Triathlon - Using a tri-bike on USCF events

I want to buy a tri-bike for my primary bike because most of my riding is either training for or racing in triathlons. However, if I wanted to ride in an occasional USCF road race like a classic or a criterium, could I use a tri-bike? If not as is, are there adjustments I could make to it to legitimize it, like swapping out the aerobars with drops? Finally, if I did make an adjustment like that, could my tri-bike still be reasonably comfortable and fast? I hope these aren't silly questions, but I want to make a good decision as far as what kind of bike to get. Thank you for any feedback. :)

As long as it is the "double diamond" design and meets the definitions set forth in the rule book, you could use it for TT's, and minus the aerobars you could use it for crits and RR's. One thing to be aware of, there are some rules set forth about frame geometry and saddle postion, which tends to exclude some tri bikes. I know my Cervelo is UCI legal and my QR is not. Here is a quick link to the UCI rule page:
http://www.uci.ch/modello.asp?1stLevelID=H&level1=0&level2=0&idnews=2676

You probably need to allow a minimum of 5cm bewteen the tip of your saddle and the vertical passing by the BB..Thats my guess.

[QUOTE=hoodlum]As long as it is the "double diamond" design and meets the definitions set forth in the rule book, you could use it for TT's, and minus the aerobars you could use it for crits and RR's. One thing to be aware of, there are some rules set forth about frame geometry and saddle postion, which tends to exclude some tri bikes. I know my Cervelo is UCI legal and my QR is not.

Thanks for the link. I'm actually considering a Cervelo myself. Which model do you have? Unless I can find a good deal on a P2k I'll probably get a Dual. Have you ridden it in Crits or RRs before? How does it feel without aerobars? I know I feel a bit stretched riding a road bike with clip-on aerobars. I wonder if i might feel kind of cramped on a tri-bike with drops...

I have a Soloist- and I love it. It has a reversable seatpost- as do many of the Cervelos- so you can alter the effictive geometry, and not just slap a set of aerobars on it and call it a tri bike (you would be surprised how many roadies think a tri bike = road bike + aerobars). I have the Soloist set up as a road bike 95% of the time, and use it frequently for group rides and the like when bar end shifters are not preffered. I have, however, set it up for some hilly tris where the STI shifters were an advantage. And the bike has won several big races this year at the Pro level, most noteably Paris-Nice with Bobby Julich. It's a good all around choice, and it's not really all that expensive, relatively speaking.

I would agree with the soloist, it is more of a road bike vs a tri bike. The P2ks though are not very responsive in comparison to road bikes... I think it would not be the most idea like for crits and rr's.

The soloist also has a more road like (73 degree) geometry while reversed is still only a 76 degree, still a ways from the true tt geormetries.

Not very responsive? Do tell. Do you mean the steering or the power?

Steering...

Basically you have a wheel that is really pushed out due to the rake of the fork and on mine a narrower bar. Simply put you can not turn as fast with a tt bike as a road bike due to geometry.

Power wise it is way more responsive than my road bike... just a characteristic of the design.

my58vw, have you ever used your p2k for a USCF race? I saw that you are a USCF racer. I guess since you have a 2100 you wouldn't have any reason to, unless you just had an itch to try it. I have that itch..

No I have not other than for itts... like I said above the benefits are much less than the pluses... (olus it would take a huge amount of work to convert tt bike for road...