sparks_219 

Hello,

I'm a mountain bike racer who found a good deal on a Cervelo One for training, and have a few questions. Some people have told me Tri bikes are not designed for climbing, but I had no troubles pushing my bike up hills. In fact, I was using bigger gears, and making up hills with much less effort (pavement) compared to my mountain bike. Also, this bike really flies on pavement, and I was keeping up with the LBS road group ride. So really, for training purpopses, I don't think I need anything better than this bike.

However, the cowhorn bars hurts my hand, and I find it very frustrating to shift since the shifters are mounted on the tip of the aerobars. So, I'm thinking of getting a set of drop bars, and STI shifters to make the ride hopefully more comfortable, and safer to ride in the city. Also, would you keep the aerobars on the bike with dropdown bars??

Thanks

Ming.

PS...Of course, some pictures to show off my new possession

UmneyDurak

So you want to turn a TT bike in to a road bike? ok.....

simplyred

Welcome to roadie land! Nice bike dude...
What would you be training on this bike exactly?
Spinning/Sprinting/Climbing/etc...

You're uncomfortable for possible reasons..
1/ you bought an un-fitted bike; the bike doesn't fit your body..
2/ you obviously aren't accustomed to that position [give it some time, brotha!]

Methinks you should make sure you aren't bending ALL the way over your bars... and I agree with Umney... don't change the TT into a road bike.. UNLESS... your training requires it..

Good Luck,
-Peter

my58vw

1. TT bikes (actually road bikes in general) will climb better than road bikes on roads, just the way it works.

2. TT bikes were not designed to climb steep stuff in the aero bars. They were designed for long stretches or road with shallow climbs or flat. I learned this on my last itt.

3. TT bikes are designed to be ridden mostly in the aero bars... that is why the shifters are there...

4. What are you training for? Tri's? Then keep the bike the way it is. Relize that when you climb you will ride in the bill horn area, it is just the way the tt bikes are designed.

5. You get more power because you are more forward on the pedals due to the seat tube angle.

6. TT bikes will not replace road bike under climbing circumstances...

Keep the bike how it is, get used to riding in the aero bars or it is just as easy to convert the frame for road bike use, it is your choice.

BTW nice bike (very partial to cervelo tt bikes (see sig)...

Mars

Don't do it! Don't neuter your bike! I agree with simplyred, give it a bit of time to get used to the new set up. Also, you should be spending most of your time in the aero drops anyway. Once you get used to it, I think that you will be glad you left your lovely bike the way she is....

sparks_219 

I cannot justify spending another 2gs on a road bike as a college student. Also, how good a bike is usually does not make the most amount of difference in your performance.

I'm trying to get results, not buying gear to make everyone else jealous. So if you think i'm crazy, please layout your constructive critism in a logically manner, because after all, that is why I posted this thread.

Thanks

Ming

sparks_219 

I'm trying to work on my endurance for my mountain biking races. I lack especially on long climbs. So I figured putting more miles in on the road would definitely help.

The frame is slightly large for me (57cm) when I'm only 5'10" with 32" inseam. The online calculators I used recommended a 54cm frame, but that is road geometry.

When I'm in the aero bars, the bike feels very unstable, and I'm actually scared to use the aero bars at high speeds (40km/h). I guess that will change over time. However, most of the roads around here are packed with cars, that is why I also dont feel very safe without having my hands somewhere close to the brake levers.

I have seen some bikes with drop bars and aerobars at the same time, are they also TT bikes??

sparks_219 

Thanks for the constructive reasoning! I have no idea how TT bikes and road bikes were different other than different seat tube angle.

I'm not planning on using this bike to race, and will use it as a training bike to get more fit, and possibly improve my mountain bike racing performances. Also, isn't it better to require more effort to make up the same hill??

If I use a shorter stem to bring the bars closer to me, would that seriously alternate the handling of the bike?? What sort of effects would result from using drop bars on my Cerevlo frame?? I realize Cervelo makes some of the best TT bikes, but the actual reason I purchased this bike was because it was selling at a price I couldn't say no. Origionally, I was looking for a road bike until this deal came along .

sparks_219 

I just remembered the aerobars are bolt-ons.

So if I get drop bars, I can always just switch the aerobars over to the new bar. In theroy, wouldn't that offer the best of both worlds?? I will have STI shifters, drop bars, AND aerobars

I find when I'm riding this bike, I tend to use the brakes far more often than my shifters.

Thanks

Ming

climbo

TT bikes are for TT's or Tri's
Road bikes are for road riding.

If you want to ride the road, you'd do well to swap out the bar and shifters for a normal road drop bar and shifter set-up as you suggest, that'll give you a riding position that is more upright and form overall general road riding use.

Get your position dialed in and you'll be good to go for miles and miles.

Use the aerobars if you want to, not necessary though to have them on, espcecially for group riding, do not use them, you'll need to be near the brakes in case you need them.

cydewaze

I'll be the odd man out. If that was my only road bike, I'd probably throw a set of drop bars and STI levers on it. If you're just training to get stronger on your mountain bike (cross-training, if you will) and you don't plan on doing TTs, I don't see the point in keeping the aero setup.

Besides, you can keep the bullhorns in a box in case you change your mind later.

simplyred

Mm... 57 cm, and you're a 54 cm...?? Tri people, pls chime in... I have no idea if you need a larger/smaller frame when building a Tri bike...

my suggestion is getting a shorter stem [el-cheapo one] and possibly move the seat forward... the thing is.. you may feel uncomfortable because, especially with a tri bike, you're getting into that aero tuck [i've never tried a TT btw, so I can only imagine what i feels like putting yourself on the elbow rests at high speeds], not to mention you're doing this at a very premature stage. I admire your courage.. heh..

