Question Should triathletes be allowed on bikes?

[cyclingwombat]

Haha! Too true!

After another perusal of Slowtwitch I've reached the following conclusion.

Standard Logic:

Not sure? --> Ask someone who knows --> Try what is suggested --> Success!

Beginner Tri Geek Logic:

Not Sure? --> Try Anyway --> f$%k up --> Start thread wondering where you went wrong on Slowtwitch

You left out, "open a cautionary tale thread offering it as advice to all from an expert on the topic."

 

[ElChingon]

I was actually assuming it was some kind of actual bike... one wheel does not equal a bike! Especially if its suspended.

 

[gustienordic]

I'm planning for a cycling vacation to France next spring. The 15 day trip will have 12 days of tough climbing on most of the notorious legs on the Alps (alpe d'huez inclusive, with descend) plus Mt Vientoux (without descend).

I've only owned and rode Tri bikes for the last 6 years and is currently riding a Trek SC9. I've never trained on a road bike before. I tried out a few road bikes (Trek Madone 6 and Obea Orca among others) but they felt strange with the shallow seat tube angle probably because I'm too used to riding 81degree seat tube angle for the last 6 years. I'm not a strong climber and my non-drafting split for 90km and 180km are about 2:45 and 6:00 respectively.

Looking at the climb profile of the trip, it does look rather intimidating. The group I'll be riding with will not exceed 12 cyclist including the pro guide.

I'm considering the following 2 options :

1. Change out my crank/cassette on my tri bike to 50/34 and 12/28, switch my 808 for a 303, and bite the bullet with my SC9.

or

2. Get a road bike and hope that I'll adjust to the 76 degree seat tube angle sufficiently for the trip.

What option will you recommend and why?



This post Would LOVE to see this guy going up climbs using his SC9 I love the fact that his first roadbike will be a Madone 6. Yikes.

 

[BroDeal]

I'm planning for a cycling vacation to France next spring. The 15 day trip will have 12 days of tough climbing on most of the notorious legs on the Alps (alpe d'huez inclusive, with descend) plus Mt Vientoux (without descend).

I've only owned and rode Tri bikes for the last 6 years and is currently riding a Trek SC9. I've never trained on a road bike before. I tried out a few road bikes (Trek Madone 6 and Obea Orca among others) but they felt strange with the shallow seat tube angle probably because I'm too used to riding 81degree seat tube angle for the last 6 years. I'm not a strong climber and my non-drafting split for 90km and 180km are about 2:45 and 6:00 respectively.

Looking at the climb profile of the trip, it does look rather intimidating. The group I'll be riding with will not exceed 12 cyclist including the pro guide.

I'm considering the following 2 options :

1. Change out my crank/cassette on my tri bike to 50/34 and 12/28, switch my 808 for a 303, and bite the bullet with my SC9.

or

2. Get a road bike and hope that I'll adjust to the 76 degree seat tube angle sufficiently for the trip.

What option will you recommend and why?



This post Would LOVE to see this guy going up climbs using his SC9 I love the fact that his first roadbike will be a Madone 6. Yikes.

303s would not be my choice for touring in the mountains...but, hey, they'll look good and that is what is really important, isn't it?

This dude is worried that he cannot adjust to a shallower seat angle in eight or nine months?

 

[Elagabalus]

Brodeal, just for you

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/S..._bike_and_not_get_it_in_your_shoes._P4117818/

And on such an epic day too! It's a sign, man ...

 

[42x16ss]

I'm planning for a cycling vacation to France next spring. The 15 day trip will have 12 days of tough climbing on most of the notorious legs on the Alps (alpe d'huez inclusive, with descend) plus Mt Vientoux (without descend).

I've only owned and rode Tri bikes for the last 6 years and is currently riding a Trek SC9. I've never trained on a road bike before. I tried out a few road bikes (Trek Madone 6 and Obea Orca among others) but they felt strange with the shallow seat tube angle probably because I'm too used to riding 81degree seat tube angle for the last 6 years. I'm not a strong climber and my non-drafting split for 90km and 180km are about 2:45 and 6:00 respectively.

Looking at the climb profile of the trip, it does look rather intimidating. The group I'll be riding with will not exceed 12 cyclist including the pro guide.

I'm considering the following 2 options :

1. Change out my crank/cassette on my tri bike to 50/34 and 12/28, switch my 808 for a 303, and bite the bullet with my SC9.

or

2. Get a road bike and hope that I'll adjust to the 76 degree seat tube angle sufficiently for the trip.

What option will you recommend and why?



This post Would LOVE to see this guy going up climbs using his SC9 I love the fact that his first roadbike will be a Madone 6. Yikes.

