Ready to Ruck

Tri frames are sexy. no doubt.
Has anybody here had experience using them? I have found some sleek candidates to use. I'm looking at a Leader frame. 78 degree seat tube, track ends with built in screws to tension. nothing says tight geometry like a tt frame.
does anyone know of a good frame with a high bb or is 65mm not that bad? I'm also hesitant about riding aluminum.

humancongereel

i rode one the other weekend. just a short jaunt, the bike was way too small for me and the toe overlap was a pain. it felt a little weird, but it could have just been the size.

however, talking to someone who has one here in town, he tells me that although his has a front rack, he never uses it for anything except carrying his chihuahau. he said that with anything bigger than that, the weight placement detracts from the bike's handling since his body weight is already being directed forward.

cogsci

I've been riding a tri frame (650c) and I have no complaints (def. not a relaxed riding position, but real fast)

gregg

Nat looks angier than you, and he isn't the one doing the natty fab

genericbikedude

!!

dogpound

I have one.
I only race on it, as that's what it's for

zelah

haha @ riding a bike in a matter fitting "what it's for", wrong board

vobopl

I am still thinking about converting my Wheeler T1 titanium triathlon 650cc bike to fixed. The problem as I see it is a slack head tube angle, suitable for forward position when using aero bars. Despite that, this bike has second shortest wheelbase in my stable.

Fugazi Dave

I miss Chicago...

Also, tri frames are mad sexy. I dream of a Cervelo P3...

stevo

used to have a QR kilo 650 in my racing days.

Loved that bike, but as others implied, its really designed for putting your head down and going really fast in a straight line on a flat earth.

Cogsi, hows that slingshot working out fixed? Any flex when backpedaling?

MLPROJECT

what's the diff on a tri frame? are they usually just lighter/more aero?

are you ready to ruck? like the song? goddamn right.

stevo

similar geo to a track bike, with slacker headtube Often (but less so these days) 650c. Designed around riding on your forearms forward of the crank.

Usually aero tubing.

MLPROJECT

right on... i noticed a lot have weird stuff like no seat stays or no seat tube... is this just to save weight?

LóFarkas

That's to make it more aero. Quite a few tri bikes are the "beam" style cuz the triathlon regulations don't require the diamond structure or whatever they call it. They are heavier than two-triangle frames.

MLPROJECT

interesting. i have this old issue of iD that has a bunch of old bike frames like that talking about when they were made, when they were banned and why... i didn't know you could still use them in any racing.

Learn_not2burn

the other advantage of those beam bikes is energy disipation. They are a bit more comfortable than a normal tri bike. The beam flexing dampens out a noticeable amount of energy, the only problem is that sometimes the oscillations of the post and your pedaling will fall in sink and it can get kind of sloppy. I could see those beam bikes being insanely comfortable compared to the new Cervelo, with the vertical seat tube. I'd still roll the Cervelo though, it looks like sex.

stevo

I've never ridden a beam, but my understanding was that it IMPROVES pedalstroke because pedaling inefficiencies are magnified (much like pedaling fixed). That was the marketing at one time anyway.

All this tri-talk makes me want to race again. Havent had any full-contact swims in a few years; lol.

vomitron

Tri frames aren't exactly like track frames.

Steep seat angles != track. around 74-76 is standard for track, while around 76-78 is standard for tri. Also, the front/center is very different. Some people have fudged with the front/center and fork rake enough that they can get an 80 degree seat tube, but still have their saddle nose less than 5cm from the BB (and not have it be twitchy like a tweaker). If it had to be likened to a track bike, I'd say pursuit geometry is closest.

Ready to Ruck

I'm also looking for frames marketed as TT.
For those who don't know: tri frames vary in seat tube angles. The ones with slacker (closer to 75 degree) seat tubes are for tri events that involve a long long ride, while the ones made for those with short sprints have the tightest geometry (closer to 80). The point is to angle the rider in such an aero position that they use only the muscles most efficient for pedaling and save energy in the muscles required for running.
I'm looking for frames marketed as timetrial moreso because they, on general, have about a 75degree seat post.
And yeah head tube angles are generally 73-74degree ish which, if you've road a road bike, is common.

Lastly, vobopl why do you see that as a problem? Why don't you just narrow bullhorns on that frame?

Oh and a final question for you guys: Is a steel fork suitable for an aluminum frame?