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Roadie v Tri Bike Questions

Joseph LombardiJoseph Lombardi
in General Training Discussions

 Perhaps I may intuitively already know the answer to these questions...and maybe not...but they are on my mind...so thought I would put them to the team for clariification.

This month has been a swag month prior to beginning OS in November.  I swapped my PowerTap onto my Road Bike and A.) Road my road bike for the first time since Hell of Hunterdon (March) and B.) Road with Power on my Road Bike for the first time.....

First comment - wow what a pleasure to ride...I forgot how nice the roadie ride is compared to my Tri bike...........I bombed around for a couple of ABP hours...hooking up with some Roadie Riders along the way for some segments...generally just riding.....

Questions:

a.) Finished off the 2 hours at 200W NP...my percieved effort was Z3 which on my Tri Bike (normal ABP ride) would have yielded an avg. NP of 180-185NP...Why are watts easier to generate on the Road bike?

b.) Not sure if this can be answered without seeing the bike...gut maybe there is a general answer related to geometry....Why would I find it so much easier/smooth/natural...to stand up out of the saddle and "run" uphill on my RoadBike v. TriBike? Geometry or Fit/Setup/Position related?

c.) Trying to decided wether to stick with the RoadBike in OS....I know the general answer is...it doesn't really matter....but I am interested in what you are choosing to do? One consideration is that I will probably try to do some commuting to work/riding outside on weekend throughout the fall /winter when possible...and will  probablly do this on my roadbike...are their any issues to doing OS on Roadbike?

 

Thanks for feedback 

 

 

Comments

  • Dino SartiDino Sarti

    It is my experience and I am told that most people can make more power on a road frame. I think the answer to both A and B is the seat angle and the top tube. A TT bike is designed to put you forward and down low.  On a road bike a more slack seat angle provides for a more open hip angle. This will generally allow your legs to produce more power. The flip side is that you are less aero and need the greater power. You also sit up higher opening the chest and allowing easier breathing.  I think about running. How fast would you run bent at the waist with a flat back?  Coach P will tell you to "run tall with a slight lean".  Sounds like a road set up. 



    When you stand on a hill you are further back behind the BB and it just feels better, but you are not supposed to be standing on a TT bike anyway.



    I did my last OS on my roadie and will again this year. It is just more fun and you will post better numbers those will translate to your TT bike whe. You move in the spring. Plus, I tend to spend a lot more time in the hills.



    I am curious about what others may say...

  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

     I finally got power for my road bike this year ... So I'll be doing OS on it. I was initially concerned that the different position on the road bike would be mean I would be training less tri specific muscles. But then I realised, even though I had been doing the OS on a trainer on my TT bike, I was sitting up for my work intervals anyway, so already had the "open hip angle". Also makes it easier when I do go outside in the winter, fenders on my road bike, etc.

    Aero position reduces ability to generate power, as less gLutes involved, but more than made up by reduced wind resistence, so faster with fewer watts.

  • CarlCarl

     Joseph-

    I just purchased my first road bike ever and it is made to be very aero and actually weighs less then my P3.  

    I am going to use my road bike for my OS which starts in Jan.  I rode it for the first time this past week and did my VO work.  I could feel it in my hamstrings and Glutes for sure.  Actually developed a little lower back pain.  I will chalk that up to getting used to.

    I'm actually looking forward to hanging up the Tri bike for the winter.

  • Joseph LombardiJoseph Lombardi

     Thanks guys...as I'm sitting here I opened up the October Triathlete Magazine...and on page 74 is an article discussing this...you both could have written the article...

     

  • benvanmarckebenvanmarcke
    Interesting question since I've always experienced the opposite when it comes to power. When I swap my Merckx 3XM roadie for my P2 my power always goes up. I'm more comfortable on the P2, I have more power across the entire MMP chart > 1 minute, i recover better. I simply can not reproduce my FTP results from the P2 on the merckx. The TT bike always gives me approx 5% more power. I plan on doing the OS on my TT bike, because I'll have to do most of my riding indoors during the winter and am still planning to do IM Cali in March. So I'd like to make sure to be comfortable riding in aero, so think using the TT bike is better.
  • mgraffeomgraffeo
    The hip angle stuff above is pretty spot on. To me there's one more factor, which is that I just plain really enjoy riding my road bike, having lots of hand positions, more easily moving from sitting to standing to back of the saddle climbing, etc. Just more fun to be on as an all-around bike. My tri bike means business, race is coming, 'it's on' mentality. So I use the road bike all winter.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

     I'm in Mike's camp: 

    • Tri bike is the high and tight -- all business
    • Road bike is the mullet -- business in the front, party in the rear 

     

     

  • novaavantnovaavant
    X3 here, love my road bike. My TT bike gathers dust all winter into spring.
  • John StarkJohn Stark

     Nuff sed!

  • novaavantnovaavant
    Damn John that's a sweet ride!! Are the Zipps tubs or clinchers? If they're the clinchers how do you like 'em.
  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Very slick, John! IS that a Madone? Which model? I rock a Mad-one as well....

  • John StarkJohn Stark

    Thanks.

    Built it up in July 2011.  Madone 5.2, all Ultegra, Zipp 404 Firecrest with PT (Zipp's built by Wheelbuilder).  Stoopid light.

    Unfortunately, I haven't ridden it much this year.  But that is changing.  :-)  Will be in that saddle alot starting beginning of November.

    Now back to the original thread in progress.  

     

  • John WithrowJohn Withrow

    Stark-- that is a sweeeeeeet looking ride!



    So back to the original thread: I guess I'm the only one in da Haus who would rather be on my tri bike. I did my first OS on my road bike and after the OS, I could never quite get my power to where it was in the OS and then drifted lower all summer. My 2nd OS, I spent the whole thing on my tri-bike to just change it up and see how it would go. Got my tri bike power to about where my road bike power was the yr before, and it continued to go up (albeit just a little bit) throughout the summer. I'm not attributing this to using the tri bike all yr. I really just think it's now having 2 full yrs of real training in my legs. But now I have logged thousands and thousands of miles and uncountable hours on my tri bike and I am so used to that position that being on a road bike just feels "weird". So I'm still keeping my road bike for those special occasion group rides that require it, but if I got rid of it, I surely wouldn't miss it.

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]
    @John - you're not the only one. I feel the same - prefer my tri bike and ride it all year.
  • manconamancona
    @john - I'm with you. when I'm solo, or on the trainer, or in race prep I'm on a TT bike and that is probably 85% of my rides. When i'm out riding with others I ride the road bike. I love my road bike, just feel that I work harder (and the work is more specific) on the TT bike so I use it more.
  • Al TruscottAl Truscott
    Posted By John Stark on 08 Oct 2012 05:27 PM 
    ... But that is changing.  :-)  Will be in that saddle alot starting beginning of November.

     

    Getting ready for RAW, right?

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