Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - any of you people also have a time-trial bike?

i've never owned a geared bike before (BMX and track only) but am 90% sure i'm gonna have a custom time-trial frame built for me just to see if i can kick things up a bit. do any of you ride a geared time-trial bike in addition to track bikes? it seems like the closest thing to a track bike in a roadish bike that still has stiff and aggressive geometry. i figured they'd both compliment eachother pretty well.

I owned a TT bike a few years back. I think it all depends on what you want to use it for. TT Racing specifically would be great, maybe a little geared training would be cool too. However if you are looking at a TT specific bike as an alternative to a road bike for road-bike type rides (long, hilly, groups) then you'd be best to get a road bike. The TT bike is meant for one of two things, time trials or triathlons - if you want to do either of these things then it would be an incredible buy you wouldn't regret... otherwise you'd probably end up wishing you had something different. My two cents

I have a tri bike, it's similar to a TT bike.
I love it, and I only race on it.
It's not comfy for an all around ride, but to race on, it's amazing

Anyone ever do time trials on SS or fixed bikes? If the course were flat, It might be an advantage.

Anyone ever do time trials on SS or fixed bikes? If the course were flat, It might be an advantage.


How so? Nothing beats the aerodynamics of a time trial bike, except maybe an aero recumbent.

Also, I think USCF rules state that you must have a freewheel, so only a single speed will work.

How so? Nothing beats the aerodynamics of a time trial bike, except maybe an aero recumbent.

Also, I think USCF rules state that you must have a freewheel, so only a single speed will work.


you can ride with a track bike but it must have brakes at least a front brake.


you can ride rolling hills time trials with a track bike , it was fun.


if you get a tt frameset make sure it has 700c front and rear as now stated by UCI rules.

S/F<
CEYA!
Strength and Honor!!

How so? Nothing beats the aerodynamics of a time trial bike, except maybe an aero recumbent.

good thing they already make tt track bikes.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/may04/WTC04/day4/img_5389.jpg


but I can't see why it would be an advantage on the road.
weight shouldn't be an issue in a flat tt except accelerating and slightly on any minor hills and having multiple gears would outweight any weight benifits on those sections.

It is the constant pedaling. Like in uphills TT they use fix gears due the constant pedaling. It works very well.

USCF 2006 rules stated on page 71, 3E 3E.2 states fixed gear bikes can be used as long as it has a front brake.


You don't use pursuit frames on the road, at least not like they used to do. I used my old one for ITT since it was a standard track bike but changed the fork to a drilled one.

Some people had rear derailleur hanger brazed on their track frames and slight relaxed angles with water bottle braze ons.

I still have mine (Panasonic Track), it was multi function bike..messenger/ cyclocross/ itt/ transportation bike.

The BT frames are made for track only and I wouldn't see them holding up well on the road.

S/F,
CEYA!

Strength and Honor!!

oh also tt/trials bikes handle like **** unlike mass-start and sprint track frames so you would probably not get the characteristics you like from your track bike even though it has a rediculously steep seat tube. Unlike trackbikes they are not designed to be stiff since you aren't sprinting our doing much out of the saddle climbing like you would on a road frame. You could also forget about putting drops on it and so would be basically limited to bull/aero bars. Finally you would not be welcome on most group rides.

TT/pursuit geometry is pretty specific for doing tts and pursuits whether on the track or the road. If thats what you want to do go for it. If you want a no longer uci legal frame that looks crazy go for it. If you want something stiff, responsive, with a high bottom bracket(yes that matters in a road bike too) a tt frame is particularly illsuited for you.

My TT bike is solely for TT's and training for TT's. IMO, they do make a big difference compared to trying to TT with a standard road bike, or a road bike with just clip-ons attached. Unless its a hilly TT, i'd recommend getting a straight block cassette, an 11-21 or 12-21

Sickest TT bike ever (precisely designed for the customer):

http://online.qbp.com/6SPsvm45/prodl/FM2674.jpg

Almost $10,000 wholesale (frame only).

Stuart O'Grady rode a fixed gear in a tt last year. can't remember which race. it used to be pretty common as i recall.

Sickest TT bike ever

Yes.

Sickest TT bike ever (precisely designed for the customer):

http://online.qbp.com/6SPsvm45/prodl/FM2674.jpg

Almost $10,000 wholesale (frame only).
I ogle that (and the TRC01) almost daily in the QBP catalogue.

Stuart O'Grady rode a fixed gear in a tt last year. can't remember which race. it used to be pretty common as i recall.

