TT bike benefits?
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TT bike benefits?
I'm just wondering - do any of you own TT bikes purely for training purposes? working different muscle groups? working on upper body stability? etc?
Occasionally i try the "invisible aerobars" position on my road bike - it's too hard on my knees because of the extreme angles to do it with any regularity.
I should clarify - I'm not asking about the differences between TT and a Road bike - i'm wondering if anyone owns a TT bike as a training tool for regular road racing.
Occasionally i try the "invisible aerobars" position on my road bike - it's too hard on my knees because of the extreme angles to do it with any regularity.
I should clarify - I'm not asking about the differences between TT and a Road bike - i'm wondering if anyone owns a TT bike as a training tool for regular road racing.
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I think it may help, but only due to the practice effect. You may strengthen certain muscles by doing TT efforts on a TT bike, but I can't see why it would be significantly more beneficial than doing those efforts on a road bike. I think the differences in positioning on the two set ups would hinder any pure strength carryover. I doubt any racer who coughs up the $$ for a TT bike, uses it just for training purposes.
I like to think of Fabian for TTing. I believe that he is comfortable in that position regardless of the bike he is on. We all know its his strength, and I think he trains to compliment it. Think of last year's Paris-Roubaix. After his attack he spend quite a bit of time with his forearms parallel to the hoods, which I would like to think mimics the upper body of the TT position.
However, I may just have shat on my theory, because I believe that track racing is/will make me a better crit rider However in my defense track bike positioning is reasonably close to a crit bike set up.
And as a disclaimer I don't have a TT bike, but have been very interested in finding one. I'd like to think that I would be a decent TT rider. Anyone with other experience feel free to correct me
I like to think of Fabian for TTing. I believe that he is comfortable in that position regardless of the bike he is on. We all know its his strength, and I think he trains to compliment it. Think of last year's Paris-Roubaix. After his attack he spend quite a bit of time with his forearms parallel to the hoods, which I would like to think mimics the upper body of the TT position.
However, I may just have shat on my theory, because I believe that track racing is/will make me a better crit rider However in my defense track bike positioning is reasonably close to a crit bike set up.
And as a disclaimer I don't have a TT bike, but have been very interested in finding one. I'd like to think that I would be a decent TT rider. Anyone with other experience feel free to correct me
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Only get a TT bike if you plan on training for TTs or Triathlons. Since you are riding/racing on your road bike usually, most gains you will get on the TT bike won't transfer over because the fit will be slightly different and you are training muscles that you don't use on the road bike.
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I use clip-ons on my old road bike...
I do a club TT every 2 weeks with that bike and I really think it helps with me road racing in general. It's a good 20min threshold workout and works as a good 20min FTP test.
I have that bike setup with the saddle a bit more forward then my road bike, but still at the 5cm limit...I do some UCI TT's with that bike and they check in Ontario...
For this reason I think I'm working the same basic muscles and definitely gets me use to riding faster...
I do a club TT every 2 weeks with that bike and I really think it helps with me road racing in general. It's a good 20min threshold workout and works as a good 20min FTP test.
I have that bike setup with the saddle a bit more forward then my road bike, but still at the 5cm limit...I do some UCI TT's with that bike and they check in Ontario...
For this reason I think I'm working the same basic muscles and definitely gets me use to riding faster...
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Well, i can apparently get a 2-position post for my S2 that would give me TT geometry, or close to it...it's a bit of a money investment, and i don't plan on competing in any TTs in the near future....
...i was essentially wondering if it would be a good variation on normal road training.
...i was essentially wondering if it would be a good variation on normal road training.
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Well, i can apparently get a 2-position post for my S2 that would give me TT geometry, or close to it...it's a bit of a money investment, and i don't plan on competing in any TTs in the near future....
...i was essentially wondering if it would be a good variation on normal road training.
...i was essentially wondering if it would be a good variation on normal road training.
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I definitely need work on keeping my position in groups. I guess that's what Cat 5 is for
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I use clip-ons on my old road bike...
I do a club TT every 2 weeks with that bike and I really think it helps with me road racing in general. It's a good 20min threshold workout and works as a good 20min FTP test.
I have that bike setup with the saddle a bit more forward then my road bike, but still at the 5cm limit...I do some UCI TT's with that bike and they check in Ontario...
For this reason I think I'm working the same basic muscles and definitely gets me use to riding faster...
I do a club TT every 2 weeks with that bike and I really think it helps with me road racing in general. It's a good 20min threshold workout and works as a good 20min FTP test.
I have that bike setup with the saddle a bit more forward then my road bike, but still at the 5cm limit...I do some UCI TT's with that bike and they check in Ontario...
For this reason I think I'm working the same basic muscles and definitely gets me use to riding faster...
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Actually in my case it does...other TT's and tests that I have done using the race bike have resulted in almost identical wattage numbers...
There really isn't a huge difference between the two setups I use...The TT with clip-ons I have a saddle setback of 5.1cm (playing it safe) and a slightly higher saddle height, the race bike has a setback of 7cm...
I actually end up with a greater saddle to bar drop on the race bike, since the clip-on bars and pads sit above the bar...
There really isn't a huge difference between the two setups I use...The TT with clip-ons I have a saddle setback of 5.1cm (playing it safe) and a slightly higher saddle height, the race bike has a setback of 7cm...
I actually end up with a greater saddle to bar drop on the race bike, since the clip-on bars and pads sit above the bar...
Last edited by rbart4506; 08-03-11 at 08:28 PM.
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A tt fit requires more than flipping your seatpost forward. You'll also have to mess with your stem, and possibly replace it.
The cost of a set of clip ons, a new seatpost, and a new stem isn't much compared to the cost of a TT bike, but the time required to move back & forth is quite substantial.
Still tho, if you race in position A, training in position B isn't going to make you any faster. (than training in position A would)
The cost of a set of clip ons, a new seatpost, and a new stem isn't much compared to the cost of a TT bike, but the time required to move back & forth is quite substantial.
Still tho, if you race in position A, training in position B isn't going to make you any faster. (than training in position A would)
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Riding my TT bike definitely works my muscles differently. I don't know all the specifics, or any for that matter, but I do know that after I take a break from TTing the first ride or two hurt like hell and I'm slow as a slow person. It comes back but when I switch back to my road bike I find that my road power suffered as well usually by about 15-20 watts. I have enormous respect for cyclists that excel at both. My guess is that my muscle memory got amnesia and I have to hook-up the synapses again. More riding required. GL
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Riding my TT bike definitely works my muscles differently. I don't know all the specifics, or any for that matter, but I do know that after I take a break from TTing the first ride or two hurt like hell and I'm slow as a slow person. It comes back but when I switch back to my road bike I find that my road power suffered as well usually by about 15-20 watts. I have enormous respect for cyclists that excel at both. My guess is that my muscle memory got amnesia and I have to hook-up the synapses again. More riding required. GL
To the OP's question, there's no direct benefit for your road racing to train on a TT bike, but there's great benefit to doing TT's and TT efforts. Aside from the training benefit you learn how to manage pacing over various distances, if you're paying attention you'll find things in position and effort dosing that will come in handy down the road.
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It's good to incorporate at least 1-2 days a week on the TT bike into your training to keep from having the "shock" that comes with a new position. Recovery rides are good, as are longer (20min) interval session days. It's also not bad to do an occasional long ride on the TT rig, I'll occasionally go 2-3 hours.