I struggled to get past the part where his PB for 90km is just over 30kmh - on an SC9 with Zipp 808's!

Only a tri geek would consider a TT bike with 303's is suitable for an alpine tour

 

[BroDeal]

Brodeal, just for you

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/S..._bike_and_not_get_it_in_your_shoes._P4117818/

And on such an epic day too! It's a sign, man ...

Questions about p!ssing in your shoes seem to come up at least once a month there. They really should make a sticky thread.

 

[ElChingon]

Questions about p!ssing in your shoes seems to come up at least once a month there. They really should make a sticky thread.

Literally

 

[mewmewmew13]

303s would not be my choice for touring in the mountains...but, hey, they'll look good and that is what is really important, isn't it?

This dude is worried that he cannot adjust to a shallower seat angle in eight or nine months?

He needs to go to the beach.

 

[hiero2]

I aspire to be considered a triathelete.

I still view myself as a swimmer who occasionally rides a bike and runs some in a race because open water pure-swimming races aren't exactly easy to find.

I didn't realize there was this cyclist elitism toward others riding bikes while doing other sports.

I guess it makes sense though. I enjoy the look on people's faces when the overweight, middle aged guy is one of the first few out of the swim leg on a tri. I imagine they get an equal struggle seeing me huffing and puffing to pull my big gut up an incline on the bike or waddle through the run leg.

I was reading the thread for giggles - getting plenty! Tri-folk: usually more intelligent or at least better educated than your average bike racer, and more into self-denial type of work ethic, which bleeds over into their sport.

But cycling was never their 1st sport, cycling is always a 2nd or 3rd sport for them. Whoever described bikes as just expensive shoes for tri-folk got it right! They are usually not phys ed pros, but educated and scientific, as I said, so they like to find the best "training techniques". And they get techy about it - hence the concern about chain wear and stop lights!

What you get is an incredibly strong cyclist who is usually a total doofus when it comes to the mechanical/ technical side of cycling. Kinda like most cycling newbs, but because they are so strong, long-time cycling racers of the lower ranks (cat 3-4 fodder) tend to really hate them. And they tend to use the clip-on bars, even in a pack, making more experienced pack riders understandably nervous about safety. I wouldn't ever ride behind one when they started that.

At least, those were my observations from years ago when I was racing. It looks like it hasn't changed much!

Funny thread!

 

[42x16ss]

Had a bit of a chuckle at this one

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Louder_wind_%3D_less_aero_P4120005/

 

[BroDeal]

Had a bit of a chuckle at this one

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Louder_wind_%3D_less_aero_P4120005/

One of the valuable things about Slowtwitch is that it is chock full of aero experts who can determine aero efficiency with a glance or two at a photo. They will even calculate the extra grams of drag caused by an exposed cable. Pro cycling teams need to mine this resource. Why spend time on expensive wind tunnel testing when a couple of quick pics shot with an iPhone can be analyzed by the gurus at Slowtwitch? This could revolutionize pro cycling. No longer will aero analysis be reserved for the big budget teams. Marginal gains for everyone.

 

[CobbleStoner]

Had a bit of a chuckle at this one

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Louder_wind_%3D_less_aero_P4120005/

how can anybody be surprised of ridicule after reading posts like this, do they read their own posts? high-larious, ear plugs - because getting rid of that pesky wind noise is much better than being aware of your surroundings... crash

 

[hiero2]

One of the valuable things about Slowtwitch is that it is chock full of aero experts who can determine aero efficiency with a glance or two at a photo. They will even calculate the extra grams of drag caused by an exposed cable. Pro cycling teams need to mine this resource. Why spend time on expensive wind tunnel testing when a couple of quick pics shot with an iPhone can be analyzed by the gurus at Slowtwitch? This could revolutionize pro cycling. No longer will aero analysis be reserved for the big budget teams. Marginal gains for everyone.

ROFLMAO! Will I get penalized on the board if I use too many laughing icons? MORE IMPORTANT, will it slow me down on the bike?



Wait, wait - let me catch my breath ---

 

[Ripper]

Case in point:

The Men's Olympic Triathlon hit a speed bump today........

Canada's Whitfield crashes out.

Video seems to show that a speed bump (or hump) caused the crash.

I just shook my head. Someone at work noted it was a tough day for Simon and asked me how I felt about it. All I could say is it is pretty sad when one takes one's self out of a race. Props to Simon's fitness, but that has to be one of the most avoidable 'self-crashouts' I've ever seen.

 

[120mmStem]

I just shook my head. Someone at work noted it was a tough day for Simon and asked me how I felt about it. All I could say is it is pretty sad when one takes one's self out of a race. Props to Simon's fitness, but that has to be one of the most avoidable 'self-crashouts' I've ever seen.

