Round The Bay and Triathlon handlebars.

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Permalink Reply by Cory on July 13, 2009 at 1:54pm

I have after-market tri bars, attached to the regular drop bars on my roadbike, coz I do the odd tri over Summer.

I've done ATBiaD 3 x. I think, only twice, have I got into the bars during the event (and never during the training). If you are anywhere near any other riders/traffic it is unsafe as you are too far away from the brakes, and it is a lot harder to steer and/or keep steady when in the tri position. Once was when I got out onto the freeway before Lara and I was all by myself. The other, for about 3 mins to catch a group ahead of me, on the stretch before Queenscliffe.

If you are very casual, I'd stick with regular drop bars. Going down onto the drops does give you a better profile for speed or headwinds anyway. If you are considering tri, but only want the one bike, do what I did (but I only ever use them during tri events... pretty much... sometimes when I'm out on my lonesome and the road surface is OK).

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Permalink Reply by Ben Carr on July 13, 2009 at 2:06pm

I agree with Cory
My advice would be to save your money , set your standard road bike up well so that you can easily and comfortably reach the drops and work on improving your flexibility.

Alternativelly organise a group or find a group and work as a team swaping turns on the front - more fun and easier that riding alone also

Tri bars or time trail set ups are designed for riding by yourself as they decrase your ability to steer and react quickly.
I don't know if the RTB people regulate the use of tri bars or time trail setups - its probally work checking. They are not permitted during mass start road rides due to the saftey issues.

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Permalink Reply by Adrian Tritschler on July 13, 2009 at 5:43pm

Summary: Roadies look down their noses at triathletes.

Roadies traditionally rode in bunches and learnt to ride together, close, fast and safely - or as safely as you can in a bunch. Its dangerous enough in a fast road bunch without unknown, untrusted riders in your midst. Triathletes came about from the running/swimming side as an individual sport and never had much experience riding with other riders. Put them together and the roadies found that triathletes lurched about all over the place unpredictably, or enough of them did that they got a reputation for it. Add in the different size and shape of tri-bikes (and mountain bikes) and they don't physically fit in a close racing bunch.

They claim the "safety issue" is about the bars, but in general its about the people, whether its a real or perceived problem - I've ridden with rock-steady trustable mtb and tri-bike people, and I've ridden with some downright scary unpredicatble people on shiny road-bikes.

Well setup road bars should be plenty comfortable for RTBIAD, especially considering that with the number of people around you you'll often want to have your hands on or near the brakes. I've done RTB a couple of times on my MTB and a couple on my roadie, stick with what you're comfortable on.

Most of the tri-bars I see nowadays seem to get used for carrying fish-and-chips home from the shops or provide more realestate for the ever-growing number of lights, cameras and doodahs that people bolt on their bikes!

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Permalink Reply by Butcher's Dog on July 13, 2009 at 7:33pm

Thanks heaps! That is all good info for me.

I will stick with drop bars, at least for now.

I have no experience with serious bunch riding. Perhaps I should put a learner sign on the back. However, I think from my rides on Beach Road, my retro gear is a clear indicator and everybody gives me a friendly greeting and a wide berth.

I am not a triathlete. My interest in tri-bars comes from the feeling that it would be comfortable to lean further forward.

Ben when you say "work on improving your flexibility", are you saying that with more training I will be more comfortable? I actually have my levers lower down on the bars than is conventional, so that the brakes are always close to my fingers.

I had better get some advice on this from the bike shop.

Thanks again for your excellent advice everybody.

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Permalink Reply by Butcher's Dog on July 13, 2009 at 8:04pm

Adrian, I can understand when you say:
"Add in the different size and shape of tri-bikes (and mountain bikes) and they don't physically fit in a close racing bunch."

This makes me think about the little racing mirror that I love. It gives me an excellent view of vehicles approaching behind me. Roadies would disagree I suppose, because they don't use them.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Carr on July 15, 2009 at 3:55pm

Bike set up is a big and complex issues and Im not sure I want to dive but what the hell

My perspectice is that peoplE often set up bikes and then try and adapt their bodies to fit rather that fitting the bike to the body - its actually got to be a bit of both. My experience is that Ive raised my handle bar height relative to the seat and are a lot more comfprtable - I can even reach the drops for extented periods. Ive also stretched myself out a bit . As a result I'm actually riding faster as I'm more confortable rather than being more aero. I think people set up their bike to copy the position of prefessional road racers - who are generally hight trained , young and flexible.

One of the main areas is having your bars a whole lot lower that the seat height. set up soem thing for yourself this is comfortable and then gradually decrease the bar height while working to improve your flexibility through specific stretching - yoga is great for cyclists . lever position of the bars will depend on if you spend most of the time on the tops or the drops . a set up which fits both is best. PS re triathalets I cerataintly dont look down on them Thet area soem o fteh most anaisaing athleths . I just wish I could swim properly

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Permalink Reply by Butcher's Dog on July 15, 2009 at 10:19pm

Hey Ben, thats good. I am a reasonable runner but the swim would be disastrous.

You have given me some good ideas.

First I am going to move my levers back up. I have had them very low down for the past 26 years!
Yes I am a slow learner.

You have given me lots of scope to experiment.

Thanks a lot.

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