Coaching 101
Buying a time trial bike
Without a doubt a time trial bike will be quicker than a road bike even with aero bars. They are typically stiffer (less flex means more of the power you produce will go into producing forward movement), more aerodynamic and they allow you to get into a more aerodynamic position (steeper geometry), and they look cool which helps on the psychological front.
So what is the best time trial bike to buy?
Firstly there is a difference between a time trial bikie that a cyclist will use for a 10-60km TT and a triathlon bike. Triathlon bikes tend to be more functional with many additions to a standard TT bike i.e. storage for food and supplies needed for longer rides and many have drinking containers built into the frame for easy access and aerodynamic benefits.
This is one of the main points of difference between the different triathlon bikes on the market. So you need to be clear on what you will need the bike for (long or short course) and how much food and drink you will need to carry.
Outside of the differences in their functional options the most important thing is fit. The bike needs to be easy to adjust and must fit your size. There is no point getting your dream bike if it is too small or big for you.
Manoeuvrability of the cock pit (aerobars/head stem) is also important. Some bikes will sacrifice on this front for improved aerodynamics but it makes it very hard to adjust the set-up such as lifting or lowering the head stem, or raising or widening/narrowing the bars.
The same can be said of the seat post and how easy it is to raise and lower.
If you want to resell the bike at a later stage the ability to adjust the set up may also be important.
A Triathlon bike will offer many advantages in aerodynamics with companies vying to reduce drag by hiding brake callipers and cables. While this may offer some advantages the challenge often comes when trying to service or repair the bike where the hidden components make access difficult.
While there are a range of options for gearing, the one thing that advances in technology have provided is electronic gearing. For me this is a must. The ability to change gears easily on the aerobars or the hoods is vital. Those that move to electronic gearing will immediately notice how much more often they change gears. This is vital for staying within a cadence range and not grinding away too much on the climbs.
While on a road bike electronic gears are nice they are not as important as a on a TT bike where you need to be able to change gears from different positions.
Cost sometimes is indicative of the brand but between brands it is mostly related to the componentry or the type of carbon they use. The more expense typically means a lighter bike. A lighter bikie may be an advantage on a hilly course but there are not too many hilly courses we race over.
Then we have the added extras, aero wheels and power meters that are becoming common place. They will always be cheaper as a part of a complete bike but it again comes down to need.- which is what should drive all of your questions when buying a new TT machine.
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