Triathlon - Road Bike Frame Converted to Tri Bike

Hi. Any chance anyone would know if a 2006 Orbea Orca would work as a Tri bike with a full aero handlebar setup? I want to buy a new bike but since I race tri's, I figure one of my bikes should be a tri specific bike. However, I really want a new road bike. I'm considering buying a new road bike and converting my current orca into a tri bike. Here's the geometry of the bike.

no idea on the original Q but if I was to guess, I'd say no. I'm looking to do the same thing but I don't have a road bike either, so I'm saving up for the Cervelo S1, which can do both road and tri b/c of the reversible seatpost.

sure, you can do it, but you'll have to get used to riding on aero bars on a road bike frame. tri bikes have more stable geometry/slower handling.

Really the issue is whether it will fit you. You might be too stretched out in the aero position on a road frame that fits you. A forward-facing seatpost and a shorter stem might do the trick.

What's wrong with an Orbea Orca as your roadie? That's a pretty sweet ride?

[quote=cjbruin;9206919]Really the issue is whether it will fit you. You might be too stretched out in the aero position on a road frame that fits you. A forward-facing seatpost and a shorter stem might do the trick.


good points; I ride the occaisional tri on a road bike. I have a shorter, higher stem + clip-on aero bars & a different seat post & saddle ready to pop in. takes about 2 minutes & I am GTG. I just deal with reaching down to shift, it's too much trouble swapping out to bar-end shifting for as little as I need it.

You can make a road bike work as a tri bike with a forward-facing seatpost and a different stem. However, the handling may be a bit "twitchy" as your weight distribution is now further forward than the bike was designed to accommodate.

I rode like this for a while with no problems, however, when I switched to a "real" tri bike with geometry to support rides in a true aero position, I noticed a huge difference. My tri bike (Giant Trinity Alliance) is much more stable.

In the end, yes you can do it. It may take some time to get used to the twitchy handling, but it's a great way to get a true aerodynamic position on a budget!

to truely convert to a tri bike you need a forward seatpost, besides that and the handlebar setup you should be fine

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I was thinking of doing that with a Kestrel Talon, since I see it sold both ways, and it's got the two-position seat post.

I was also seriously considering making a "vintage" tri bike out of an older, smaller Centurion Ironman, but the comments about handling make sense, and I'm not that stable on aero bars as it is. I may need to reconsider what sounds like cosmetically OK but a good opportunity to rebreak a collarbone....

Also thanks for your knowledge...

One of these days I'll post a pic of my Trek 5200: 90mm stem, aerobars, wheelcover, forward seatpost. Cheap and easy, and I can continue to race my ol' grey mare.

You can make a road bike work as a tri bike with a forward-facing seatpost and a different stem. However, the handling may be a bit "twitchy" as your weight distribution is now further forward than the bike was designed to accommodate.

I rode like this for a while with no problems, however, when I switched to a "real" tri bike with geometry to support rides in a true aero position, I noticed a huge difference. My tri bike (Giant Trinity Alliance) is much more stable.

In the end, yes you can do it. It may take some time to get used to the twitchy handling, but it's a great way to get a true aerodynamic position on a budget!

What is it about the road bike geometry that makes it have "twitchy" handling when converted to aero use? The head tube angle? The fork rake?

Jared

I was also seriously considering making a "vintage" tri bike out of an older, smaller Centurion Ironman, but the comments about handling make sense, and I'm not that stable on aero bars as it is. I may need to reconsider what sounds like cosmetically OK but a good opportunity to rebreak a collarbone....


I for one think you should go for it. At least try it out. I am.

Jared