Difference Between a Triathlon bike and a Time Trial Bike?
Posted by Ray Gill
Filed under Triathlon Answers
Ok, I understand the fundamental difference between a Road bike and a Tri Bike, but where on earth do ITT bikes fit into the picture?
Why a steeper seat tube?
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Silver… is right. The bikes are pretty much the same. The steep angle is needed because of the intended riding position. It pushes you a little forward relieving the angle between your torso and legs when you’re so low on the areo bars. Most of these bikes have a saddle with a wider nose as well because of the tendency to ride on the front of the saddle.
tri bikes have a smoother paint surface so puke and salt water don’t stick and corrode the frame
tri bikes also have a steeper seat angle
tri bikes will be a bit more comfy for longer rides. tri races will be easily 2 hours or more on the bike, a tt stage is much shorter, so it is faster, but less comfortable
bikingthings
They’re the same thing, more or less.
Steeper seat tube relaxes the angle between your legs and torso a bit, i.e., gets your knees out of your chest. Its tough to generate horsepower in an aggressively aero position without a little help from the seat tube.
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Note to Kemp: Best aerodynamics is achieved with flat back, elbows in tight, forearms 15° up (on the aerobars). IMHO, Floyd Landis had the best aero in the peloton. Trouble is, that position isn’t the best for comfort and control, and you need to have pretty flexible hammies to generate horsepower in the flat back position. Not everyone can do it.
I also read an article describing the difference between the angled aero bars and the straight bars. Seems the bars that angle up are more time trial focused slash short distance races where the athlete tends to push harder thereby using the leverage of the angle to torque against. The straighter bars maybe more useful for the long distance where a more sustained or relaxed upper body is condusive. Personally, I never get all that relaxed at any distance and more focused on the fatigue of my butt!