shubydoobydo

Hello All,

I have a TT/Tri bike that I have been riding, but I would like to start doing a lot of group rides. Is there a way to set my TT/Tri bike up as a road bike ish? I can not afford a new Road Bike right now. Can I buy a forward seat post and turn it around to move my saddle back, and get rid of my aero bars? Will this be an OK roadish bike? I know it will not be a True Road Bike maybe down the road I will get one of those, but will this due for now? Thanks for any help!

tekhna

Don't bring your TT bike to group rides. Won't make friends that way. And the geometry of a TT bike will not be comfortable if you put drops on it.

snoboard2

you can switch the base bar and extensions for a road bar and be just fine. it'd be a PITA to switch back and forth. or if you're really good on the bike, just ride on the base bars and don't get down in the aero bars.

CharlieWoo

Yes; chop the aero bars off.

merlinextraligh

Not the ideal setup for a number of reasons. Stay off the aerobars when you're around others, and you'll be ok.

If you're riding safely, predictably, not on the aerobars, and the group gives you crap for having a TT bike, find another group to ride with.

Asian Sensation

out of curiosity... what tt/tri bike are you riding now? it may be possible to turn it into a road bike.

CharlieWoo

Aero bars are ok as long as you stay at the front and pull for the whole time.

Psimet2001 

Find a local tri group to ride with.

Brian6751

The groups I ride with are ok with Tri bikes as long as you stay off the aero bars except when up front. There are always a few so we are used to it and they follow the rules.

shubydoobydo

Asian Sensation
- I have a Leader 720TT Bike

Everyone Else
-great advice if they are giving me crap I will just leave and find a different group!

Thanks everyone for responding

bigskyTi

Depending on the frame you are riding you can add drop bars and regular shifters with no problems essentially turning your TT rig into a road bike.
Of course you will have to buy drop bars, shifters, and probably a new stem. Maybe new cables and housings, and bar tape. Depending on how savy you are at buying these things and assembling them yourself you might just get an inexpensive road bike for a few bucks more.

botto 

why?

incorrect.

partially correct.

and ride safely. otherwise, stay in the back.

vic32amg

I personally don't agree with having TT/Tri bikes on a group ride. Not so only because of safety but also it just does not make sense to me with that type of machine. However if it is your only machine and you seek riding w a group then I would say go for it. Otherwise it's silly. as is everything I just wrote.

I only ride my TT bike about once a week and I can say that at speed it is certainly much faster than any road bike I own. Perhaps as someone suggested a group ride with other TT/Tri bikes would be more suitable considering the pace should be more up to speed for someone on a TT bike.

cyclingvirtual

No Problem, i have used a Fixed wheel TT bike on chaingangs for years.

Cromulent

On the Tuesday night sprint ride I do, there have been a few guys on TT/Tri bikes and no one has said a word. These guys are fast, strong, and know how to handle their bikes. When we pacelne, they're right in it. When we sprint, they're right in it. They even get on the front and pull. They're generally not on the aerobars unless they're leading us out.

So yeah, it's not like the world will end.

mollusk

I've seen guys on TT bikes on our local hammerhead ride that are fine to ride with and I've seen some on road bike setups that I wouldn't want to be close to even on the rollout. It all varies. As a general rule I closely watch the TT bike guys until they prove themselves worthy and cut some breaks to the conventional setup guys until they prove themselves to be squirrels. It doesn't take long to figure this stuff out.

Medpilot

I've ridden in group rides on aerobars and didn't hear a word about how dangerous it was from anyone in the group. Everyone was very accepting and friendly. I guess it depends on what kind of people you are riding with.

I recently converted a TT bike into a regular road bike. It's really easy and can be done for less than few hundred dollars. Here's the link to my post. https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...421&highlight=

BHBiker

dont use the aero bars when someone is in front of you and You will be fine...

This should not bother you unless you are a mediocre bike handler.

cheers!

wideAMG

i guess it depends on the group but my club does not allow TTs to ride up front.
and i would not be close riding behind one.

doesn't a group ride defeat the purpose of a TT bike? don't bring a cat to a dog show.

merlinextraligh

Even if you're a great bike handler, its still not a lot of fun having someone with their head down, limited ability to manuever quickly, and no immediate access to their brakes run up your backside in a paceline.

BHBiker

Merlin, that is correct,...however if you have a decent bike handling skills....the bull horn bars would suffice as a replacement for the hoods of roadbikes...you wont be as nimble as someone in a roadbike but you will survive...of course if the course you are riding is like a twista twirl ice cream then its another story...but for the OP's type of non pro group ride search, the TT bike could definitely survive.

Medpilot

Bullhorns on a TT bike = Hoods on a Road bike. There is absolutely NO difference in manuverability or braking.

The danger comes in when a rider decides to get into the aerobars while drafting 6 inches behind another rider. Unfortunately not everyone has the common sense to know how to ride a TT bike on a group ride. I guess that's how TT bikes get banned all together from group rides.

Rahzel

That's not quite correct. On a true tri bike, with a 78 degree seat tube angle, long front-center and short rear-center, the handling and weight distribution is quite different than on a slack seat tube angled road bike. Generally speaking, there's more weight on the front wheel and the steering feels a lot different.

BHBiker

I stand by this: If you don't use the aerobars and stick to the bullhorns,..you WILL BE OK with a TT bike on normal grouprides.
Of course you have to be at least a decent bike handler with lots of common sense...which is uncommon nowadays.

I use my spez TT bike for group rides. i just dont use the aerobars...never had a problem.

BHBiker

The handling is not as nimble and agile as a road bike but depending on your TT bike,...mine is not that bad on turns...of course being a TT bike..it catches more angled winds and is heavier than my Tarmac....I use non aero wheels (TT HED3 are kept on the side) on the TT bike during group rides but then you wont use that as well on the roady.