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I'm not really much of a roady but we're just about to move house and happily have lots of lovely winding country roads to ride from my doorstep.
So I was going to get myself a cheap road bike but my brother in law has offered to sell me his Planet X Stealth TT bike which he bought last Christmas, used twice and then went travelling for half the year. He's offered it me for 200 quid as a sort of house warming present. I'm obviously going to buy it as he paid 1500 quid for it but would it be silly to stick a pair of drop bars on it and just use it as a run of the mill road bike? Or will it be painfully uncomfortable despite the fact it is the correct size for me? I doubt I'd ever be going on all day epic rides, just a couple of hours every now and then.
unless your names jason macintyre i wouldnt bother.
i have a stealth - an the only time i used it like a road bike was training for a 100TT. - the only way to get used to the position is to ride the position BUT its a way stiff machine - you will ache. The top tube is shorter than a conventional road bike - you will end up with a stem about 3 weeks long to get a decent position. the saddles further forward , the headangles and seat angles waaay too steep - it corners like a 50 pence piece its like trying to turn bricks in a washing machine for a front end. - thats why its so stable at speed.
+1 for what he said. You'll end up with a very compromised and strange set up trying to make it comfortable and you'll probably never achieve a really comfy position.
It's a tool for a job, and the job you're trying to make it do isn't what it was designed for. Don't get me wrong I know a few folk that ride TT bikes long distances, but they're mental and accept that the handling is kak and they're used to the position.
I'd buy it, because it's a bargain, and use it for the odd short blast just to nick a few strava segments. But I'd also buy a decent road bike to do proper rides on.
I converted a Giant Trinity to road duties from a full on TT spec. Only problem i have found is the slight toe overlap when turning. I find it more than comfortable for extended rides. So if the frame fits, why not!
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buy it, try it, if its not for you, flog it and get something more appropriate?
+1 what meehaja said, you're not going to lose on it if you buy it, don't like it and flog it.
Yeah, as I thought. I will buy it as it's a very generous offer from him and I'm sure it will be fun for some shorter speedy blasts but I may just try a couple of longer rides on it and see how I get on.
I use a Stealth for TT racing and I would absolutely not want to ride it for fun. As said, 50p corners, every bump felt and flexy front on climbing.
£200 though is a billy bargain.
Buy it, try it, if you don't like it and sell it, then buy him something in return.
I know some clubs (like mine) aren't too happy with people riding TT in the group because you aren't covering your brakes most of the time. I suppose it's understandable if you're riding very fast with your wheel an inch off the guy in front.
Use it as an opportunity to race tts, it is only when you have a number on your back the extra speed is worth it.
I would rather get a cheap road bike with proper geometry for normal riding. The large stealth has a stack/reach of 510/420 the large RT-58 which i think is their relaxed road bike is 386/577
As converted to a road bike, if you manage to get your saddle in the right place (not sure if you can with a 76 degree seat angle) then it is actually very long, and very very low.
Lets not be profiting from your brothers generosity though - if you do sell, then give him first dabs and/or split the profit.
Oh, i put the stack/reach the wrong way on the RT-58. That would be very extreme geometry!
Longer stem, suspension seatpost. Job done.