I've read other threads on using a tri bike for commuting, but I got the feeling that they meant using aero bars and all that.


I've found a decent deal on a tri frame, and I was wondering if it would be possible to put drop bars/bullhorns on a tri bike (as well as using diff gearing) and use it as a street bike? Or would the geometry be just ridiculously uncomfortable?

Hard to say for sure not knowing the frame dimensions and your relative flexibility. But generally speaking, you should be fine. The seat tube may be steeper than your typical road bike. If it is, you may be most comfortable with a seatpost that has some offset to compensate for the steep seat tube.

I turned a flat out road bike into a commuter, rack and all. I bought a huge, tall, handlebar stem to pop up the bars. Funny, I just test rode a new Giant Defy Advanced and it has the same high bar position. Great for city commuting.

There were two frames I was looking at: https://www.rideblue.com/bikearchive.php?state=t12

and the Cyfac Le Mythique (Seat Tube 49cm c-c 54cm c-t;Top Tube 51cm c-c;Down Tube 58cm c-c;Chain; Stays 36cm c-c; Seat Stays 47.5cm c-c; Head Tube 15.5cm e-e).

I am pretty vertically challenged - 5'4.5" (roughly) w/ an inseam of about 26". I'd consider myself pretty flexible... although I don't know how I'd indicate this... I can put 3/4 of my hands flat on the floor when bending forwards

I know I could just get a "real" road bike but these frames are at pretty reasonable prices on ebay (compared to other framesets and frames I've seen both online and in my LBS).

I've heard that tri/TT bikes are less 'agile', but how noticeable is this, and is this due to use of aero bars (which, if I purchase a frame, I wouldn't use anyway)? I normally ride an Azonic Evolution set up for "aggressive XC"