"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Giro TT Bikes

OK, I missed most of the coverage, so maybe they explained it, but why wasn't Di Luca using aero bars ? Reminded me of Fignon in the TdF without them when Greg had them. And why wasn't everyone using some degree of aero wheel ?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009//giro09/graphics/profile12.gif

But botto, its a time trial! How absurd that anyone would enter a time trial on anything other than a TT bike!

Who in the top ten did not go aero and where did they place?

I know, right?

http://www.grahamwatson.com/gw/gwonline.nsf/bv0qymvk-01.jpg

Who in the top ten did not go aero and where did they place?

Dennis Menchov.

First.

Those rims are almost box-section.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2009/giro09/giro0912/bettiniphoto_0039079_1_full.jpg

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2009/giro09/giro0912/PIC31528576.jpg

The course was tough but at speeds of 40k/hr TT gear would have helped a lot. DiLuca was dumping time and anything over 14mph would be benefit tt gear.

But Menchov had good position on the bike which counts for a lot.

Who else didn't use aero bars ?

I'm just surprised that aero wheels weren't more common. I know they have a bit of a weight penalty, but the high end ones are still pretty light. With a solo ride I'd think the aero benefits would prevail.

The course was tough but at speeds of 40k/hr TT gear would have helped a lot. DiLuca was dumping time and anything over 14mph would be benefit tt gear.

Flying down those "hills" with a TT bike would have been dangerous.

Menchov did have clip ons so that counts as aero.

Menchov did have clip ons so that counts as aero.

Right. There were plenty of straight sections where getting on the clip ons would have had to have provided an aero advantage. I cannot fathom why Di Luca and others wouldn't use any advantage they could. Di Luca still finished in the top 10. Impressive.

he didn't seem to have a problem(other than not enough power)
http://velonews.com/files/images/SASTRE_4.jpg

Just think of all the precious aero seconds Denny gave up with that masking tape on the top tube!

Just think of all the precious aero seconds Denny gave up with that masking tape on the top tube!

He needed nut padding for his aero tuck.

Just think of all the precious aero seconds Denny gave up with that masking tape on the top tube!

What's he got on there ?

Gels I think.

gels

gel

a day late and a dollar short... again!

now don't all you dorks go out buying clip ons... lmao...

Here is the idea on not pushing aero on this tt I think:

1. There is so much climbing and that light weight bike and wheels are significant. Aero benefits of slow speed climbing are minimal but weight is critical. Road bikes are typically lighter, and so are climbing wheels.
2. The descents are so steep that the aero advantage is largely uneeded and the improved road bike handling is more important.

Here is the idea on not pushing aero on this tt I think:

1. There is so much climbing and that light weight bike and wheels are significant. Aero benefits of slow speed climbing are minimal but weight is critical. Road bikes are typically lighter, and so are climbing wheels.
2. The descents are so steep that the aero advantage is largely uneeded and the improved road bike handling is more important.

Correct.

If Levi didn't have a TT bike, it wasn't called for. Take that to the bank.

Correct.

If Garmin didn't have a TT bike, it wasn't called for. Take that to the bank.

fixed

he didn't seem to have a problem(other than not enough power)
http://velonews.com/files/images/SASTRE_4.jpg

Notice the drop bars?

Not much argument that a road bike makes sense on that course. It's the lack of clip-ons that seems odd. Missing out on the chance to go aero when the road permits.

I'm very disappointed that the bf.net spreadsheet mafia hasnt yet calculated whether di luca should have ridden a tt bike

please dont make me open that wattage board to find out what bike di luca should have chosen!

Not much argument that a road bike makes sense on that course. It's the lack of clip-ons that seems odd. Missing out on the chance to go aero when the road permits.

Studies have shown that clip-ons may be slower than getting in the drops.

Studies have shown that clip-ons may be slower than getting in the drops.

[citation needed] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)

Notice the drop bars?

Yes and that is the point.
aero frame
aero wheels
aero helmet
skinsuit

and still drop bars. You can have the best of both worlds. It is hard to argue that a P3c(or ttx or transition or whatever) isn't going to be more aero than that mfg's road bike so why not use your regular TT bike with drop bars. Aero and handling. The weight would be almost the same and again anything over 14mph would be better on the TT bike.

Yes and that is the point.
aero frame
aero wheels
aero helmet
skinsuit

and still drop bars. You can have the best of both worlds. It is hard to argue that a P3c(or ttx or transition or whatever) isn't going to be more aero than that mfg's road bike so why not use your regular TT bike with drop bars. Aero and handling. The weight would be almost the same and again anything over 14mph would be better on the TT bike.

Compare that TT position pic with one where hes on a full TT setup. Hes much higher in the pic and on a heavy frame (compared to what he normally runs).

Notice the drop bars?

Much easier shifting on the climbs.

if only they had Di2

Much easier shifting on the climbs.

Or maybe more stable on the decents

Yes and that is the point.
aero frame
aero wheels
aero helmet
skinsuit

and still drop bars. You can have the best of both worlds. It is hard to argue that a P3c(or ttx or transition or whatever) isn't going to be more aero than that mfg's road bike so why not use your regular TT bike with drop bars. Aero and handling. The weight would be almost the same and again anything over 14mph would be better on the TT bike.Don't you normally lose some power when riding a TT bike but the aero benefits outweigh the loss of power? Perhaps these riders have coaches who measured how much power they put out on a TT bike and decided that while going up or down the hills they would lose more time with a TT bike.

There are many reasons for not having used a full TT bike in this stage but some rode without any aero gear on the bike. DiLuca can descend very well so it would have been a mistake to use a TT frame or wheels. But he might have cut his losses with clip-ons.