patentcad

Of COURSE it depends on the rider. Here's the problem: when I'm in a 30mph paceline behind some tri-guy I don't KNOW him or how good he is. So I have to worry if I'm going to wind up in a tri-guy pile-up.

It doesn't bother me until they hunker down on their aero bars in a fast paceline. In my opinion that shows a tremendous amount of oblivious disregard to the safety of fellow riders. Can't stand it. Other than that, no issues with triathletes. Hell, they LOVE to take stupid long pulls. Nothing wrong with that.

scuzzo

arro bars and most tri folks dont practice drafting at least the folks i know. when your 4 inches off a guys wheel you dont want a hesitation in bike handle skills, if the tri guy is in the arro bars thats all it takes. i have seen it happen many times.

derath

And many have come from a running background, so what is your point?

The bottom line is that all of this can be diffused with some simple communication. When I ride with a new group I always tell them upfront how my group riding skills (I am a newb still). the situation then goes from unknown apprehension to an educational mood.

For the record I am starting to train for some tri's next year, but I don't have a tri bike.

-D

Matrix2k1

My point is that I developed pack riding skills before I put the bars on the bike. I am more than capable of handling myself in a close paceline. But....you wouldn't know that unless you knew me. The point is that you shouldn't assume that the person with aerobars is not able to ride safely in a group until you know they can't. Don't just lump us all into one group.

And, for the record, the only time you should be on the aerobars in a paceline is when you have the pull. Normal pack / club riding is an ongoing case by case decision. But there shouldn't be a blanket rule on no aerobars in group rides.

curiouskid55

The problem is with the handlebars not the riders. If you just have clip ons on top of drop bars , no problem. If you have bullhorns or straight bars , big problem. Much more likely to get tangled up with drop bars and cause mayem in the pack.

Matrix2k1

You don't really believe that, do you?? No more likely than a brake lever "catching" another handlebar. I think your statement is an answer to a nonexistent problem.

curiouskid55

Yes really belive it and have seen it happen. And have bumped drop bars numerous times with no entanglement.

iamtim

Mmm... while I've not ridden my bullhorned bike in a pack, I can say with absolute certainty that it catches things in my garage that my dropped-bar bike brushes past. It's only logical that trend would continue, especially in a close-knit pack situation.

sweetharriet

a lot of us triathl33ts get out and do our own group rides, including pacelining, pelotons, crazy switchback hills, etc. etc. don't assume someone with aero bars MUST BE AERO OR WILL DIE. yeesh.

bitingduck

If it's a paceline where I know everyone's ability it doesn't bother me at all. If it's a group ride or line where nobody knows each other then it's better not to use them. But in a ride like that I don't assume anybody has any particular abilities until I see them anyway-- plenty of people on drop bars can't ride safely in a line either.

bitingduck

TTT anybody?

msheron

I have ridden in events that people used their tri bikes and they did just fine if not better. I think if someone has a problem then they aren't worth riding along with.

SaabFan

Anyone else think this bears repeating?

caloso

Speaking of a trigeek who evolved into a roadie and back again, I will say that a typical trigeek has great pulling power, crappy accelleration, and no bike handling skills. Took me a long time to get used to the sudden accellerations, going red-line, and then recovering at speed. Took me even longer to get the skills and confidence to ride 30mph + right on somebody's wheel.

derath

I didn't. Just like I didn't lump you into the group "All riders with dedicated Tri/TT bikes are better group riders"

And for the record, the OP wasn't talking about a roadie with clip on aerobars. He was talking about a dedicated TT bike.

The bottom line is that ALL of this can be avoided by simply introducing yourself at a new ride. Obviously this wouldn't be an issue when you are riding with people you know. Whenever I ride with some new people I let them know my skill level so they know what to expect. I also check theirs so I know I am not going to be in a ride that is too advanced etc.

-D

curiouskid55

TTT are ... teams. Not a bunch of aquaintances and strangers. Definately no sleeveless jerseys.

VosBike

Speaking of the sleeveless jerseys, is there a legit reason that the USCF bans them?

ADlBOO

Yeah, there all OCP and dont really ride, they just make rules about riding... Duh!

But seriously iunno, would be interesting to know...

John Wilke

BRAVO!

"GO MAN GO ... PULLLLLL !!"

If you're riding a pace line, you'll help the group effort more by riding smoothly, precisely, and shoulder to shoulder - rather than in the 'rhino' bars for personal aerodynamics. Save that for the TT when you're a Pro in Europe.

jw

sweetharriet

they know only triathletes have the guns to show...

flythebike

It is like a cats and dogs thing. Just a whole different species.

And sometimes you pile attitude and skill level on top of that.

bitingduck

Like I said above, I ride with a lot of people who I'm perfectly comfortable seeing in the TT bars in a line, even if we'll never ride a TTT or TP together. And I know plenty of people with drop bars who I don't like to be in a line with.

For the record, I don't do TTs (except the occasional TP) (or tri's--ick! running and swimming? No thanks.)-- I'm mostly a mass start trackie, but I see the sweeping generalizations everyone is making and I think they're silly.

Murrays

FWIW, I saw a lot of lousy cyclists while watching the IM Wisconsin last month. I actually saw a guy climbing the toughest hill in his aerobars...STANDING

Lots of low cadence, people in aerobars going up hill at 10 mph, etc. A friend who was in the race said it was worse from her perspective.

No, not all triathletes are poor bike handlers (my friend is very capable and I've ridden thousands of miles with her), but many don't have the time in close pack rides.

Road bikes are made for riding in packs, TT bikes are not.

-murray

urbanknight

Yeah, the brakes thing makes it different. Also, pacelines are different than a pack. Pacelines are very organized and structured, smooth and predictable. Packs are dynamic, too much jockeying going on making for more abrupt movements.

urbanknight

for the record, someone I rode in a club ride with recently scared me as he got in his tri bars (literally those 1 piece triangle shaped things from the 80s). He actually seemed to do ok. I found out later that he did low end old folks triathlons for kicks. I had made a wrong assumption just because his bike of choice was a 15 year old Centurion Ironman with 32h 3x wheels and an old set of tri bars. We actually started talking after that (when he got out of the aero bars) since my first racing days were on a Centurion Ironman.