Yeah, I don't remember which race either, but I know it was a prologue.

bmc = pr0n

fsnl
sparky

Quite a few people in the UK ride fixed gears in TTs. I think that for flat or slighlty rolling courses the constant cadence is useful and in a TT you would never stop pedalling anyway. I vaguely recall a guy placing in the top three in the UK 24 hour time trial on a fixed gear (and doing a ridiculaous number of miles while doing it).

Yeah, I don't remember which race either, but I know it was a prologue.

I'm pretty sure its the prologue for the 05 Giro.

Quite a few people in the UK ride fixed gears in TTs. I think that for flat or slighlty rolling courses the constant cadence is useful and in a TT you would never stop pedalling anyway. I vaguely recall a guy placing in the top three in the UK 24 hour time trial on a fixed gear (and doing a ridiculaous number of miles while doing it).

that was exactly my initial thought. i was looking at the yamaguchi frames and they seem to be pretty much exactly what i'm looking for.

Unless its a hilly TT, i'd recommend getting a straight block cassette, an 11-21 or 12-21

...and ditch a front ring/deraileur while youre at it....

ditto everyone else on the specialized nature of a TT/Tri.

that was exactly my initial thought. i was looking at the yamaguchi frames and they seem to be pretty much exactly what i'm looking for.


Wait are you looking for a bike to do timetrials on or do you want a TT bike just for normal road riding. If you do why?


I think that for flat or slighlty rolling courses the constant cadence is useful and in a TT you would never stop pedalling anyway.

Umm even on a rolling hill course it would be much easier to keep an optimum constant cadence with lots of gears(hence why corncobs are so popular on TT bikes). With a fixed gear you could not keep both an ideal cadence and HR.

just to answer the question:

i'd probably echo everyone else's comments, but i use my funny bike daily and i enjoy it.

you've just got to watch for a couple of things: low bottom brackets, stupid high gearing, 650c wheels/tyres and an occasional excess of stability.

on each of those points:

- i'm running 175 cranks and my toeclips hit the ground when i'm not clipped in.
- mine came with a single 53front ring and a 12-20something rear block. it can make climbing hills a complete cock.
- i have 650c tubular on the front. you don't know how hard it is to get [reasonably priced] 650c tubulars until you're skint. apart from the vittoria juniores [&#163;10, a bit lumpy and a little slidy] the next cheapest seems to be the tufo jet [&#163;35, haven't tried].
- the stability is probably created by the low bottom bracket but this can create issues when your confidence won't let your tip it into the corners quite as much as you need to.

but hell, that's what they're deisgned for.

i'm happy.

fsnl
sparky

Ohhh ... yamaguchi ... Vtech?

no. it'd be simpler and less crazy-tech than that. more like the team USA with two 700c wheels.

dutret, i'd want it because when i'm really "riding," i *physically* ride in a manner akin to people on TT bikes. i'm fairly certain i could ride the hell out of a TT bike and have fun on it. i'm most comfortable riding 30 or more miles on a steep gearing at high cadence with my back flat and my hands at the ends of the longest bullhorns i can get. i'm not sure why that's the case, but it is. hills don't bother me at all on any bike. that's not an issue. i'm not looking for a relaxed ride. i want something harsh, aggressive and fast that takes advantage of my long legs, light weight, flexibility and endurance.

Keep in mind there are plenty of road bikes that are "harsh and aggressive and fast"(an early 90's cannondale might be perfect for you) that will also handle alot better(more like a track bike) and be in general alot more versatile. However if you are most comfortable with bullhorns and aero bars and as long as you don't care about handling or being able to ride in groups it might be the right choice for you though. TT bikes in general are not designed to be stiff or light however so cross those off your list.

Also where do you live?(your hill comment makes me curious)

Keep in mind there are plenty of road bikes that are "harsh and aggressive and fast"(an early 90's cannondale might be perfect for you) that will also handle alot better(more like a track bike) and be in general alot more versatile. However if you are most comfortable with bullhorns and aero bars and as long as you don't care about handling or being able to ride in groups it might be the right choice for you though. TT bikes in general are not designed to be stiff or light however so cross those off your list.

Also where do you live?(your hill comment makes me curious)

i live in NYC. we have some fun rolling hill rides nearby. there's nothing remotely mountainous, but we certainly have some options for nice little hills.

this makes a lot of sense. i am concerned about handling which is why i'm considering going with yamaguchi. i figure that someone with his expertise can give me exactly what i want. it will most likely not end up being a true TT frame, but something that takes concepts from those bikes and merges them with track bikes--perhaps more like the cannondales you mention (in gemoetry/function) built up with minimal gearing.

but this is the kind of feedback i guess i was looking for. i'd like to consider all of this before getting into planning the frame.

thanks.