Road vs Tri Bikes: Choosing the Right Ride for You!
Trying to decide between a road or tri bike? Read on to understand the benefits of each style, and which is best for your goals.
Road Bikes
Road bikes are extremely versatile, and designed to handle well on pavement both solo and while riding in a group. These bikes have a curved handlebar with a variety of positioning options, and a sloped seat tube that positions the rider slightly behind the pedals. The rider is generally in a more upright position, and better able to manage turns and obstacles on the road. Road bikes are still fast, but generally prioritize handling and lighter weight over aerodynamics.
Triathlon Bikes
Triathlon bikes are great at going fast in a straight line - it's not uncommon to be 1 to 2 mph faster at the same effort on a properly fitted triathlon bike when compared to a similar quality road bike. They prioritize aerodynamics over handling and weight, and provide two different positions for the ride, either hands on the handlebar, or elbows resting on cradles on the handlebar while hands rest on the two aerobars extending over the front of the bike. The seat tube will be steeper on most triathlon bikes, positioning the athlete on top of the pedals and further over the front of the bike - this allows the athlete to maintain an aerodynamic position with less stress on the core and hips, and has been proven to be more efficient for athletes running immediately after riding.
We generally recommend that athletes new to road cycling (whether they are doing triathlons or not) start with a road bike - the ease of handling and versatility of the bike makes learning to ride fast with confidence a much quicker (and safer) process, and will set athletes up for success if/when they are ready to progress to a triathlon bike. It is common to see a mix of road and triathlon bikes at races. Athletes who purchase a triathlon bike will typically keep their road bike because it's preferable for group rides, use on paths and heavily trafficked areas, and climbing - hilly triathlon courses may actually be faster/easier with a good road bike!
How do you know if you're ready for a tri bike? If you're comfortable on your road bike and ready to get faster and/or tackle longer distances in triathlon, it's time to start looking for a triathlon bike. At Playtri we offer one of the biggest selections of road triathlon bikes in the world, as well as a Fit First service to help you select the perfect frame. Visit www.playtristore.com