Now that Tri season is upon us, you might be asking yourself, should I get a Tri Bike or a Road bike? What's the difference? Missy from ATC breaks it down for us:
A Tri bike allows you to go 1-2 mph faster than a road bike and the muscle workload is distributed better allowing you to run faster after your ride.
A road bike is good for large group rides where you might go longer distances and/or if you are interested in road racing.
A road bike is good for large group rides where you might go longer distances and/or if you are interested in road racing.
Road bike and Tri bike differences:
Road bikes have a seat tube angle of 73º and Tri bikes are 76º-80º. These angle differences allow for the rider of the Tri bike to be more comfortable in the aero position. The steeper the angle, the lower the rider can be, thus going faster at the same effort.
A road bike can be used in a triathlon, but a Tri bike cannot be used in a road race...
A road bike can be used in a triathlon, but a Tri bike cannot be used in a road race...
Aerodynamics Vs. Weight
In a triathlon the more aero one is the faster they will go, not who has the lightest bike. Dropping 1pound off your bike shows almost no difference in time in a 25 mile time trial, but reducing wind resistance can take minutes off your time.
In a bike race the pace is constantly changing so having a lighter bike allows you to accelerate more easily, hence dropping that 1 pound in a road race will be helpful.
Proper Bike Fit
This is where a knowledgeable bike shop comes in handy. Bikes are very adjustable so don’t feel like you should be riding in discomfort! A proper fit reduces the wind resistance of the rider which makes up 70% of all wind drag.
Whichever direction you decide to go, ATC can help get you there!
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