"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Can you use a road bike during a TT?

Or, put another way, is it unusual to see a road bike at a TT, especially if it is a beginners division?

Heck, I saw a hybrid at the last TT I was in.

Heck, I saw a hybrid at the last TT I was in.
I saw a guy race a crit last summer on a hybrid. Had on a helmet, cut off jeans and a T-shirt. Said some of his road racing buddies talked him into giving it a try. He said he had fun.

Good news then.

Or, put another way, is it unusual to see a road bike at a TT, especially if it is a beginners division?

No. You can strap on a set of clip-on TT bars if you'd like. You can even borrow a set of TT (solid rear - tri front) wheels for an even better set-up.

... brad

It is absolutely acceptable to use a traditional roadbike for a TT event.

It is absolutely acceptable to use a traditional roadbike for a TT event.
Hey! That is actually a succint answer to a question. Is that allowed on BF? :D

Yes but not the other way around.

That's the only kind of bike I've ever TTd. I've also never won a TT ;)

I'm hitting a 26mph average on our local 8-mile TT course with drop bars and clip-on aero bars. I can't help but wonder how it would go with a P3 and some $2K wheels though...


I never was a TT guy. I'm all about the bursts.

i average 25 mph with clip ons and can average 30+ mph on a 10 mile tt

I plan on using a road bike for a College A's TTT a week and a half from now. Mainly because it's only a 4-up TTT, I don't feel comfortable taking quick pulls and shuffling rapidly at 28-30mph in aerobars, I'm broke, and the course might be moderately hilly.

i average 25 mph with clip ons and can average 30+ mph on a 10 mile tt

What's the difference? Where is the 5mph difference coming from?

...if you don't mind getting passed all the time by those guys with fancy bikes that have discs on the back....whoomp, whooomp, whoomp they go swishing past you one by one...

How do I know this?

:)

Yeah...my Klein looked a bit out of place at the state TT championships a couple of seasons ago. But I did it, and I wasn't the only one either.

i average 25 mph with clip ons and can average 30+ mph on a 10 mile tt


dave z?

TT bikes dont make you faster if you dont train with them. It is a very different feel to "lay down" on the bars and still keep your hips/legs open and producing power. You would most likley be faster riding a road bike that you are use to than hop on a TT bike for the first time and do a time trial.

My first TT this year (it was actually first race, too) I had the same question. I have no aero bars, had no illusions of getting top-10, and really didn't know what to expect in general.

I'd go so far as to say that straight road bikes will be the vast minority. I showed up on my Tarmac, no aero bars, and felt in a way that I stood out like a sore thumb. Nearly EVERYONE had aero bars. Not ACTUALLY everyone, but close. Even then, a LARGE percentage had straight-up TT bikes.

I was at a very distinct disadvantage without aero gear.

...if you don't mind getting passed all the time by those guys with fancy bikes that have discs on the back....whoomp, whooomp, whoomp they go swishing past you one by one...


I love that noise. I have wheel envy.

I saw a guy in jeans riding a fixie in one TT. Going really fast.

i average 25 mph with clip ons and can average 30+ mph on a 10 mile tt

Not saying I don't believe you, but what does that mean?

Have won couple Sr. Olympic TTs on roadbike.
Was told by a hi-techie riding bike dude . . . 'you can't win anything on that piece of sh*t!'
Told him: 'Watch!' Beat him and got the gold. Hey, you're the motor: Go!

Or, put another way, is it unusual to see a road bike at a TT, especially if it is a beginners division?
Not at all :D

http://photos-578.ak.facebook.com/ip005/v40/48/35/27906579/n27906579_30451578_2502.jpg

http://photos-578.ak.facebook.com/ip005/v40/48/35/27906579/n27906579_30451578_2502.jpg

Apparently if you're going to do it on your road bike it helps if you've just eaten a lemon.

fact: I was sitting on a pineapple

fact: I was sitting on a pineapple

That photo is you? Man, you were givin' it some welly!! :)

On another topic - Penguins are the most underestimated and coolest in the entire animal kingdom. I've seen Wallace and Gromit.

I've seen them used by UCI teams so you are probably okay in your local race.

[SNIP]

I'm hitting a 26mph average on our local 8-mile TT course with drop bars and clip-on aero bars. I can't help but wonder how it would go with a P3 and some $2K wheels though...

[SNIP]




Yes, it is possible to ride a road bike in a TT. In fact, that's what Dr. WJO will be doing now after waterrockets bops him over the head and steals his ride.

On a related note (and hopefully not on a thread jacking note) what category do the aero helmets become standard issue?

Was gonna upgrade to Cat4 FROM crit/rr experience FOR safety reasons from said experience, but not sure of any major differences between 4 & 5 for somebody new wanting to have as good as chance as possible in being competitive.

The only difference between 4s and 5s is the amount of races they've been in.

The difference between 3s and 4s is some fitness, more race experience, and a wee bit of tactical ability.

I can safely say that the ONLY reason I am a 3 is because I was flat out faster than most of the 4s in all areas, and most of the 3s in some. I have some work to do in terms of learning some real tactics this spring and summer.

To answer your question: aero helmets are found in pretty much every category, as there are plenty of triathletes in the 5s.