 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Is it possible to turn a standard carbon road bike (Kuota Kharma Race) into a tri bike or do you really need a specific bike?
Just stick some tri-bars on and maybe get a set of aero wheels. A couple of guys in the Tri Club I am a member of have Kuota Kharmas, and most people seem to just use their normal road bikes with tri-bars.
Tri specific bikes are generally a bit shorter than road bikes so that you aren't too stretched out when in the aero position.
This video illustrates it pretty well:
However with a bit of tweaking to your saddle position etc you can get a road bike to be pretty close.
Cheers, Rich
Read the Steve Hogg piece.
It's just all about getting a good compromise position between aero, comfort and being able to make power. And with Tri I think that's further complicated by having to then get off the bike and being able to run!
TT bikes are generally a bit shorter with steeper angles, but you can usually sort most of this out on a normal road bike. Get some decent clip ons (would really recommend the[url= http://zipp.com/bars/vuka-alumina-clip/ ] Zipp Vuka Alumina[/url] ones, not too pricey and they have a huge amount of adjustability with the pad position not being tied to the clips.) Worth considering a TT/Tri saddle too, usually designed to be more comfortable with you rolled further forwards.
Have a look at the [url= http://bikefastfit.com ]BikeFastFit[/url] app too. That'll help you get into a reasonable starting position. Position does evolve over time too as you adapt.
Having just done the London tri and then watched the pro's transitions and then reflected on mine. I can cut down nearly 10 mins in faff time. IMO unless you are sub 2 1/2 hours then any decent road bike will do. My only advice would be drink a bottle of coke after swim. It helped my energy and I suffered no stomach bugs from being in london docks..
My only advice would be drink a bottle of coke after swim
@wally they drink [b]flat[/b] coke don't they/you ?
Is it possible to turn a standard carbon road bike (Kuota Kharma Race) into a tri bike or do you really need a specific bike?
I guess you also need to factor in the length of event. What's best for a 12 mile bike leg isn't necessarily best for a 112 mile bike section as can bee seen by the various high end TT bikes set up with bars higher than on a mountain because the rider finds the correct position too uncomfortable.
Road bike, tri bars and a comfortable position will trump tri bike, aero wheels and a position you cannot sustain. Steve Hogg's article is excellent.
To go faster buy the best wetsuit you can afford. Not the answer you might want from a bike forum 😉 .
Before I got my TT bike for tri's I used my PX Pro Carbon with clip on aero bars and had a Cobb saddle on a layback seatpost fitted backwards to push the saddle further forward. <pedant avoidance/ seatpost fitted backwards, not the saddle /pedant avoidance>
Worked really well. I'm not that much quicker on my TT bike, but I am quicker, and now don't have to faff swapping stuff around when switching from tri to raod riding.
2nd go and buy the best wetsuit you can- makes a huge difference. More than a fancier bike IMO.
My 1st transition was comical - Antibacteria gel on hands and arms - now so slippy I found getting my helmet on difficult. Mouth washed out with mouthwash, needed towel to open up coke bottle because cap was on so tight, swigging coke whilst hopping around getting socks on. Shorts and then shirt put on. Checked bike over then set off. Then cycled 60K and not 40K due to forum name. I'm sticking with Coke (full fat and fizzy) with puree bannana/apple mix plus Nuun drink as it worked well.
For the record, it's for an Ironman.
Thanks for the input. That article is excellent.
I did the Nottingham Outlaw a couple of weeks back and used a standard road bike with a sdg bel air saddle, discs and 28mm tyres. I was comfortable on the bike and after. Some of the aero people I passed were not so comfortable.
If I did it again, I might go for a lighter bike but the position was spot on for 112 miles.