Chuckx

I am in the market for a new bike. I do mostly road riding, but do the occasional triathlon (maybe a 1/2 Ironman next year). Is there a road bike out there that can easily be converted to a TT style bike? (Like the Cervelo)

orcanova

Any road bike can. You can either use clip-ons or change out the bars for full TT setup with bar end shifters.

The primary thing is moving the seat forward to mimic a steeper seat tube angle, so your knees are forward of the pedals. The second thing is more aero wheels: deep dish carbon or a rear disc. The one thing you can't mimic is the more aero tubing of modern TT bikes, but the three aforementioned things are 98% of the solution.

beebleb

Kestrels?

urbanknight

Tons of people do tris on regular road bikes, even without aero bars.

songfta

Unless you're looking to be elite, don't stress over it.

It's all about the engine, in all fairness. I've seen a lot of hobbyist triathletes on full-aero setups who get passed like they are going backwards by strong riders on standard road gear.

If you need to, add some aerobars and adjust your position (saddle, whatnot), practice in said position (it'll be a marked departure from your usual road feel, and you'll want to learn how to pedal smoothly in the aero position), and there 'ya go.

But don't sweat it right now - just enjoy the challenge!

Biker88

I was in the same boat as you...hunting for a new bike and do the occasional tri but don't want a tri-specific bike. Looked at the Cervelo soloist team...loved the speed...didn't like the harshness of the ride...didn't have $5K to spend on a carbon soloist. Ended up with a Kestrel Talon with full ultegra for much cheaper than I could have gotten even a soloist team. I only have 50 miles on it so I can't give you a full review, but my first thoughts about the bike are very positive. I haven't set it up with aero bars yet.

StanSeven

There's no need to buy a tri specific bike until/if you really get committed to tri's. Clip on aero bars with perhaps a forward facing seatpost gets you 90+% of the way there. The advantages of a tri specific bikes are the steep (78 degree or so) seat post angle which you can't get well with moving your seat forward, and a frame designed for the more foward body position.

jkizzle

yeah, if you are a strong road rider, theres a good chance you can lead the pack of bikes in a tri. most of those people cant ride as good as they think, so when it comes down to it, the better rider will always win. when it comes to doing a full ironman, maybe think about switching up components or get a full on tt bike. otherwise clipons are all you really need. maybe a seatpost...

FIVE ONE SIX

for sprints, you don't need clip-on's, i wouldn't worry about them if you don't already have a set. like others said, if you're a good rider, you should be able to hang with them if not pass some of them...

if you plan on doing a half ironman though, i would definitely add a set of clip-on aerobars, because it's a longer ride and you want to be as comfortable as possible in the saddle. it depends on your reason for doing the half though, if your goal is just to finish, then don't worry about them. if you're setting personal goals, that's a different story, and you may want to consider them because they will help you ride faster...

Psydotek

If you already have a good roadbike, get the tri bike. If you don't have a bike, get the roadbike and modify as needed for triathlons.

bvfrompc

Unless of course, you want to go faster.

Tris aren't about hanging with or passing some of the other bikers, like most TTs, you will pass people and people will pass you. Its about you going your fastest, to do that aerobars will help.

songfta

That should probably read "aerobars can help."

They can help if you have sound technique and position while riding in the aero position. And this is something that is best done by consulting somebody who knows what they're looking at to properly setup the bars and seat, adjust pedal strokes, etc. And then there's adjusting the pedaling technique to be efficient and powerful while in the aero position - it's a lot different than simply riding in the drops.

I see far too many people whose aerobars are setup in such a way they they are catching a ton of wind in their chest, which comes very, very close to negating the aerodynamic benefits. In ski racing, we called this kind of position "the bucket," as it was like holding a bucket in front of you with the open end leading the way.

If you are a strong cyclist already, and you don't have a lot of time to setup and prep an aero position, just go with what works now. You'll be pleasantly surprised that strong technique on a classic road racing setup can - and often will - trump a hobbyist who is dabbling (poorly) in aero.

Just my $0.02 - YMMV.