Suggestions for a Tri frame...

[Donzo98]

Looking to replace one of my high end Madone frames with a Tri frame. I am planning on keeping my Red components and then selling the road frame and extra stuff.

What suggestions do you have for a Tri frame??



Thanks, Don

[Balderick]

Don,

Road friends do not let road bike friends ride Tri....

There is a good value Argon 18 Tri rig that seems very good value - not sure if it is sold as a frame only, but here in Australia it sells (from memory) with DA or Ultegra at a great price. Here is the link:
http://www.argon18bike.com/main.cfm?...C=15&item=E-80

You could buy the complete Tri rig, swap across the things you want to keep from theTrek, and sell the Trek with largely new stuff. Or, keep the Trek and tell your personal financial controller that it worked out cheaper this way, and have two nice bikes.

[Tri Slow Poke]

What is your budget?

[Donzo98]

Originally Posted by Tri Slow Poke

What is your budget?

No real limitations there... I currently ride a Madone 6.9

[jorgy]

I'd get a Litespeed Saber.

[stevesbike]

what distance events? Some of the new frames coming out (like the Giant) are pretty unstable (and handle poorly). Not good for ironman distance...

[Donzo98]

Olympic distance or shorter... maybe a half ironman if I get excited.

[kiwisimon]

http://quintanarootri.com/QR_bikes/bikes/bikes.html pretty much wrote the book on tri frames. These guys wrote a few chapters http://www.kestrelbicycles.com/TRI.aspx.

[Tri Slow Poke]

Originally Posted by stevesbike

what distance events? Some of the new frames coming out (like the Giant) are pretty unstable (and handle poorly). Not good for ironman distance...

Where are you getting your information? I don't think the more recent frames handle any better or worse than years past. Besides, most triathlon courses don't require good handling skills. That is why triathletes earn the deserved reputation of being poor bike handlers.

[Tri Slow Poke]

Originally Posted by Donzo98

No real limitations there... I currently ride a Madone 6.9

I suggest taking a look at www.slowtwitch.com and getting a list of reputable tri bike dealers in your area. Tri bike sizings are a little tricker than road bikes and you should make sure you are on a frame that matches your body type. You want to have an aero position, but one that is comfortable enough that you can hold it for extended periods of time.

[stevesbike]

Originally Posted by Tri Slow Poke

Where are you getting your information? I don't think the more recent frames handle any better or worse than years past. Besides, most triathlon courses don't require good handling skills. That is why triathletes earn the deserved reputation of being poor bike handlers.

I test rode the new Giant at Interbike - it was one of the worst handling TT frames I've ever been on. Some others felt the same way - and there were some comments that the latest generation of uber-aero frames (the new specialized etc) sacrifice handling/stability for drag coefficients. Even if a TT or Tri course isn't technical, it's still important to be able to hammer on the bike without excessive twitchiness or feeling like it's jumping all over the road (especially with a 90 or deeper front wheel).

[JimP]

Originally Posted by stevesbike

I test rode the new Giant at Interbike - it was one of the worst handling TT frames I've ever been on. Some others felt the same way - and there were some comments that the latest generation of uber-aero frames (the new specialized etc) sacrifice handling/stability for drag coefficients. Even if a TT or Tri course isn't technical, it's still important to be able to hammer on the bike without excessive twitchiness or feeling like it's jumping all over the road (especially with a 90 or deeper front wheel).

Your issue is that you aren't used to the different position on the bike. The first few minutes on a bike with an extreme forward position can feel considerably different than on a "road" bike. Your hands are farther forward, lower, and closer together than what you are used to which causes the disorientation. The bike isn't twitchy, you are.

[stevesbike]

I'm not intending to hijack the thread re the new Giant (I'm used to a TT position - have owned several over the years and have raced probably 15/year for the last 5 years). I was just mentioning that the new giant, while uber-aero has some handling issues. To return to the OP, here's some specific suggestions;

1. Cervelo P3 - the standard. You'll find this the most popular frame at Tris. Good adjustability, OK handling, well made

2. Quintana roo - basically invented the Tri frame - the new cd 0.1 is very nice. Steep seat tube angle - would be tricky to get UCI complaint if you ever did something like a USA cycling state/national championship event. The 'older' models of Quintana Roo (the Lucero, Caliente etc) are great handling frames - they are not as aero as some new frames, but are steady and solid.

