Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?

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2008-05-27 10:20 AM

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Subject: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?
Here's the story, I have completed my first tri, an Xterra offroad one and used my only bike, a mt. bike. I have two more scheduled for this year, both road courses. I do not have enough bank to buy a second bike right now. However, that has not stopped me from shopping, and two diffrent LBS's have had the recomendation of buying a road bike and putting aero bars on it as my next bike. They have given two main reasons, the first being the semi-typical more adaptable and acceptance in group rides and the second being with the very hilly area we live in, that the geometry of the road bike will be much better suited for the type of riding I will be doing on a regular basis. Now this second reason makes a lot of sense to me so I have been building my bike acquisition plan on this concept. Now back to this season. So I will be riding two road course tris on a mt bike. I have a couple of extra wheelsets lying around, so one will have slicks, I am going to drop the granny chainring and go with 32 -46 up front. using a slightly older ultegra cassette which I think is 11-32 on the wheelset with the slicks.

Now here is the "weird" portion. I am thinking about putting aerobars on the mtn bike. I am going to focus on getting ready for the tri's so won't be doing any trail riding until the fall, and the bars can then go onto the hopefully winter purchased road bike. Does this seem like an absurd idea, or one that will help me get the most out of the bike that is available to me? By the way, I plan to lock out the front shock and bring the seat back a bit to compensate for getting the riding position too far forward.

2008-05-27 11:42 AM
in reply to: #1425765

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Subject: RE: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?

Is it feasible, sure.

Is it optimal, nope.

If it's what works though, go for it. 

2008-05-27 11:44 AM
in reply to: #1425765

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Master
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Subject: RE: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?

If it's comfortable, works for you, safe and makes you go faster I say why not. Just be prepared to get some wierd looks and snide remarks from those less enlightened gear heads and triathletes. On the othe hand it'll be a great ice braker while you set up your transition area during you next races.

David

2008-05-27 11:57 AM
in reply to: #1425765

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Subject: RE: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?

Set up my wifes old MTB that way... aerobars and all.  She wanted to try a tri and she is not a regular cyclist but had her old MTB/commuter from college.  I have a lot of spare parts lying around so I set her MTB up with slicks and aerobars.  She has no shame and doesn't even realize how ugly the bike looks :-)

The moral of the story is that it works just fine as long your expectations are matched accordingly. 

2008-05-27 11:59 AM
in reply to: #1425765

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?

Hey, the first 6 years of triathlons for me was on a 1998 Specialized Stumpjumper and yes....I put aerobars on them (and racing slicks).

HOWEVER, I only did sprints and olympic distances so comfort wasn't really an issue. 

2008-05-27 12:04 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?
If it works for you, go for it. You'll get an odd glance or two, though.

2008-05-27 12:05 PM
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Subject: RE: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?

Are you planning on registering Fat-tire or AG?

Some tri's are sticklers for FT having >1.5" tires and no aero-bars. 

Now I did what you are mostly taking about a few years ago when I was starting out, this (below) was my 1st tri bike, lol!  AB were only temp as I got them on sale 50% off at the LBS to use on a planned RB that I bought later. I put them on the MTB as I was riding a lot on this bike at the time and it helped to get out of the wind.  I could never get the fit totally comfortable though and the bike was twitchy like a RB is.  For tires I went with Geax Evolutions that had a center bead and deep grooved chucks on the sides, but was ~1.9" wide and was sorta heavy.  I needed this for the sandy soil trails around here. 

At my 1st tri there was a guy I knew from our local bike Hash group that setup a Carbon HT with AB and skinny slicks for AG races then converted it back for trail riding, he was pretty fast on that thing. 

All I can say is that the typical MTB setup is going to be heavy but helps build great power for when you jump over to the RB! 


 

2008-05-27 12:05 PM
in reply to: #1426078

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?

 

KenyonTri - 2008-05-27 12:04 PM If it works for you, go for it. You'll get an odd glance or two, though.

 

As opposed to the odd glances from shaved legs?  

 

2008-05-27 12:11 PM
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Subject: RE: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?
Just put slicks on it, you can setup the bike with 85 PSI slicks and proper tubes from performancebike.com for less than $35 shipped. Take what you would have spent on aero bars and save it toward a tri bike.

BTW, If it's an Ultegra cassette I doubt it's any bigger than a 12-27.
2008-05-27 1:11 PM
in reply to: #1426106

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Subject: RE: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?
Nelg - 2008-05-27 12:11 PM

Just put slicks on it, you can setup the bike with 85 PSI slicks and proper tubes from performancebike.com for less than $35 shipped. Take what you would have spent on aero bars and save it toward a tri bike.

BTW, If it's an Ultegra cassette I doubt it's any bigger than a 12-27.


I'll have to look at the cassette, was trying to remember what was in the box of spare parts.

The reason for the AB was that I am planning on buying a road bike as opposed to tri-bike, so will need them eventually anyway, so since I can afford that now, and won't be able to save enough for whole bike by end of season, why not get them now and help(?) out my position on the mt bike.

Thanks all for the responses, odd looks I am fine with. And the races I am enterting don't appear to have a fat tire division, just AG and beginner (three or fewer races).

2008-05-27 9:19 PM
in reply to: #1425765

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Subject: RE: Tri-fitting a Mt Bike, Good Idea?
If you are going to do a road bike then trying aero bars now can't hurt, just make sure you get a clamp size that you can use later on down the road.

Good luck in your first!

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