Road vs TT bike....what next?

[E65Ross]

I've just joined a cycling club (finally!) and they do a lot of TT events as well as racing etc. The TT events can often be done by anyone and they even have separate categories for road and TT bikes. Within the next 12 months I am looking to get a new bike but now I'm unsure whether to get a TT bike or a pretty aero road bike.

I have had my heart set on a Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8.0 disc Di2 which is obviously quite an aggressively set up road bike....but now I'm tempted by a Speedmax!

My road bike is relatively old (2011) and is a relatively relaxed set up, so I'm erring more towards the Aeroad....but just how much faster would the Speedmax be over the Aeroad, I wonder? Any ideas?

The reason I'm more inclined towards the Aeroad is because it could be used for both road riding and races as well as TT events (admittedly being compromised on the latter), whereas the Speedmax could only be used for TT events....

Cheers

[TwistingMyMelon]

Have you ever done a TT?

If not I would give it a go, then decide

Ive got mates who bought TT bikes thinking they would bash out the TTs every week, yet hardly did them so just had an expensive doorstop

Most of the good TT riders in our club I never see, as they they only do TTS or Tri

If I was going to buy a TT bike I would buy a cheaper model and factor in a detailed fit and use of a coach for a training plan /coaching

[E65Ross]

This was my thinking....it would be something that I'd use....but not that often.

I reckon I'll end up getting an Aeroad. I agree with the correct fit....something I'd already considered. I know a chap quite well who is a master Retul fitter, and without question will be using him again for my next bike fit.

I wonder how much faster the Aeroad would be over my current Bianchi Infinito (ultimately....I was sold a frame size too big, but my bike fitter and I have got a shorter stem which has been inverted, thinner handlebars etc etc to help with that!), and then how much faster a TT bike would be over the Aeroad. I gather the Aeroad is a pretty aggressively set up road bike.

[PulsatingStar]

E65Ross said:

The reason I'm more inclined towards the Aeroad is because it could be used for both road riding and races

At the moment you still cant ride a disc bike for any BC road races.

[AyBee]

Buy the Canyon, do some TTs on that, if you like it, sell the 2011 bike and buy a TT frame - you can pick something up second hand fairly cheaply and use the aero wheels from the Canyon for a perfectly decent setup

[louiebaby]

I've done a few (but not many) TTs on an aluminium Trek roadie with clip on bars.

A TT helmet and skinsuit can be had for under £100 if you shop around.

At the end of the day, you're competing against yourself, probably. Testing yourself. I enjoyed it, and would like to do a few more. But I'm sure that it's not worth me buying a TT bike until I've got a nice road bike for the pleasurable Sunday rides I occasionally do.

What you could do is get a road bike to suit everything you do except TTing, and use your old bike for TTing and winter turbo training, with clip on bars, a re-fit and some cheap aero-wheels.

[louiebaby]

Also, Gruffy has an Aeroad that I think he is looking to do some for of TTing on. He might be useful for info.

I've actually done a TT against him once in the past and beat him. (This may be more down to his inability to count to 7 when lapping a circuit though.)

Here's me doing the (very) local club 10 mile in 24:03. I swore extensively at missing 24:00, but was relatively pleased with the result. Helmet was £45, skinsuit about the same. Clip-on bars £100, but check local eBay for better deals, and the "fit" was £100 locally.

Shave your legs.

[Barchettaman]

Ross, do a few 10-milers on your current setup and see how if you enjoy TTing (I loved it).

I would then consider second-hand for a TT rig, there's loads for sale and the things lose so much money from new it makes a lot of sense.

I had fun on this steel bike and got decent results:

http://www.gitaneusa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=971

The PX Stealth is a proven design although it needs skinnier tyres (shouldn't be a problem at your weight) and is often available on the usual second-hand 'web sites.

Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 29th June 11:44

[okgo]

I feel like I can answer this.

I've got an Aeroad 8 also (with proper brakes though) and just last weekend did a time trial on it without TT bars that I've done 7 times before on a TT bike (Trek Speed Concept 9.9 - so likely just as quick as the Speedmax) with the same skinsuit, same overshoes, same tyres/tubes, but had 30mm wheels and an Evade vs an Aerohead Giro helmet.

Luckily I also did about the same power as I'd usually do on my TT bike. The result was almost exactly 1 minute slower over 24 minutes.

[E65Ross]

Thanks for the feedback and thoughts chaps. I think I'm going to go for the Aeroad, as ultimately I know I'll get more use out of it. As someone else said, I'd be more competing against myself rather than others, in which case having a bike I can use all the time will be better....and with power data I can at least see any progression etc!

[nacnac]

Firstly I would check the Canyon sizing on their TT bike very carefully. You've seen Quintana on his? Looks like he's borrowed his big brother's bike. As much as I like them I don't think they do a small enough size for me and if I remember right you weigh less than me so probably are similar height too.

