomed.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-720-af-road-bike...

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-700-af-road-bike...

Also saw a few MTB and wondered if one of those would be better suited. It's the road bike I really want but just not sure it will get used as much as a MTB would.

this seems to be where more and more people are using 'cyclocross' bikes as a slightly more resilient road bike ...

[Master Bean]

I think the cheaper one would be a better buy. To change gear you have two levers that together form the brake but you can push them separately to change gear. Really difficult to explain in words.

[upsidedownmark]

smokeey said:

Quick update..

Finally managed to get to Decathlon today. I planned to have a look and maybe get a feel for some of them (size wise) but the place was heaving with kids and family's and all the decent bikes we're chained up. Did see a couple I like the look of though.
Will try and post a link

Few more questions, how the hell do you change gear on the racers? I found the levers but they only seem to move one way??

Are they all weather bikes? The tyres on them all looked very "summery".

Is there a place where cyclist can go and ride without traffic etc, I live quite near the velodrome in Manchester, can the public use it when there's no racing going on ?

Velodrome no. That's a whole other ball game. Just find quiet roads.

Changing gear. The brake lever (obviously) pulls back towards the bar to brake. To change to a bigger cog the brake lever also swivels sideways (towards the centreline of the bike) To change to a smaller cog, the littl lever that forms the back edge of the brake lever (but is actully separate) swings in towards the centreline)

'Summery' tyres - forget about it. Tread is irrelevant on a narrow bike tyre, it is only cosmetic; they are very narrow and run at high pressure, so they would need to be doing several hundred miles an hour to aquaplane (perhaps compare the size of the roadbike tyre to the size of a tread block on your car)

They'll be useless on mud obviously. If you want to ride on mud/gravel look for something else (cyclocross..) otherwise, road bikes with narrow tyres go long distances quickly and easily.

[Mr Will]

upsidedownmark said:

They'll be useless on mud obviously. If you want to ride on mud/gravel look for something else (cyclocross..) otherwise, road bikes with narrow tyres go long distances quickly and easily.

That said - a road bike won't fall apart at the first bump. They'll cope with paths through parks, decent towpaths, etc as long as you keep the pace down a little.

[battered]

Absolutely. I rode my roady down the canal towpath the other day, when we discovered that a marked road no longer existed. If you can keep the thing upright, it can handle it.

[Jimbo.]

The pros smash over Km after Km of cobbles at race pace (that is: "faster than most will ever go") without issue, so the odd bump on a path at Average Joe pace doesn't warrant a CX bike!

[upsidedownmark]

• IF* you can stay up, indeed. 23mm slicks are fine in the wet, but aren't known for their traction in mud and gravel, that's all. Nothing to do with longevity or solidity, everything to do with the ability to put in bigger tyres with a viable tread.

[Barchettaman]

Important point: when you get a bike with its skinny tyres you will need a track pump too.

Those tyres need about 8 bar or else you'll fk the rims PDQ.

[anonymous-user]

battered said:

Note that not even the TdF boys use a TT bike on the normal road stages, they use a road racing bike. They only get the TT bikes out for, erm, the TT days.

Isn't that because they're riding in a peloton where a TT bike would be inefficient and also dangerous with all those pointy bits at the front?

[Jimbo.]

upsidedownmark said:

*IF* you can stay up, indeed. 23mm slicks are fine in the wet, but aren't known for their traction in mud and gravel, that's all. Nothing to do with longevity or solidity, everything to do with the ability to put in bigger tyres with a viable tread.

[Rich_W]

upsidedownmark said:

You need a roadbike. Contrary to what you might believe, a tt/triathlon type bike & the associated position is NOT super comfortable, you carry a lot of weight through your shoulders, and they will ache like a b****d after a few hours, having the brakes a foot away from your hands most of the time is very sub-optimal, and you'll spend months finding a saddle that doesn't ruin your undercarridge.

All that said, they're great for a very specific purpose, but pretty much only that You'll have a much happier life with a regular road bike (and I'd guess that 90% of folks who have a TT also have a roadbike, which probably gets used more often..)

I don't have a road bike only a TT. But I (used to) do Tri's so I figured the old phrase of "Train as you race" applied. You get used to it. I've probably logged something like 10 thousand KMs on it over a few years. It's not always the best device for the terrain and as above brakes are not near aerobars and shifters are not near base bar. So you have to think ahead at times. Also be mindful when riding in traffic. And also NO club will allow you to ride with them on the aerobars.

But I'm kinda hankering for a normal CF, Ultegra spec sort of road bike. Do like the Giant Propel Advanced SL




As we all know n+1

Edited by Rich_W on Saturday 6th August 00:41

[pbarlow0032]

OP, have a look at the Pinnacle Arkose 2 in Evans. Ali frame, road bike position, but "gravel"
Bike so a bit more relaxed position and able to take chunkier tyres (and mudguards, panniers etc). Also, has 11speed 105 and hydraulic disc brakes. Seems good value to me for £1000.

BTW I don't have one, I have a cannondale caad10 which I love, but is a bit "racier" and maybe not as forgiving for someone new to a road bike