Bikes (road vs tri)
04-17-06, 12:20 PM
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Bikes (road vs tri)
I am just getting into Triathlons (hope to do IM 2007 - yes big goal). So far enjoying every minute of my training.
Since I am so new to Triathlons I wanted to get opinions on using a road bike as a Tri-bike. My local shop has a road bike (05 Trek Madone) that fits me like a glove. It also seems to have everything I was looking for. They are willing to put aerobars and fit me etc. on it so that I can use it as a Tri bike. On top of it all they are willing to give me a spectacular deal. I am not married to the brand or the bike ... i am more concerned about enjoying a zillion miles on it and using it for an event like an IM.
Does it make sense to use a road bike as a tri-bike?
Does anyone have specific feedback on using a Trek Madone as a Tri bike?
Thanks,
IG
Since I am so new to Triathlons I wanted to get opinions on using a road bike as a Tri-bike. My local shop has a road bike (05 Trek Madone) that fits me like a glove. It also seems to have everything I was looking for. They are willing to put aerobars and fit me etc. on it so that I can use it as a Tri bike. On top of it all they are willing to give me a spectacular deal. I am not married to the brand or the bike ... i am more concerned about enjoying a zillion miles on it and using it for an event like an IM.
Does it make sense to use a road bike as a tri-bike?
Does anyone have specific feedback on using a Trek Madone as a Tri bike?
Thanks,
IG
04-17-06, 12:40 PM
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I own a Trek Madone 5.9 (limited edition) made with carbon 110 and think it is just an incredible bike. Not sure which Madone you are talking about as there are several. The shaped aero tubes of my 5.9 make it a fast bike for sure. The parents of this bike were the 5900 road bike made famous by Lance and the Trek-TT Bike designed by John Cobb and riden by Lance and the US Postal team and Team Discovery, the child was the Madone 5.9. Too bad it's not made anylonger, Lance thought it was too stiff but I think it's just fine and a very comfortable ride. I don't think you could go wrong with this bike if you were looking for a dual purpose bike. Another bike to consider is the new Aero shaped Cannondale 6-13 that takes it's tube shapes from the Ironman frame sets.
I'm a little spoiled because I have several rides with one of those being the Trek-TT that I use just for races. My Madone 5.9 is for fun rides rather than hard core training it is my special bike - considering that only 500 were made and of that only about 250 came to the USA.
I'm a little spoiled because I have several rides with one of those being the Trek-TT that I use just for races. My Madone 5.9 is for fun rides rather than hard core training it is my special bike - considering that only 500 were made and of that only about 250 came to the USA.
04-17-06, 01:59 PM
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Thanks MHR,
It is the Madone 5.2. It is the Aero with carbon 120. The groupo is Ultregra with the XLite wheel set. The guy at the shop said it is awesome ... of course I am taking his advice with a small grain of salt and trying to get lots of outside advice.
Thanks again for your thoughts.
It is the Madone 5.2. It is the Aero with carbon 120. The groupo is Ultregra with the XLite wheel set. The guy at the shop said it is awesome ... of course I am taking his advice with a small grain of salt and trying to get lots of outside advice.
Thanks again for your thoughts.
Originally Posted by MHR
I own a Trek Madone 5.9 (limited edition) made with carbon 110 and think it is just an incredible bike. Not sure which Madone you are talking about as there are several. The shaped aero tubes of my 5.9 make it a fast bike for sure. The parents of this bike were the 5900 road bike made famous by Lance and the Trek-TT Bike designed by John Cobb and riden by Lance and the US Postal team and Team Discovery, the child was the Madone 5.9. Too bad it's not made anylonger, Lance thought it was too stiff but I think it's just fine and a very comfortable ride. I don't think you could go wrong with this bike if you were looking for a dual purpose bike. Another bike to consider is the new Aero shaped Cannondale 6-13 that takes it's tube shapes from the Ironman frame sets.