I have a Planet X Exocet 2 which I have used for time trials and I also have an Aeroad. I used the Aeroad with a disc plus all aero gear and times around a 11.5 mile club TT course were:

PX - 25:39 - 278W
PX - 25:55 - 287W
Aeroad - 27:04 - 279W

To be fair it was throwing it down on the day with the Aeroad and there are a few corners so probably lost a little time there but you can clearly see how a fairly normal TT bike is way quicker.

[vxsmithers]

Interesting.

I was watching the Giro (I think) earlier this year and the commentator said that your average joe would be quicker on a normal bike with a rear disc than a TT bike due to comfort and not being used to the position.

I can believe that, but it seems not to be the case here (I am not calling you all average joes! )

Obviously with skill and practice this does not translate, but as a starter it makes sense to begin with what you have and then progress, even if there is a small backwards step at first if you transition to a TT bike

[okgo]

I don't even think that is correct either tbh.

I got a TT bike after only doing 1 or two club tens on my road bike and straight away went much much quicker. Even with a fairly average position. That said, some of the new aero bikes now are not that far removed from TT bikes, and with arms draped over the front of an aeroad which is getting towards being slightly too small for you, you have basically got a TT bike.

That said, the faster you go the more aero counts, so I think my 1 minute example would be greater when travelling over 30mph as an average vs 26-27 which that event was owing to the corners and dead turns.

[CoolC]

As already hinted. Double check you would be allowed to TT (and race) on disc brakes.

Our local club runs TLI rules, which don't allow discs for racing and TT.

[poll250]

I've done 3 club TT's so far this year, with a few more to come, and have been steadily improving my times. I have a '17 Aeroad 9.0 with the integrated cockpit, which can't safely accept clip-ons, so I'm in a similar position to you (or at least where you will be).

I've slung a pair of Profile T2's on my commuter Allez, and I'm planning to fit my Reynolds wheels and Powermeter to try and get an idea of which is quicker for a given power: I've got a feeling my 6 yr old Aluminium Allez is going to be quicker!

[louiebaby]

okgo said:

I've got an Aeroad 8 also (with proper brakes though) and just last weekend did a time trial on it without TT bars that I've done 7 times before on a TT bike (Trek Speed Concept 9.9 - so likely just as quick as the Speedmax) with the same skinsuit, same overshoes, same tyres/tubes, but had 30mm wheels and an Evade vs an Aerohead Giro helmet.

Luckily I also did about the same power as I'd usually do on my TT bike. The result was almost exactly 1 minute slower over 24 minutes.

Very interesting, thanks!

[Barchettaman]

E65Ross said:

Thanks for the feedback and thoughts chaps. I think I'm going to go for the Aeroad, as ultimately I know I'll get more use out of it. As someone else said, I'd be more competing against myself rather than others, in which case having a bike I can use all the time will be better....and with power data I can at least see any progression etc!

Whilst you are competing against yourself, you may find you enjoy getting better results, and go in search of extra 'free' speed! At this point the want for a dedicated TT rig gets strong, particularly when weaker clubmates come past you on beter equipment....

[E65Ross]

Barchettaman said:

E65Ross said:

Thanks for the feedback and thoughts chaps. I think I'm going to go for the Aeroad, as ultimately I know I'll get more use out of it. As someone else said, I'd be more competing against myself rather than others, in which case having a bike I can use all the time will be better....and with power data I can at least see any progression etc!

Whilst you are competing against yourself, you may find you enjoy getting better results, and go in search of extra 'free' speed! At this point the want for a dedicated TT rig gets strong, particularly when weaker clubmates come past you on beter equipment....

This is quite interesting. A few did a TT last night and have shared their power data. One chap did it on a road bike and averaged a bit over 280W and got just shy of a 25mph average. Another, admittedly slightly lighter person, averaged only around 220W on a TT bike and get close to 27mph.....that's quite a difference!! I'm only 54.5kgs and know that for 20mins my average power best is 255W.... I've never tried a TT on the road, may find a local road and just do it by myself just to see what sort of speed I get on my current rig.

[poll250]

E65Ross said:

Barchettaman said:

E65Ross said:

Thanks for the feedback and thoughts chaps. I think I'm going to go for the Aeroad, as ultimately I know I'll get more use out of it. As someone else said, I'd be more competing against myself rather than others, in which case having a bike I can use all the time will be better....and with power data I can at least see any progression etc!

Whilst you are competing against yourself, you may find you enjoy getting better results, and go in search of extra 'free' speed! At this point the want for a dedicated TT rig gets strong, particularly when weaker clubmates come past you on beter equipment....

This is quite interesting. A few did a TT last night and have shared their power data. One chap did it on a road bike and averaged a bit over 280W and got just shy of a 25mph average. Another, admittedly slightly lighter person, averaged only around 220W on a TT bike and get close to 27mph.....that's quite a difference!! I'm only 54.5kgs and know that for 20mins my average power best is 255W.... I've never tried a TT on the road, may find a local road and just do it by myself just to see what sort of speed I get on my current rig.

Looking at my last TT on my Aeroad, I did an average 269W for a 22.1mph average. I'm 6'2 and 68kg btw. (on the drops the whole way).

[okgo]

Was that up a hill? Sounds very slow for the watts.