Tri bike on hills...
 

I am looking to buy a new tri bike (P2 SL) as my only bike. I typically ride alone, but I have read the warning of hill rides being better on a road bike…why? In a tri that has a hilly course, you’ll be on your tri bike, so why would it be harder to use during training? Besides not being optimal for group rides, what are any other cons of having a tri bike only? Is the soloist worth looking at?

You will be shunned from group rides. Tri bikes are a strictly solo venture.

The soloist is the best of both worlds. I'd recommend the soloist with a set of clip on shorties.

The seattube is extremely steep, making it hard to climb. 99% of Triathalon/Time Trail/Track bikes have steep, tight geometry for a quick sprint off the line and aero position in optimal conditions with little wind.

The majority of Triathalon courses are for flat or downhill routes. Not that you can't do hill climbs with that, or any other bike...only that you will find it more work. Same with decending a big hill. Your TT/Tri bars will give you less control than drop bars.

A skilled rider can train/race on a Tri bike in any condition of terrain. But first you need the skills, then the bike.

just get the tri bike. If there are hills on the tri course you will be prepared since you trained on the bike you are racing. Don't worry about up or down hills, you will get the skills needed to handle the bike by using it. Just take it as slow as you need to feel comfortable.

I would recommend that you change tires and tubes on the bike before a race if you are going to be training all the time on it.

Probably doesn't help you make your decision, but it talks about how to climb in the aero position. Seems to work for me.

http://www.blackwellresearch.com/pdf...20Aerobars.pdf

I have a P2K as my "only" bike (not technically the only one I own, but pretty much the only one I ever ride.)

If you're solo "most" of the time, you'll be perfectly fine on it. Reports of them being twitchy, difficult to climb, difficult to descend, etc are totally overrated. In fact, IMHO a "true" tri bike is more stable, comfortable, and easy to use than a road bike with aero bars. Of course, something like the Soloist is good at both, but still a compromise - for one thing, where do you put the shifters? if you use typical brifters, you have to take your hands off the aero bars every time you want to shift, so you're missing out on a lot of the advantage anyways.

And another note - when I switched from my last main bike to the P2k, my hill climbing times improved. Blame it on the placebo effect if you want, but I was quicker up hills than on my previous Trek road bike. (quicker down hills and on the flats, too!)

were you exhiled from any group rides....I have heard some funny stories from friends that showed up at group rides with thier tri bikes...I don't really care if people use thier tri bikes, just don't be in the aero bars unless your in the front...I'm scared of other bad riders that brake and change speeds all the time.

There is one guy that shows up on a softride that litterally pulls the whole fifty miles...I will bike next to him and to talk to him but he doesn't ever need a break...

I've never been exiled from a group ride, but I typically don't participate in group rides with snobby road racer types. And yeah, I definitely don't get on the aero bars when in the middle of a tight paceline.

Aren't tri bikes typically much higher geared on the bailout gears? I HATE my tribike on hills. My knees yelp at me :D

that can easily be solvedd

1) get a cassete that is 12-25 or 11-26 instead of 12-23

and/or

2) get a compact crank if don't use those top gears...50-36 is fav.,

lets face it how often are the top gears used, 1) could be a solution without any gearing sacrifice

FWIW, I live in the rolling hills and use a 12-25 with a standard crankset.

Next gear setup will be a much smaller bailout gear. Just gotta put a couple thou more miles on this set to justify it. :D