Road bike/tri bike use during training

Peter Beauregard

Coaches.........I understand the specificity of triathlon training an to get every minute out of the workout that you are doing because of time constraints. (Just one of the reasons I have joined Team EN.). While I love riding in the aerobars on my tri bike, I love my road bike just as much, especially when it's safe to do so in the winter time up here in the Northeast. Any drawback to jumping on my road bike every now and again? My A race is IMLP, and I probably don't want to do many key bike workouts on a road bike, but should I just make sure that I'm on the tri bike 100 percent of the time 10-12 weeks before Lake Placid?

My bike position on both bikes are fairly aggressive, but of course different on each.

Thanks again for the time and advice.

-Pete

Scott Alexander

Do whatever it takes you to 1) make you happy, 2) be safe (road bikes better for climbing and descending) and 3) allow you hit your workout goals. I'd say in that order too!

I use my road bike almost extensively when I don't have a tri on the schedule. And even go back-and-forth between road and tri/TT bike in-season when going to hilly climbing areas or on trips.
Most around here will tell you it only takes about six weeks before a race to get used to aero position. I only move to tri/TT bike when it's 6-8 weeks from a race, even for an ironman.

Dino Sarti

I will ride a road bike pretty much exclusively all winter and even during midseason breaks. I will switch to a TT bike 6-8 weeks before a race. Then my focus is establishing a new TT specific FTP and getting comfortable in the bars.

Mark Roberts

I would ride my road bike more, but I just hate swapping my Quarq!

MattAaronson

You will get a lot of different viewpoints on this. Search for old threads where there are some rich discussions on pros/cons. Personally I prefer to "train how I race" which means starting with the OS I do all my workouts on my tri bike, including all my intervals and hard stuff in the aerobars.

Peter Beauregard

Thanks all for the quick replies, information, suggestions, and experience.

-Pete

John Stark

I boogered my IMAZ bike a bit a couple of years ago by not riding my tri bike more before race day.  Was not comfortable on it and had issues during the race.

Whatever bike you want to ride prior to IM training, ride it.  But at least 12 weeks out from the race be exclusive on your tri bike.  As Matt stated . . . train how you will race.

My .02.

John

GMAN 19030

I can switch between the two without much notice. All my trainer riding is done on my road bike. 95% of my outdoor riding is on my tri bike.

Dave Tallo

This year, I rode my road bike exclusively in the OS, but kept in the drops 100% of the time - this, inspired by a Matt Ancona post pointing out near-identical hip angles he was getting between riding his roadie in the drops and his tri bike in aero position.

Anyhow, under this approach, I found the transition to riding aero on the tribike VERY easy this time around. Aside from the usual initial neck and back discomfort, I was perfectly fine staying low immediately on weekend rides, where this was historically a month-long graduated transition.

John Withrow

I "prefer" my tri bike so I do almost all of my riding on it yr round, except for about 6-8 weeks in the spring when I am on my road bike exclusively to do some actual bike races. Then it's back to my tri bike for the remainder of the yr. So I agree with the others. Use which ever one you like. but preferably be on your tri bike almost exclusively for the last 8-12 weeks of IM specific training before your race.

[Deleted User]

I have my tri bike on the trainer most of the time for when the weather is at its worst and for the out season. I ride my road bike most of the time. For me whats important is that i keep them geared the same. Im very comfortable in aero so i only take my tri bike out a few times before a race.