Road Bike With Aero Bars Vs Tri Bike

Take the aero bars off a tri bike and you have a bike without the speed of a tri bike and without the handling of a road bike.

Road bike with aero bars vs tri bike.

However one thing is for sure buying a tri bike takes on a certain dedication. What makes one better is part science and part mental. Tri tt frames generally make poor handling road bikes since they are optimized for a low forward position in the aero bars. This is contrary to the aero handlebars on the triathlon bikes.

For many people it would be a better choice to use road bike with tt bars because there will be less fatigue on the body and it will deliver your body to a better shape. Road bikes come with drop handlebars. Plus i ve heard the position a rider is in on a tri bike makes the transition to a run easier. However one thing is for sure buying a tri bike takes on a certain dedication.

Also the drop handlebar will enhance steering and braking power. Whereas a solid road bike can be used in many ways. A triathlon bike has a much larger seat tube angle 76 to 78 degrees than that of a road bike 72 degrees for a typical road bike. The tri bike certainly has its advantages but that s not to say road bikes aren t without theirs as well.

The steeper angle of the the tri bike can create a much more aero position. Tri bikes are more aerodynamic and are faster than road bikes. These handlebars will allow you to place your hands within a comfortable reach of the control buttons and allow you to have optimal control of your bike. In the same amount of time that it takes to fill a couple of water bottles you can switch between a pure road bike for group riding and a tri bike setup for training or racing.

Flexibility and strength will determine which bike you use as the relative fatigue of a tt bike is higher than a road bike. Road bikes are lightweight and great for climbing hills they turn sharply and they can easily be modified with aero bars and other equipment that can help you achieve the aerodynamic profile that a tri bike offers. The decades old debate on buying a tri bike vs road bike with aero bars rages on even to this day. The downside to tri bikes is that they can be uncomfortable i ve heard a few ironman triathletes complain of back pain after riding in the aero position for five hours or more.

What makes one better is part science and part mental.