Transitioning from a road bike to tri bike

[Deleted]

I've ridden a road bike for the last two years (for sprint tris and just general riding). In the fall, I came across a great deal on a used tri bike, so I bought it. I haven't been able to ride it yet because winter set in and I didn't have a trainer.

I finally got around to ordering a trainer and it arrived yesterday.

It's going to be another few months before I can ride outdoors again, so what should I do in the meantime to get used to riding a tri bike with the different positioning?

[kams]

Did you have aero bars on your road bike? It will be relatively smooth if so, though shifting is different and, I think in most (all?) cases, the bike and position feel more rigid.

If you can, it would be ideal to get a fit. It might take awhile on your trainer to stay in the aero position with good posture. You might notice some soreness in the traps & neck - it seems like a relief to look down, but you want to build up those neck muscles to look ahead of your front wheel because you'll need to do so outside. Then, as you're ready to get outside, you can go between aero and sitting up while you get comfortable with the difference in the way the bike handles, particularly when you're in aero.

I was really apprehensive about it, but it came to me really quickly. I did get a fit which I think helped maximize comfort and power output. I hope you love your new bike!

[Deleted]

Jan 15, 2014 10:04:41 GMT -5 kams said:

Did you have aero bars on your road bike? It will be relatively smooth if so, though shifting is different and, I think in most (all?) cases, the bike and position feel more rigid.

If you can, it would be ideal to get a fit. It might take awhile on your trainer to stay in the aero position with good posture. You might notice some soreness in the traps & neck - it seems like a relief to look down, but you want to build up those neck muscles to look ahead of your front wheel because you'll need to do so outside. Then, as you're ready to get outside, you can go between aero and sitting up while you get comfortable with the difference in the way the bike handles, particularly when you're in aero.

I was really apprehensive about it, but it came to me really quickly. I did get a fit which I think helped maximize comfort and power output. I hope you love your new bike!

I don't have aero bars on my road bike, so that's new to me.

Thanks for the tip on using the neck muscles!

[sadlebred]

I'd get a professional bike fit done.

[katinthehat]

get a bike fit. You're going to be much more aggressive in your aero bars on the tri bike than you were on your road bike. Expect some soreness as well and start with shorter trainer just so you get used to it at first.

Although, I have had friends with tri bikes who never ever ever have gone aero on them. No joke.

[trigal]

Tri bikes are more aggressive and sensitive than road bikes. Get fitted properly. Then use it on the trainer if that's all you've got. When you take it out on the road, you may feel "wobbly" at first. The bike will respond to smaller movements than your road bike. Make sure your core is strong so you can control it!

[Susie]

Jan 15, 2014 12:39:07 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

Although, I have had friends with tri bikes who never ever ever have gone aero on them. No joke.

lol.  I do too actually.

I have one friend who only has a tri bike (no road bike) and she takes the tri bike on group rides.  She justifies it by saying she could only afford one bike (that part I empathize on) so she picked a tri bike and the world can deal.

I have another friend who was in an accident last spring on her road bike (car driver at fault) and she used the $ from the settlement to replace her late road bike with a fancier one AND buy a tri bike.  Except she's far too shaken on her bike to use the aerobars, so she still races on the road bike and rarely rides the tri bike (pretty much never in aero).

In short:  triathletes are weird about bikes.  And most gear, I think.

I am debating whether I am ready to put aerobars on my road bike this spring.  I keep coming back to remembering how much improvement *I* (not my bike) have available to make.

[katinthehat]

Jan 15, 2014 15:13:38 GMT -5 Susie said:

Jan 15, 2014 12:39:07 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

Although, I have had friends with tri bikes who never ever ever have gone aero on them. No joke.

lol.  I do too actually.

I have one friend who only has a tri bike (no road bike) and she takes the tri bike on group rides.  She justifies it by saying she could only afford one bike (that part I empathize on) so she picked a tri bike and the world can deal.

I have another friend who was in an accident last spring on her road bike (car driver at fault) and she used the $ from the settlement to replace her late road bike with a fancier one AND buy a tri bike.  Except she's far too shaken on her bike to use the aerobars, so she still races on the road bike and rarely rides the tri bike (pretty much never in aero).

In short:  triathletes are weird about bikes.  And most gear, I think.

I am debating whether I am ready to put aerobars on my road bike this spring.  I keep coming back to remembering how much improvement *I* (not my bike) have available to make.

Triathletes are weird in general

I think I'd like aerobars on my road bike just for a change in position on long rides but they add so much weight, I don't know that I'd see a real improvement in speed, as much as just changing things up.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'm definitely getting a fit done right away before I start riding on the bike. 

I've often found myself biking in windy races, wishing I could bend down into an aero position. I'm looking forward to actually being able to do so this year. (My road bike was weird and couldn't fit aero bars, it's not great for races).

[joenali]

Jan 15, 2014 15:13:38 GMT -5 Susie said:

Jan 15, 2014 12:39:07 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

Although, I have had friends with tri bikes who never ever ever have gone aero on them. No joke.

lol.  I do too actually.

I have one friend who only has a tri bike (no road bike) and she takes the tri bike on group rides.  She justifies it by saying she could only afford one bike (that part I empathize on) so she picked a tri bike and the world can deal.

I have another friend who was in an accident last spring on her road bike (car driver at fault) and she used the $ from the settlement to replace her late road bike with a fancier one AND buy a tri bike.  Except she's far too shaken on her bike to use the aerobars, so she still races on the road bike and rarely rides the tri bike (pretty much never in aero).

In short:  triathletes are weird about bikes.  And most gear, I think.

I am debating whether I am ready to put aerobars on my road bike this spring.  I keep coming back to remembering how much improvement *I* (not my bike) have available to make.

You can take a tri bike on group rides. Either don't use the bars or fall back so you aren't riding close to other riders. I used to only have a tri bike. And now I only have a road bike lol!