I'm a little spoiled because I have several rides with one of those being the Trek-TT that I use just for races. My Madone 5.9 is for fun rides rather than hard core training it is my special bike - considering that only 500 were made and of that only about 250 came to the USA.
I'm a little spoiled because I have several rides with one of those being the Trek-TT that I use just for races. My Madone 5.9 is for fun rides rather than hard core training it is my special bike - considering that only 500 were made and of that only about 250 came to the USA.
04-17-06, 02:47 PM
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I would listen to MHR, as he has IM under his belt and happens to own several Treks. I think you would be fine using a road bike for triathlons. I'm sure you will receive several responses from people on this board who have or currently race with them, even doing IM races. Several of my friends have road bikes they modify to ride triathlons. Ironwoman talked about using Trek 5200 roadies in IM races on another thread....https://www.bikeforums.net/triathlon/186937-noob-question.html
I think she rides a 5200 and has IM under her belt, too. Check it out.
I think she rides a 5200 and has IM under her belt, too. Check it out.
04-17-06, 03:00 PM
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If you're just going to have one bike, definitely get a road bike. I have a Trek 5200 that I've raced in numerous triathlons with aerobars and road races/centuries/group rides without.
Here's me at T1 last summer (not a great picture of the bike but you get the idea):
You could just slap a pair of aero bars on the top of the drops, or if you want to make it a more dedicated tri-set up, you might want to mate the aerobars with bullhorns or even get a one-piece unit. On the dedicated set-ups, most triathletes have the bar end shifters at the end of the aerobars with reverse pull brake handles on the bullhorns.
This season I'm going to go a cheaper route: I bought bull horns to go with the aerobar and then I'm just going to mount the regular D/A brifters on the bullhorns. I've seen some road riders do this for TTs.
Here's me at T1 last summer (not a great picture of the bike but you get the idea):
You could just slap a pair of aero bars on the top of the drops, or if you want to make it a more dedicated tri-set up, you might want to mate the aerobars with bullhorns or even get a one-piece unit. On the dedicated set-ups, most triathletes have the bar end shifters at the end of the aerobars with reverse pull brake handles on the bullhorns.
This season I'm going to go a cheaper route: I bought bull horns to go with the aerobar and then I'm just going to mount the regular D/A brifters on the bullhorns. I've seen some road riders do this for TTs.
04-18-06, 11:34 PM
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Originally Posted by internetgardene
Thanks MHR,
It is the Madone 5.2. It is the Aero with carbon 120. The groupo is Ultregra with the XLite wheel set. The guy at the shop said it is awesome ... of course I am taking his advice with a small grain of salt and trying to get lots of outside advice.
Thanks again for your thoughts.
It is the Madone 5.2. It is the Aero with carbon 120. The groupo is Ultregra with the XLite wheel set. The guy at the shop said it is awesome ... of course I am taking his advice with a small grain of salt and trying to get lots of outside advice.
Thanks again for your thoughts.
04-25-06, 05:31 PM
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I race with a 1985 Peugeot. I am in college and have barley enough money to pay for entrance fee's. I always get alot of compliments on it during rides.
04-25-06, 06:48 PM
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While I don't have any experience yet (hoping to do an Olympic Tri in Sept). I have a client who has done many Triathlons, including several IM's. He does them on a Lightspeed Road bike with clip-on aerobars. He has told me he prefers it for 2 reasons.
1. unless it is very flat his road bike climbs better than a dedicated TT/Tri bike
2. On IM distances he likes having his normal drops bars. For him he gets too bored/tired of the aero position for that many hours on the bike. The traditional drops gives him some choice in positions.
Makes enough sense for me.
-D
1. unless it is very flat his road bike climbs better than a dedicated TT/Tri bike
2. On IM distances he likes having his normal drops bars. For him he gets too bored/tired of the aero position for that many hours on the bike. The traditional drops gives him some choice in positions.
Makes enough sense for me.
-D