Do keep in kind your safety, as a larger bike than your optimal size could make you too tall of a rider... and that could also be a contributing factor to your awkwardness..

For your endurance... personally, you just need to practice the hills, regardless of what bike you're on top of... from a training perspective, articles on bicycling.com may be able to help that...
Bicycling.com Training
Good luck with your training man..
You live in the HAMMER!?! heheh, I go to MAC during normal school season...

-Peter

my58vw

TT bikes are a wierd breed. Some companies like cervelo build the tt bikes so that the number on the bike cooresponds well to the size of a road bike (i.e. 54 cm road - 54 cm tt). Some companies have very little correlation, i.e. you may ride a 54 cm road bike and need a 52 cm tt bike or even a 56 cm tt bike.

The best way to know is to look at the top tube and seat tube lengths on a tt bike. I ride a 61 cm cervelo, the tt is perfect (I run a 110 mm stem) but the seat tube is way too short (58 cm). The bike fits my upper body perfect (different posistion from a road bike) but the seat post is jacked way up. All that means is I have 2.5 cm of spacers below the stem.

What is a dual 9 or 10 with road bars... basically a soloist in the forward posistion... will make a relativly decient road bike.

UmneyDurak

I never said you should go out and buy another bike. Or made any comments about performance, and how good the bike is. Most of the times people are trying to convert roadbikes in to some sort of TT bike, not other way around. I just found it a bit odd.
From what you have told so far I think you got a wrong tool for the job. How much did you spent on that bike? I'm sure you could have gotten a descent road bike for that kind of money, especially considering the extra cost of new shifters and drop bars, it would have fit your needs better then a TT bike converted in to a road bike. Just my .02 cents.

sparks_219 

I spent $700 CAD with a pair of SIDI shoes off a riding buddy of mine. I dont think you'll even get a SORA road bike for that kind of cash.

Also, the drops and STI shifters i'm looking at are pretty cheap since they are 9psd. The entire bike with new 105 pedals, Selle Italia SLR, and a new USED drop bar with DA STIs will be less than a grand. I was just curious about any possible ill effect of the conversion. However, that has been mostly covered by the posts above.

Ming

sparks_219 

Hahah..thats just too funny. Next year will be my last year @ MAC for SFWR ENG & MGMT. Give me a shout when school starts again, and I may see you around the bike club.

Ming

Drayko

To make it more roadish, I'd:
1. Switch to drop bars (feel a few in your hands because they're are a few types ie deep, shallow, shaped, etc) with sti, take aero off. If you adjust so that can use both drop bars and aero bars at the same time it's likely that neither would be in the optimum position. Sort of a give and take situation.
2. Raise the stem or put a riser stem on for the drop bars.
3. Get a setback seatpost or move seat back a little to get a shallower st angle.
4. Maybe change gearing but that depends on what you have on there now, probably not necessary since you're using it as a training bike but TT bikes usually have higher gearing.
5. Stop wearing the aero helmet.

It should ride fine and you really wouldn't look like an odd man out. The Dual looks a lot like a soloist which is quite the "in" frame...or so I'd think by the long waitlists I encountered when trying to get one recently.

661

That bike is drop-dead-gorgeous!!! I'd add another to your stable and keep that puppy as-is.

linus

sparks_219

TTbikes are not much different from Road bikes if you look at the specs and components. Even though there aren't much difference as a bike, there is a huge amount of difference in performence in different area since they were build for different reason.

You said
"I cannot justify spending another 2gs on a road bike as a college student. Also, how good a bike is usually does not make the most amount of difference in your performance."
Your comment is not correct since I know someone who bought the wrong size bike and quit cycling. Later, he came back(5years after) and loves riding. So how good the bike makes significant difference in this case.

Also there are many road bikes that you can get for $700CAD. If you couldn't find them then you haven't really look for them. IMHO, you need a Road bike. Also it will cost you more if you modify your TTbike to Road bike since you can get beginner Roadbike for a less then you think.

I recommend you do go to LBS and test ride Roadbikes and feel the difference. If you don't feel much difference then you could try to modify your TTbike. Good Luck

torment

I spent $700 on a 2004 Specialized Allez Sport and its perfect for my needs. College students don't always have the best cash and I found a bike I really like and will ride it because its fun.

sparks_219 

I already bought the bike and am happy with the frame. Just trying to make it ride a little comfortable, and a little safer to use in the city. I have put over 3500 into my mountain bike this year, so I really dont want to spend anymore cash on cycling. Since this is my training bike, I dont think I need the best equipment.

Also, the conversion to drop bars and STIs will only cost me around $150 if I look hard enough, plus I get cost price on anything from my LBS. So the conversion will be much cheaper than buying an inferior road bike. $700 CAD will not get me much of a bike, not one that has the equipment level i'm used to.

Ming

canili

Sweet bike for a great price. Congrats!

Check out ebay for some drop bars. You could always recoup some cash by selling the bull horns, barends, and aero bars if you dont like them.

Whats the seat tube angle? You'll definitely lose some power on seated climbs with a steeper angle, the further forward you are the more you isolate the quads. Jam that seat all the way back!

120372

I just wanted to chime in here. The guy got an unbelievably great deal. Do whatever you need to do to make the bike fit your needs. You got an extremely fine bike w/ great components for $700. I'd prefer chopping that one to fit my needs over buying an entry level road bike any day of the week.

Congrats on the deal. It even came with shoes.

Sasquatchula

No,no,no...it's all wrong for you. You should give that bike to me and start over

Yeah, I wish. If you decide to dump the horns, let us know!

operator

You got that bike for $700? Your address please and when you will be out on errands.