It's mainly for Time Trial/Tri bikes, as the design focus is more on aeordynamics than anything else.

Oh, I see, as opposed to, say, weight. Thanks for the clarifications. :)

Not at all. Tri/TT bikes are plenty light. It is not oppossed to anything necessarily. My guess is that traditional round'ish tubes are just cheaper and easier to design etc. Also, the rounder tubes are likely better "overall". Most standard type racing bikes are designed for a variety of riding types, uphill grinds, windy downhill bombs, etc.

Time trials and Tri's are often more long stretches, straighter etc.

Look at the bikes from Cervelo. A Road racing bike with aero tubing

http://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=SLC2006

Of course I am neither an expert at bike design or racing, so this is just my best guess.

-D

No, it is as opposed to weight. The larger tubes weigh more. Cervelo has just mastered the ability to keep them light, so they make the Soloist. If the weight was equal, then most road bikes would be aero. And as far as cheaper and easier to design, check out Cervelo's R3 - squoval tubing (seemingly as complex if not more than the more standard tubes of the soloist) and frameset costs $2800.

The bike is fast... unfortunately, I'm not. :( At least I feel fast :D

http://www.gripandhammer.com/wp-cont...p1-300x190.jpg

That idea USED to be true. The modern tri bikes are every bit as light as their road bike cousins. Prodir's TT bike in the TDF hit the UCI weight minimum. My Kestrel tri bike is the lightest thing in my stable.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...landbike-1.jpg
Here is a pic of me warming up on my baby yesterday morning(pre race). With my disk on, and the 404 on the front, it is right around 20 lbs(estimated by using 20lb weight in other hand). The tech behind bike manufacturing is so much more complex then you would think. Take carbon fiber for example. The strench/weight/thickness required depends on the type of weave you use, how many layers, the type and amount of glue on each layer, the temperature it is baked at. Then you get into the shape of it. There is so much more to it then most think. If you look at most bikes now, the round tube is dead. They are all going for a weird box tupe, or an aero type(depending on what the manufacturers goal is)

What a great photo!

^^^ Agreed... great pic!

Cervelos are so nice :D

If my Zipp2001 ever kicks the bucket (knock on wood) that is currently my choice of TT bike.

Damn and I was happy when I picked up my Cannondale Ironman 800 on thursday...

Why aren't you happy now? Their Ironman series is great... you should be happy (from what I've heard anyway).

Berns, those Scott DH handlebars are very cool. My wife (who was my girlfriend at the time) bought me a pair of those about 17 years ago when they first came out. I haven't seen anyone with those in well over 10 years. It's a shame they don't sell them anymore - they're very nice looking.

Thanks! I use to have another set around but I think I threw them away. I'm regretting it now. Problem is that it's very difficult to find replacement elbow rests for them. Fortunately there's a place in Washington that sells some really nice replacement pads though. I've been very happy with them and they seem to be more stable than when my hands where apart. I think they they were called the "extreme" aerobars though. I thought the DH had the deeper drops and had a bridge at the top. I had those too before. I didn't like them because the curve at the bottom of the drops made my hands hurt. In any case. Thanks again for the compliment.

What is it like using upside down brakes?

It's a little strange and takes a little getting use to, but other than that it's nothing drastic.

Nice work! :D

I don't have one. :( I just use my roadbike.

Question: Why flip the stem upside down? Mine is already at a downward angle from back to front, is that not the most aero?

I think that this is one of those "case by case" instances. Meaning the bike may be more aero, but are 'you' more aero? This goes back to days when time-trialist used to think that if the bike was more aerodynamic then you must be fast. Now that philosophy has changed to state that the bike should be aerodynamic but it should also make the rider aerodynamic. Having an upside-down stem may put the rider in a more aero position as well as a more comfortable position. 'Cause lets face it, if you're not comfortable (position-wise) then you're not going to go fast. Also bike geometry and sizing can also play a part in the layout of the stem.

Here is my poor college student road bike / tri-bike:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fikret...e2.jpg&.src=ph

Generic 7005 aluminum frame with a carbon fork, combination of Sora and Tiagra components, and a Forte aero bar. The frame is one size too big so the seat / handlebar ratio is not the best for me (as I said, money is tight and I got a great deal on this bike so I didn't mind it being a touch too big). I might flip the stem and see how that feels but so far it has been working OK. But the bike is also my daily commuter so flipping the stem might make it uncomfortable for everyday riding as this riding position works pretty well for dodging Atlanta traffic.

Soon as grad school is over, I hope to build or purchase a bike with a properly-sized frame for me :)