New bike and racing in 2 weeks
Need advice: I ordered a Trek Speed Concept back in February. Through no fault of the LBS, I just got my hands on it Wednesday night. It's great, but it is radically different from what I've been riding (a Felt F3 with clip on aero bars). Also, I have my first A race in two weeks: a hilly Rev3 in Knoxville.
I rode for the first time on Saturday, and it felt awful. It was supposed to be my final RR Ride, but I quickly dropped that plan and spent 4 hours getting the fit dialed, stopping at the LBS to help get adjustments, learning the bike etc. it turned out to be ok, but I realized that this is a huge change.
Today I just rode 75 minutes, tweaking my position, and otherwise just getting comfortable. I think my plan is to spend at least every other day on the bike between now and race day trying to get used to the new bike. I also have a power meter on this, but haven't learned the ins and outs yet. So iI plan to race by HR instead of power.
Any advice, hacks, tricks you can suggest for getting ready to race on a new bike in 14 days?
I rode for the first time on Saturday, and it felt awful. It was supposed to be my final RR Ride, but I quickly dropped that plan and spent 4 hours getting the fit dialed, stopping at the LBS to help get adjustments, learning the bike etc. it turned out to be ok, but I realized that this is a huge change.
Today I just rode 75 minutes, tweaking my position, and otherwise just getting comfortable. I think my plan is to spend at least every other day on the bike between now and race day trying to get used to the new bike. I also have a power meter on this, but haven't learned the ins and outs yet. So iI plan to race by HR instead of power.
Any advice, hacks, tricks you can suggest for getting ready to race on a new bike in 14 days?
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Ride your new bike in the HIM. It will be faster, and it's the ideal place to learn what final tweaks and fine tuning is needed.
As to "adjusting" between now and then, Bob is spot on, getting the fit as close to perfect as possible what you should be doing. You might want to start carrying the needed allen wrenches with you on you rides so you can fiddle with things "on the fly", after you get the big picture from the LBS about how to make adjustments. Just move things by 1-2 mm, not 1-2 cm at a time.
My faith in humanity was greatly improved yesterday while riding. As you suggested, I brought my tools with me and stopped every little bit to adjust and to try minor differences. Everytime I stopped, it seemed like another rider would happen by, slow down, and offer assistance. Of only I could ask them to give me a shot of confidence.
Fit was better at the end of yesterday. I feel like I'm sliding forward on the saddle, and can't quite get that adjustment right. Also worried I have the wrong saddle. Will stop by the LBS tomorrow and get them to look and/or put on a different saddle.
You're right on the personality, too. This bike feels very different from my Felt. If I had to describe it, I'd say it's slippery (in a good way). But I'm also amazed at how it feels like every once of force I put into the pedals transfers into acceleration. Great power transfer.
Matt
Which saddle are you using? Is it the Bontrager Hilo RXL?
Bob:
I have the Fizik Arione Tri 2.
Have tilted it up already, but will do it again tonight. I'm pretty close to level. I tend to sit pretty far back on the saddle, and on this one I feel like I'm on the nose of the saddle, so I keep pushing myself back.
I might swap it out for a different saddle, but not sure what to try. Think I should wait and get more miles in it first?
Matt
I'm not familiar with that particular saddle, but I know with the ISM Adamo saddles that sitting up towards the nose is normal/ideal. I have an ISM Adamo and I feel the best wayyyy out on the nose....this also moves your hips forward, opening up your hip angle = more power/less fetal position-ish.
Check the distance from the saddle nose to the bar ends on both. Also measure the drop between the saddle and the armrests. You may find 1-2 cm longer and lower on the SC compared to your F3.
Good luck and let us know how the race goes.
I had a Fizik Arione...not a tri, I think...back in the day. Switched it for a Cobb V-Flow (?) when I experienced some prolonged numbness in an area that you do NOT want numb
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x 2 Bob. Fizik saddles not good for me either. Lots of positive comments on Cobb and ISM Adamo. I think (and I'm a urologist, bear in mind), that if you are going to be "sitting" with your pelvis tilted forward, that you really NEED a cutout for the parts to which Coach R refers (crus of penis/bulb of urethra). Essentially, you want your ischial tuberosities "perched" with some room in between for important stuff to maintain blood flow and not have nerves being crushed for hours.
I'm not a saddle/bike expert like Bob, but I have ridden enough and understand the anatomy of the taint better than most, to say fairly confidently that most men will be more comfortable in aero position on a split nose saddle (again, not pushing any brand...just split nose variety). The width of that split that allows "comfort" can be variable from one guy to the next, and thus trial and error will be inevitable. I would never ride a TT bike (for very long that is) on a saddle that is not split-nosed. I know lots of guys don't agree with this and don't have any problem (or ignore it) on a traditional nosed saddle, but I don't understand that from an anatomy standpoint. Maybe they microshift from side to side frequently? Interestingly, I have more numbness on my road bike (which I much prefer to the tri bike for handling reasons, fun-ness, etc.) than on my tri bike. I want to try a split nose on my road bike someday....I'll bet I never look back.
My $0.02.
Good stuff here. So far I am not impressed with the Fizik saddle. I've tried the Bontrager Hilo (standard on the SC) and didn't like it, either. I chose the Fizik thinking that I might get a better re-sale value on it if I don't like it. Think I'll be ordering an Adamo and try that out. Wonder if I can find a Cobb as well...
Isn't there a web company out there that you can pay a deposit, they send you several to try out, and you keep the one you like and return the others?
Prologue=more padding
Attack=less padding
I ride the attack on my trainer, prologue on my racer. Someday I'll probably switch them around because I need the padding more on my trainer.
I have an Adamo Breakaway on my TTbike. Think the padding is between Prologue and Attack
I've had an Adamo Attack on my TT bike now since Dec. After the OS inside, and now a number of long (4+ hours) rides outside, I can say I have eliminated the perineal pressure problems I was having - not numbness, but skin cysts from excess rubbing. I haven;t tried other saddles, so can't compare. The Attack has a very deep, wide, and long depression aft of the split nose and that's what seems to be its advantage for me.
I recently switched to an Adamo Time Trial and love it - has solved any/all numbness issues, including multi-hour rides