Convert Road Bike To Tri Bike
Quick context - I'm a newcomer to triathlons....but have totally loved the experience & look forward to doing more. I'm signed up for HIM Austin (October) & HIM Oceanside (March '14). I ride a Felt F85 (specs here - http://alturl.com/c5gj6 ) and while I think a good fitting is in order I really like the feel of the bike. I've read over and over and over on this site that at tri bike is faster, though I'm having a tough time justifying the purchase of another bike right now (though I'd love to get a carbon tri bike!).
That being said I'm thinking the best thing for me (& my marriage 
) is to hold off on a new purchase & "convert" (not sure if that's the right word) my ride to a more tri-bike set up. I read the EN Bike Fit e-book & feel good about the content. Here are my questions:
(1) Is it possible to make the necessary adjustments for under $500? If not, how far off am I? I don't want to go cheap...but I also am not sure I need the platinum version either. I also figured I'd get a proper fitting when I make these purchases - I think that's a couple hundred bucks on top of that figure.
(2) It looks like the s-bend design areobars are the preferred style (at least according to the Bike Fit book). Anybody have any hot sports opinions on brand/model? I can't imagine all are created equal? The guy at the local bike shop showed me some where the pads fold up when not in use to provide better access to the handle bars. That seemed like a good idea, but what do I know?
(3) Seat post adjustments - Critical? Helpful? Not needed? There wasn't much mentioned in the Bike Fit book about this though I've heard from others that this is important.
(4) Anything else I should be asking that I'm not asking?
Thanks in advance.
- David
Comments
my 2¢, based on my own experience and countless other folks I've known. Just buy a $100 or less set of aerobars and slap/em on your bike, then do the race. One of two things is going to happen ... you'll either find out triathlon is not for you (doubtful), or you'll fall in love with the sport and become obsessed (probable). You'll want to then get the proper equipment. To me, there's no sense in spending significant $ ($500 ish) for a short term jury-rigged solution. Especially when you can get a perfectly fine used (or even new) triathlon specific (time trial) bike for < $1500. Start saving now to get it next year, or for Christmas if you've got some wealthy friends and family whom you'll start hinting to about contributing to your desired present after the Austin race.
I did my first year (five triathlons) with a set of $60 Performance Bike aerobars on a road bike, with terrible (slack) geometry and 90's style mountain bike brakes. The next April, I got fitted for a TT bike, which I still have now 14 years later. One of the best investments I ever made, considering what I've done with it, or, more precisely, what its done for me.
Having said that, I was in a similar situation as you where I could not afford/justify the $$$$ to get a tri bike at the time. What I had to work with was a Cannondale Synapse which I added clippon aerobars and a different seatpost. I left the brakes and shifters alone. I rode it that way for 3 seasons including my first IM at Lake Placid in 2011.
The aerobars were Profile Design AirStryke with the flip-up pads (used zip ties to keep them down permanently). My choice was based on the bars with the least amount of rise so I could have a lower position. I also like the angled bar ends - too many years of construction make S-bend grips impossible to stay on for long.
The other thing I did was to get a Profile Designs Fast-Forward seat post to take some of the angle off the seat tube.
Not a great setup but I had a good fit (TTBikeFit.com) and it was all I could afford. I was also lucky that the geometry of the Cannondale I had was suitable for my body dimensions. Getting the fit dialed in with Todd made it all come together.
I would not get a fit I'm sure you can figure it out save your cash.
You can certainly get a fit on a road bike that will make you more aero - but as others have mentioned, the geometries are different between the two types of bikes. I would say that IF you are going to be hanging onto that roadie (with clip on aeros) for a while, it's probably worth the $200 or $300 for a good fit, because you'll be using it for at least a few years. However, if you are thinking you may, in relatively short order, be getting a TT bike, then the value of that $200-$300 becomes a bit less.
This past winter I had a fitting on my road bike from TT Bike Fit in RI, and during that fitting, I had the opportunity to sit on the fit machine while he transitioned it (while I was still pedaling!) from the geometry of my road bike to the geometry of a tri bike. Very unique experience (he has a patent on the machine) - but let me tell you, as it was moving there was a tipping point where I really felt like I was totally on top of the bike - where I felt like power was generated not by pushing down (as with a roadie), but rather down and behind me. So, no matter what you do with seat position and dropping the handlebars, you'll never get a roadie to feel like that.
Finally, even with a road bike that has been 'optimized' for aero, because of the geometry difference, the hips are much more closed when on the bars - such that trying to generate anything more than about 70-75% FTP is difficult in aero for any length of time. So it becomes a balance - aero with less power, or non aero (sitting more upright) with more power.
You can certainly do IM's with a road bike - I've done two now. No one looks at you funny as it's all about the work you put into getting faster anyway. Plus, it makes you easier to identify in the myriad of lost and found pictures