on the trails i ride i have never seen a single Tri/TT bike and i suspect there must be a reason for this.

but i would like to know what it is rather than just assume that it's a good one.

the only one i can think of is having to switch between different grips to go from brakes to shifters - do i understand that correctly ?

when i ride there are often highway overpasses where you have to make FOUR 180 degree turns to cross the highway as it looks a bit like two flights of stairs on each side. now when i am making those turns i am shifting and braking at the same time on my road bike - how much of a trouble would i be in on a Tri/TT bike in that situation ? are there any other reasons i should not use a Tri/TT bike ?

the reasons i want a Tri/TT bike in the first place is because when on my road bike i try to use the drops my speed DROPS instead of increasing. i tried it many times. the seat tube angle just doesn't work for me when i am on the drops. i really need the seat to move forward.

my other concern is - will i look like a douc4ebag ? also right now when i get passed by faster cyclists i feel ok about it. if i got passed by somebody on a mountain bike i would feel pretty bad about it. now if i go with TT bike i will only maybe gain 1 - 2 mph so i am still going to be passed by roughly same number of cyclists - but it will be about 10 times more embarrasing

hm - some dilemma !