Prairie Native

Kinda at a crossroads. will be getting some cash money in august and have around 1500 to spend on something new. I have a nice Orbea right now that I ride the crap outta but I want to get another bike to use on the trainer and ****ty weather. I am really interested in TT's but getting a CX bike would open up a ton of gravel roads around here, something I would see myself using more on the off season.

My build (6'3 180) makes me good at long flat sustained efforts (its the only way I get to the line first). I could get a super crap road bike and put some CX tires on and get a decent TT bike. or just skip the TT bike for a few years for basically another road frame so I dont f-up my carbon bike.

Suggestions?

ptle

Unless you do triathlons or TTs competitively, I wouldn't get a TT. Also you can can throw on some aerobars on your road bike.

Get a cross bike. They're very versatile and fun. Also you could pick up cross racing in the off season. You could also throw on some slicks, and use it as a road bike.

Prairie Native

thats the thing, i am really interested in TT's. I feel like i might excell at them, but again i dont wanna spend that much on a bike that I dont use. does anyone use a TT bike on a trainer? how much does it suck to be in the aero for an extended amount of time?

gus6464

Cervelo P1

njkayaker

Put aero bars on the Orbea (the bike you already have).

SillyRabbit

^ Agreed. If you are looking to have the full TT cockpit, why not just put the base bar/short aero bar setup on the bike you currently ride and see how you like it? Much cheaper than a dedicated TT bike, and if you do decide that it is for you then you already have some parts! Personally I feel a CX bike is the better choice as it can be used for most anything.

fogrider

in addition to aerobars, I've got two words that will make you faster: carbon wheelset.

darkadious

even if you might "excel" on a tt bike what's the point if it's going to be on the trainer and only ridden in ****ty weather.

CX bike makes a lot more sense for foul weather.

availpunk9

I'm biased, cross bike all the way =) Cross season is coming up in the fall; it's loads of fun.

AngrySaki

If you don't mind swapping parts too much, I would get a cross bike that uses similar components to your road bike, so you can swap wheels and stuff. Then depending on the time of year/what I felt like doing, I'd either set up the cross bike in a seat forward/aerobar position (and use your road wheels), or as a regular cross bike. (or possibly set up the road bike in a TT position.) At worse you'd need to buy the aerobars, an extra stem and a forward facing seatpost.

SpongeDad

As someone who also always thought of himself as "really interested in TTs," get a cross bike.

Cross is a great sport in itself, a cross bike is way more flexible than a road or TT bike - you can do trails, you can ride with the kids or non-cyclist friends, they're good for commuting.

I'll probably get a TT bike at some point, but for now I'm using aerobars (also have adjustable Oval Concepts stem to get lower; it's great) and may get a helmet this year. That's a lot cheaper and get's you a fair amount of the benefit. If you're knocking on the doors of a 60' 40km ITT, maybe I'd go with the TT bike.

Racer Ex 

Cross bikes do nothing well. Hang onto most of your money and blow $100-200 on an old steel POS to ride in the winter slop and on the gravel. Spend another $150 on some clip on aerobars and an extra seatpost and TT saddle then give the TT stuff a shot on the Orbea. I've spent a lot of time on the trainer on the TT bike, it's no bigge, I'm as comfortable if not more so than on my road bike.

If you decide you want to get serious about TT's, buy a TT bike then train on it 2-3 times a week. Decent ones can be had fairly cheap and you'll be in the right position all the time and not have to mess with swapping stuff back and forth.

jfmckenna

If you are interested in TT's then get a TT bike. If you think you want to do cross then get a cross bike otherwise just ride your road bike down the gravel roads. If I didn't ride my road bike down gravel roads then I'd be missing out on some of the best rides in my area.

Having said that, and being someone who excels at TT's I love cyclocross so I'd get the cross bike. And seriously I've won more TT's on my road bike with clip on's then I have with my TT bike. And it's actually kind of a pain in the arse to have to take two bikes to a race, more room for friends to car pool and save money on gas and they crowd up the hotel room.

So there is a lot to think about but it sounds to me like you want the TT bike.

wanders

You just can't appreciate a bike that can go from 18 lbs to 40 lbs in the span of 50 feet of mud.

R900

Cross!