Shayne

I normally do all TT's on a tandem with my daughter. Gives us something to work at together and she's really into winning those medals and such. However, I've done a few solo TT's this spring as the weather was a little to chilly for her. I kind of surprised myself with how fast I went, just using my road bike, normal helmet and no aero bars. Don't even have a skin suit. Clocked a 23.5 mph effort on a technical course that has a pretty good little climb and quite a few corners.

Anyway, I'm getting ready to cat up to a 4 soon, so I thought I'd ghetto rig up the road bike and take a shot at the state TT before I do. I transfered the aero bars off the tandem, flipped the seatpost around and got a team deal on one of those dorky looking helmets. Please help me out a little with my postioning. Sorry about the shots, my wife wasn't into it to much so I just took what I could get. I think I could go lower in the front, but I'd have to change stems. I still want to use the bike at the Tue. night crits, so I don't want to much to be changing back and forth. I'm building up a 68mm front wheel with 24 spokes to be used on this bike and the tandem. Getting a cover for the rear wheel. I can't get a team skin suit in time, so I guess I'll just have to go without that. Thanks for any help you can offer.

I case your wondering, I'm the same size as Waterrockets. At least in height. I punch a pretty big hole in the air.

esammuli

You look pretty high. Try a negative rise stem to try to get your back flat and head down.

SpongeDad

I was thinking stem is too short by 1-2cm.

Shayne

I can move the aero bars forward or backward without changing the stem. It was that feature that sold me on this particular model.

Homebrew01

Looks like too much leg extension. It's hard to tell if you're not actually pedaling though

jrennie

I wont comment on too high or too low since this is more a function of your own body. If you look at DWJO's position it is fantastic in terms of drag but not many people could hold that for a 40k. I think you will lower your front when you slide the extensions forward a bit.

If you are worried about a skinsuit go to the local sports store and get an under-armor type fitted shirt(starter makes one for about $15) and wear your bibs.

EDIT- and it does look a little high on your saddle but with the angle you have it tilted at I wouldn't change that till after you strech forward. The more forward you rotate around the BB the higher your saddle would need to be.

patentcad

Where's the iPod?

Shayne

I do want one, if for no other reason than to be like you.

carpediemracing 

Can you move the helmet back on your head? It protects less but lets you keep your head lower. I guess it depends on your priorites lol.

cdr

Snuffleupagus

I'm a big fan of the praying flandis position. Give it a shot, running the bars angled up and putting my nose between the extensions is a good bit faster, and gives me a point of reference ensuring I don't move around so much.

Shayne

I think you might be on to something here. Rotating the aero bars like that would, in effect lower me in the front without changing the stem. I'll give that a test shot or two in the coming weeks.

I only have 6 weeks to get used to this setup, but other than Tue. night crits, I'll putting most of my efforts towards this TT. Also, I plan to get on the actual course at least 3 times.

curiouskid55

For aero concerns side view means nothing. Front view should be main area of concern

asgelle

Sadly, no. Frontal area is important of course; but since drag is the product of both frontal area, A, and drag coefficient Cd; and since Cd depends on the shape of the body as a whole; and since the wind is rarely directly head on so A depends on the side area as well, a side view has more to show than the front view.

curveship

Agreed but I'd put it a little more mildly: yes, frontal area dominates, but a side photo tells us more about how you got that FA then a frontal photo, so it's a better diagnostic tool.

king-tony

Big +1. I wear mine at my scalp line. You want a smooth line flowing into your back.

Shayne

Got it. I'm going to use this helmet for the first time in the morning for a 20k TT on the tandem. I'll push it way back as best as I can.

I think they look pretty dorky, but my daughter loves it. She wants one so bad it's funny. She'll have to grow some though, they don't make them to fit 9 year olds.

king-tony

I don't know, my Giro is tiny.

Shayne

Made a deal with Curveship for a small L.G. Rocket. Even if she can't get into it right away, she'll be stoked.

R900

So will be testing at Greenville in the morning? See you there?

It could stop raining anytime now!

daytonian

enjoy the chip seal

Shayne

Chip seal.........we love chip seal!!!!

Shayne

Rotated the aero bars down into a semi-Landis like postion. This really works to get you low. My daughter and I laid down a personal best of 34:04 for 20k at this mornings TT in Greenville, OH. I know that doesn't seem to fast to most so I'll list some excuses. The course is pretty rolly and is all chip-seal. Also, I'm on a 40 lb. bike with a 9 yr. old girl. That's all I got.

After the TT, I went down to our teams 10 mile TT course and put down another personal best. My legs are burnt toast.

JonRags

Much better than my TT position. But my bike isn't setup to be a race bike (I've since flipped the stem and my position looks a little better)