Being Canadian I was pulling for Simon to do well in London. When I heard he had crashed out I was surprised. I was even more surprised when I saw the video footage. A crash like that should never happen, ever, for anyone. He should be a bit embarrassed. Sorry but it's the truth.

 

[hiero2]

I just shook my head. Someone at work noted it was a tough day for Simon and asked me how I felt about it. All I could say is it is pretty sad when one takes one's self out of a race. Props to Simon's fitness, but that has to be one of the most avoidable 'self-crashouts' I've ever seen.

Can you link to the vid?

Ooops, nvm - it is on the same page at the Sun. Didn't see it.

Actually, the Sun vid doesn't really show anything. Whatever - it's a pity, but we all make dumb mistakes sometimes. At the transfer, those guys are always trying to do 5 things at once, trying to shave time.

 

[hiero2]

+1.

Most of the disdain for Triathletes by road racers is out of sheer ignorance. Triathletes have to find the time to swim and run as well as bike. It's no surprise they lack some road or race sense - most of them have jobs and/or families like anyone else.

A triathlete held the TT records around a local crit circuit near where I live. The clubbies learned real quick that not all Triathletes were tri hard dorks in fluro.

This gave me a laugh and a half! Disagree! Most of the disdain is out of knowledge! Namely, one's first experience of having a tri-person on the club ride! You are right, it is no surprise that they lack road sense, but not because they have jobs. Since most cyclists have jobs, if we didn't have any sense because of it, we'd ALL be roadkill!

Tri-folk are monster strong because of all the workouts they do, and because the tri-sport is very quickly and very completely very selective for people who have excellent aerobic capacity. And, the riding they do is time trials. So, seeing them successful in the local club TT events was never unusual in my experience.

Oh - and one other reason lots of cyclists disdain them - jealousy. I know this is the "dark side", but true. Any time a new rider shows up who can beat you 9 times out of ten you're gonna see jealousy. Then when they also turn out to be fairly ignorant of your beloved sport, well, the end result should be obvious.

 

[ElChingon]

They are two different animals, sure they're (Tri Geeks) strong on the flats and even on climbs but once the road gets technical or even a long descent and well they're out the door so to speak. Yes, there are some that can hang with the roadies but not many. We won't go into the group riding in tight quarters. I give them props for going out alone into the abis and hammer it out.

 

[Boeing]

One of the valuable things about Slowtwitch is that it is chock full of aero experts who can determine aero efficiency with a glance or two at a photo. They will even calculate the extra grams of drag caused by an exposed cable. Pro cycling teams need to mine this resource. Why spend time on expensive wind tunnel testing when a couple of quick pics shot with an iPhone can be analyzed by the gurus at Slowtwitch? This could revolutionize pro cycling. No longer will aero analysis be reserved for the big budget teams. Marginal gains for everyone.

word and all the while trying to convince you that their fitness is a skill set

 

[42x16ss]

They are two different animals, sure they're (Tri Geeks) strong on the flats and even on climbs but once the road gets technical or even a long descent and well they're out the door so to speak. Yes, there are some that can hang with the roadies but not many. We won't go into the group riding in tight quarters. I give them props for going out alone into the abis and hammer it out.

Bingo. Any tri guys who want to know why they get rubbished at times by cyclists need to go to their local cycling club and ride a few criteriums with guys of similar fitness. Most wouldn't know what they are getting into (if they remember to remove their beloved aerobars )

 

[Boeing]

Dear Tri Guy, I know you are fit and that is awesome. Please train on a bicycle and race in your mouse trap and toy helmet however

thank you

bottom line for me is I dont care how fit you are, train every day with your hands a little closer to brakes for f sakes

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Sweet. Ironman NYC is now $1200. Why can't we get bike races with $1200 entry fees? Cycling is being outdone by a bunch of bucket listers.

Wait, what?!? $1200 is the entry fee? Are you f**king serious?

 

[BroDeal]

Wait, what?!? $1200 is the entry fee? Are you f**king serious?

The entry fee went from $895 to $1200. Registration was then stopped and it looks like the WTC is killing the event.

Seven C-notes is basically the price to play these days. NYIM was a bit special at $895 but if trends continue then $1000 will be the entry price across the board. People already pay double the fee for a "community slot."

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

The entry fee went from $895 to $1200. Registration was then stopped and it looks like the WTC is killing the event.

Seven C-notes is basically the price to play these days. NYIM was a bit special at $895 but if trends continue then $1000 will be the entry price across the board. People already pay double the fee for a "community slot."

That is absolutely insane. I've never heard of entry fees like that. For some reason, I thought Ironman was $500, and I thought that was ridiculously steep.

$1200 for entry into a one-day race. WTF.