Beginner Timetrial Build

Before I started cycling I ran quite a lot and after a Marathon I thought: Let´s do a Triathlon. So I bought my first roadbike. After a couple of months I stopped running at all.

Now there is a local tt event, always in march and october. Same course different races. And I really want to compete on a tt bike. After reading about richard bussell and his bike I wanted to do my own build. But I have no idea what frame to start with. Not with the fitting, but with the aero gains. A more experienced friend through my plan of building up an old frame out of the window, as I would any advantage I can get. But I thought that 80 % of drag comes from your body and so a more aero position would benefit me more than aero brake covers or so on. I was looking at an Canyon Speedmax (the Aluminium one) or maybe an Argon 18 E112. Building it up 1x11 and with some spare parts. I can get some race wheels from friends.

What would you guys reckon? Can I build an aero enough bike on the base of an older tt frame or should I save up?

Cheers,
Jan

Can I build an aero enough bike on the base of an older tt frame or should I save up?

I would suggest a 2nd hand frame and save up for the front wheel, skinsuit and helmet.
Something like a Cervelo P2C, P3C or the newer P2 (if budget allows). I got lucky with my P3C and found it for ~£400.

What size road bike do you ride? Do you have a fairly aggressive/aero position? What's your budget?

I have my old TT frame for sale. I replaced it with the same frame Richard Bussell used and still have the last one. It's a good starting point and I ran it 1x11 - it has a removable front mech hanger.

I'm 5'11 and it's pretty much spot on for me. Looking for £125 plus postage.

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As @Pifko said, even if it's not mine, I would go for a second hand frame and spend on wheels, skin suit and helmet.

Although there are aero gains to be made on the frame, the main thing you are getting is a bike with geometry suited to a good position, that's where you gain the most.

Couple of good threads on older TT frames:
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/285443
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/299734

What size road bike do you ride? Do you have a fairly aggressive/aero position? What's your budget?

I am 5´11 and I ride 54cm tt and fairly agressive Position. I am looking to spend around 500 Euro for the frame. But I would like to spend less ;)

I can borrow a Trispoke and i have velotec skinsuit. Some Mates can also lend me an Giro Aerohead for the races.

Although there are aero gains to be made on the frame, the main thing you are getting is a bike with geometry suited to a good position, that's where you gain the most.

That was my hope. I saw this offer https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/zeitfahrrad-52er-rahmen/942258482-217-5903

As there is no description, except for the fact that the backwheel is not part of the deal, I hope the german language isn´t too much of burden.

I would sell nearly all the parts, but on an sq lab saddle, rival 1 x 11 and maybe some Aliexpress Carbon Bars and Stem.

I think you might do well to have a look at this thread:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/144183/#comment6455026

I expect you know that many successful time triallists have come over from running, one excellent example is Alice Lethbridge who, among many other achievements, beat Beryl Burton's 12 hour record which had stood for half a century. So you are on a path which I hope will lead you to great things.

You don't give any indication of the level you hope to reach in your first season, and this is surely a relevant question when considering what kit is suitable.

Perhaps you are confident that you will quickly become a contender at national level, or possibly you are hoping to get a handicap award in a local club 25. If you're in the former category, I can't advise on equipment (too old fashioned), but if it's that handicap prize, then I can help.

It takes most people several seasons of racing to achieve their best, so there is a serious danger that if you start off with a super bike and then do beginner's performances you will be both disappointed and embarassed.

If you begin with a simple fixed TT bike (remember the name of this forum) you will be in a great tradition, have plenty of improvement to come and, with luck, you may even have bystanders saying "Look what he did on that old thing, we'll have to watch out if he gets a proper bike!"

Also, you won't have a large hole where your bank balance used to be.

Thank you Clubman.
I do no intend to become a contender at national or even state level, I just want to hold myself on a TT. And I think you might be right. I still have an Mielec LowPro somewhere, maybe I should build it up as an TT ;)

This is a quality post +++ Inspired.

If it's your first TT then do it on your road bike, no point spending money on something you might hate.