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What
are the differences between road racing, time trial and triathalon
bikes?
Road racing,
time trial and triathalon bikes have each evolved to perform a
specific function. All share many similar traits and differences
are quite subtle.
A: Tri bars. Usually on time trial and triathalon
bikes
B: Wheels. A full disc wheel is common on the
rear of time trial bikes. Triathalon bikes often favour deep
section rims or aero wheels (as seen above).
C: Seat Tube angle - greater on time trial
and triathlon bikes giving a steeper seat tube. More power but
less comfort.
D: Fork Rake. This distance influences how
the bike handles. The smaller the distance the more nippy the
bike will be. The longer the distance the more stable and relaxed
the bike will be.
E: Headtube angle - steeper on time trial and
triathlon bikes.
The road racing bike is the 'Jack of all trades'.
The head-tube and seat-tube angles are comparatively shallow,
seating the rider slightly back to make the bike more comfortable
on longer rides. The wheels are generally 32 or 36 spoked with
standard round or square-section rims. The bike usually comes
with a minimum of 14 gears employing a wider gear ratio to cover
varying terrain. Two sets of braze-ons for water bottles is standard.
The time trial bike is at the other end of the
racing spectrum. The angles, especially the seat angle, are much
steeper putting the rider in a more forward and powerful position.
As time trials are usually raced over 10-50 mile distances with
the sole emphasis on speed, comfort is largely sacrificed. The
rear wheel is often a disc and the front may be smaller with a
deep rim for aerodynamics. Weight is a major issue - components
are kept to a minimum and are often made from titanium or carbon
fibre. Gears are often in short supply, sometimes only 6. and
in very close ratios. The bike often comes with Tri bars for aerodynamics
but luxuries such as water bottle cages are often sacrificed.
The triathalon bike The bike stage of a triathlon
is usually longer than most time trials so more concessions are
made for comfort. Triathalon bars, disc wheels and aero frame
make the bicycle as efficiently aerodynamic as possible to spare
the athlete some effort. Similarly, a wider range of gears helps
you over more varied terrain. Extra bottle cages encourage the
fluid replacement demanded by endurance sports. An exceptionally
steep seat tube angle (up to 77/78° against the road bike
73/74° norm) positions you further forward. This does 2 good
things. It puts you ‘on top of the cranks’ (like you
are when you ride out the saddle), so you can pack more power
into every pedal stroke, and it makes the aero bars easier to
reach.
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