70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?

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2011-11-21 4:22 PM

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Subject: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?

Typical rookie mistake: stretched my budget to buy the road bike. Got 4 races in and decided I want to go for my first 70.3. Is it worth it to get the aero bars? Will I be the only one on a road bike in the race?

 

Thank you!

2011-11-21 4:31 PM
in reply to: #3910631

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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
lots of people ride road bikes on every distance.  
2011-11-21 5:09 PM
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
I would guess that most people don't have tri-specific bikes...  But I've only watched one IM in person. 
2011-11-21 5:15 PM
in reply to: #3910631

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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
I did IM St George on a road bike with aerobars and will be doing Coeur d'Alene on the same bike.  Lots of roadies at the races.
2011-11-21 5:26 PM
in reply to: #3910631

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Expert
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
I did MiamiMan 70.3 on a Cervelo S2 without aerobars. No problem.
2011-11-21 5:50 PM
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Elite
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
70.3 on a road bike is OK.  Clip on aero bars = even better.

2011-11-21 7:03 PM
in reply to: #3910631

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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
I've done three 70.3s on road bike.  Get some clip ons and get after it.  
2011-11-21 7:05 PM
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
Thank you all so much for responding - this forum has been fantastic. Your answers make me feel a lot better, mentally, about getting into 70.3. I'm pumped!
2011-11-21 7:06 PM
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
Yes!!....it is worth it to get the aerobars!   If you are not in aero you are like a big parachute out there.  I would highly recommend them.  I did my first Half on a road bike with aerobars. Good luck!
2011-11-21 7:40 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
Just did my first HIM -Miamiman - on a roadie without clip on aero bars.  If i were to do it again, I'd add the aero bars for sure.
2011-11-21 7:51 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
First one, I had aerobars, then got a tri-bike.  Plenty of people go with just the road bike, so don't fuss about looking out of place.

2011-11-21 9:47 PM
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
Both my bikes are road bikes. When I found out road bikes are better than tri bikes for certain courses, I figured I'd stick with a road bike and put aero bars on it -- it's more versatile. It's worked for me for several 70.3s and two IMs.
2011-11-22 1:41 PM
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
k8iedid - 2011-11-21 4:22 PM

Typical rookie mistake: stretched my budget to buy the road bike. Got 4 races in and decided I want to go for my first 70.3. Is it worth it to get the aero bars? Will I be the only one on a road bike in the race?

 

Thank you!



Insane? No. Now a mountain bike would be insane!

I have a tri bike and a road bike. I have ridden my road bike in 3 HIM's, and 1 IM. It works great. My tri bike stays attached to the bike trainer indoors.

PS- I didn't add aero bars to my roadie for any of the races I did. I have full carbon handlebars, and I didn't want to give up my really nice handlebars for aero bars.






Edited by KSH 2011-11-22 1:42 PM
2011-11-22 4:07 PM
in reply to: #3910631

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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
I put aero bars on 3 weeks prior to my first HIM, and NEVER regretted it! I did plenty of 65+ mile bike rides without them and was fine. But in a race situation, where you don't have to stop for lights, water, etc, it is SO NICE to have another hand position option and I was able to get very comfortable! I did an olympic 4 weeks before my HIM and was so jealous of those with aerobars...so got them myself! So glad I did!
2011-11-22 7:14 PM
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
japarker24 - 2011-11-21 6:50 PM

70.3 on a road bike is OK.  Clip on aero bars = even better.


X2 and clip on aero bars work just fine. I went cheap on my 1st pair of clip ons, but then spent a little more for some that were fully adjustable when I got fitted. I would recommend skipping the cheap route because a nice fit can make all the difference in the world.
2011-11-22 9:23 PM
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?

If you haven't ridden with the aero's, don't wait until last minute. They take some getting used to. and the more you can train with them, the more comfortable they feel to use. AND the more stable you will feel. They can be a little spooky initially.

Get em early to do some good training on them!

 

2011-11-25 12:24 PM
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Subject: RE: 70.3 on a road bike - am I insane?
gwbuild - 2011-11-22 10:23 PM

If you haven't ridden with the aero's, don't wait until last minute. They take some getting used to. and the more you can train with them, the more comfortable they feel to use. AND the more stable you will feel. They can be a little spooky initially.

Get em early to do some good training on them!

^^^^^

Doing 70.3 on roadie w/aerobar is perfectly reasonable.  Many ride 70.3's (& IM's) just fine on roadie with clip-on aerobars.  In fact the 2010 Women's 70.3 World Champ (Jodie Swallow) won riding roadie w/aerobars & posted great bike split doing it-

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Jodie_Swallow_bike_at_Clearwater_P3078180/

BTW-some very respected coaches believe road bike geometry may actually be better choice for some triathletes.  Although maybe more detailed than you want to read, here's a 'classic' article on tri bike fit:

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/bikefit.html

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