trinovi

Many road bike enthusiasts tell me to get a road bike if I plan on doing many long/group/charity rides because it is more comfortable. These recommendations usually come from people who do not ride tri-bikes or have not for very long. It seems to me like the body, with training and repetition, is capable of adapting over time to positions which may not be very comfortable at first. Are there any tri-bike riders out there who have found this to be the case, and have grown to enjoy (or at least tolerate) the tri-bike riding position as much as the road bike position, even for longer rides?

Thanks

audiojan

To answer your question, yes, I'm used to the position and the bike is comfortable. Comfort is one of the more important factors of speed as you will be more efficient.

I hope you are not looking into a tribike with aerobars etc. with the intent of using it in group rides.... Commonly the group will not allows this as you have less control with aerobars and the breaks are not right by your hands... Best idea for you might be to get either two bikes (expensive) or a "half-way house", i.e. a bike with drop bars, aerobars attachments, but still with road geometry (or technically, you could use a tri geometry... but you will give up some climbing ability; may or may not matter to you).

trinovi

Thanks. Looking at a picture of a Cervelo Dual, I see that there are the aero bars (with shifters), and the bars to each side which have the brakes on them, which are not drops, but nevertheless are for the hands to grip. Can these brake-handlebars be used for easier maneuverability and perhaps more upright of a position while climbing hills, or are you always locked in to steering the bike from the elbows?

MHR

The "Aero position" with a proper fit is very comfortable, even more so than a typical road bike. Just look at the RAAM riders, you will see aerobars on all their bikes. If I was going to ride cross country I would do it on my TREK-TT and not my road bike. Although I have both Tri bikes and Road bikes, and I do tend to spend more time on my Lifecycle and my "Road bikes" than I do on my "Tri bikes". Although there is nothing like riding an all out TT bike (going out for a little cruise) and eating roadies like appetizers for the main course...a group of rodies .