3. Others to look at: Specialized, Scott Plasma, Cannondale Slice.

4. like others have said, fit and position on the bike is even more important for a TT/tri bike. You need a position that is efficient for power to the pedals but also aero - the biggest contribution to drag is body position. You can easily undo the investment in aero frame with a poor position. It's also worth looking at some of the youtube videos with John Cobb on the tradeoff between aero position and power.

5. If $ is not major limitation and you're serious about racing, it's worth the $700-$1000 to spend an hour in a wind tunnel getting your position worked out. This can save minutes more than an aero frame, wheels etc.

[Salsa_Lover]

Ridley Deans are currently on ebay for ~ $2500-$2800 new

That is a superb frame. has all the good characteristics of the Cervelo P3 mixed with the Bianchi D2 and even made better.

[kbiker3111]

If money is really no object, then the answer is obvious: a BMC Time Machine TT01 or a Storck Aero 2. Whats 10 grand for a frame? Actually, I dont' think they're taking orders for the TT01 anymore....

Anyway, in terms of real world bikes I'm a big fan of Cervelo.

[Donzo98]

Originally Posted by kbiker3111

If money is really no object, then the answer is obvious: a BMC Time Machine TT01 or a Storck Aero 2. Whats 10 grand for a frame? Actually, I dont' think they're taking orders for the TT01 anymore....

Anyway, in terms of real world bikes I'm a big fan of Cervelo.

Uh... I guess money is an object!! I'm not paying 10K for anything bike related... except maybe a trip to France to watch the TDF with my family.

On a different note.... how do you all like the Cervelo P3??

[Tri Slow Poke]

Originally Posted by Donzo98

Uh... I guess money is an object!! I'm not paying 10K for anything bike related... except maybe a trip to France to watch the TDF with my family.

On a different note.... how do you all like the Cervelo P3??

Again, I will STRONGLY encouarge you to visit an reputable tri store. As to your question, the P3 is a great bike for the right person. Based on my body type (long legs with a shorter torso) I fit better on the P2. It's almost every bit as aero as the P3 and has a winning pedigree (The female Ironman Kona champ rode a P2 to victory in 2007 and 2008). According to Cervelo, the P4 is more aero than the P3, but I haven't ridden it personally to give an opinion.

Here is an article that discusses the P3 in detail. The shop sells Cervelo so take his review with a grain of salt. However, he points out details about the bike and he rides one himself when he competes.

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/rev...oP3C2008.shtml

[Donzo98]

34322222222222232``347309

[cwg_at_opc]

Originally Posted by Tri Slow Poke

Again, I will STRONGLY encouarge you to visit an reputable tri store. As to your question, the P3 is a great bike for the right person. Based on my body type (long legs with a shorter torso) I fit better on the P2. It's almost every bit as aero as the P3 and has a winning pedigree (The female Ironman Kona champ rode a P2 to victory in 2007 and 2008). According to Cervelo, the P4 is more aero than the P3, but I haven't ridden it personally to give an opinion.

Here is an article that discusses the P3 in detail. The shop sells Cervelo so take his review with a grain of salt. However, he points out details about the bike and he rides one himself when he competes.

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/rev...oP3C2008.shtml

unfortunately, TomD just lost his Cervelo dealership. there's a long thread about it
in the general forum on slowtwitch(forum.slowtwitch.com) - Tom Demerly is having
a rough time and things aren't working out so well at the moment. glad i'm not in retail.

that aside, Tom's website is a great resource for information, reviews, comparisons, etc.
there are precious few sites that have as much information as BSM(with the obvious
exception being slowtwitch.com)

as mentioned by the others, fit is even more crucial on a tri bike than a regular road
bike; you may also want to take crank length into consideration depending on your
particular body specifics(i.e. a shorter crank 'opens' up the torso-thigh angle to relieve
the hip flexors and makes the dead-spot at the top less an issue.)

[livin4lax09]

the comment about the handling/comfort of the new bikes isn't so off-target. Scott reps have confirmed this... many of the new bikes are being marketed as TT bikes because they ARE TT bikes. They aren't designed for comfort for 100 miles, they're designed to get the rider as fast as possible, sometimes sacrificing comfort and handling. There's a difference between TT bikes and Tri bikes.