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Er... Yes and no. My middle/iron position is less aggressive than my "all out position". I have the option of lowering my stem/handlebar assembly by about 1.5-2cm if I need to, but I'd only really bother if I cared how fast I went in a 10-25mile TT - which I usually don't. Other than that my setup stays the same. Even for long distance stuff my seat post angle is far more aggressive than either a road bike or a UCI TT position. The nose of my saddle is barely 1cm behind the centre of my BB. I'm not 100% sure of the reasoning behind this but the received wisdom among triathletes is that the steep angle improves your ability to run off the bike.
On my "Race" bike I use the forward seat post position. According to Cervelo's geometry chart this equates to 78 degrees. I don't know exactly how to measure it exactly but I would guess I'm between 78-79 degrees. They aren't great, but the photos show how my bike is set up and my position on the bike.
I bought my road bike on here and no geometry chart exists for it, and as I say I don't know how to measure it accurately. But it is bigger, and slacker than my TT bike. Even with the saddle maximally forward, the nose of the saddle is WAY behind the BB (I did measure a week ago but can't remember now). I've also attached the only side on pic I have to hand (sorry it's shit, it snowed on the lens).
TT Bike:
Position:
(p.s. note that my extensions are marginally too long, so in this pic I am reaching forward to change gear)Road bike:
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Won't a road frame set up like a TT bike handle weirdly? I thought TT bikes had a shorter wheelbase to make them more stable when the weight is over the front wheel?
If you look at modern geometry tables, you'll find that the difference between road and TT frames (and track frames too) has all but disappeared. Most of them can be set up with zero saddle set back using a zero offset seatpost. For example, the Cervelo P3 and T3 have identical geometry, yet the two bikes are used for triathlon, UCI and domestic time trials and pretty much all track disciplines with only adjustments to the saddle and bar position, and you don't hear a lot of complaints about their handling. I'm sure the only reason nobody uses them for road racing is that the bent tube is not UCI legal for mass start road races.
The one potential problem with using a small road frame as a TT bike is that selecting one with a short enough head tube could lead you to having a correspondingly short top tube, forcing the use of a long stem. I've used a 12cm stem on mine with no issues, with the elbow pads on the bar centreline, but if you're unsure it's likely that you'll be able to get your fit right with a slightly longer frame and a drop stem, there are plenty of fairly cheap options in the -30° to -40° range. Going from a flat -17° x 120mm stem to a -35° x 100mm allows you to go up over 20mm on both head tube and top tube length.
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Road bike:
Nice.
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Search for 'stem angle diagram' on this site, and I've linked to a page that lets you enter data for 2 cockpit setups - useful for quick comparisons.
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PS. I suppose your saddle is at roughly 71-72 in that pic, allowing for post setback and saddle fore position & typical geometry for frames that size.
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This thread needed pictures, but that giant inflatable triathlete bearing down on you is freaking me out.
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I'm sure the only reason nobody uses them for road racing is that the bent tube is not UCI legal for mass start road races
Aren't they? Then how did this get through?
I don't know enough about UCI stuff to know whether the ISD team raced under them, but that looks like a bendy seat tube to me. -
A bit of bend is OK on a road bike, you have to be able to draw a straight line which always stays inside the envelope of the tube. The P3 might actually be OK, whereas, for example, the top tube of the Corima Cougar is too curved
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Some District Council websites have full calendars online, don't know which ones as I only take an interest in London West.
http://www.lndc.org.uk/ is still showing links to the 2010 schedule, so it doesn't look promising.
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looks a bit anti though.
Heh, you're right about that..
It's a shame I can't get any pictures of my bike up, I've gone for a similar kind of thing. Fewer antlers on the front end tho. You're North-West area, right, rhb? I might see you out on a few of those 10's if all goes to plan.
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Yeah South Manchester, working in Bury, so maybe will see you out and about.
Haven't a clue where the flat 'n fast ones are to be found - presume Cheshire way for my nearest. I've never really got to grips with all the codes and daggers needed to get an entry in in advance... d'ya know if there're any regular around here I can just turn up at and pay on the start line?
P.s. It'll look better once the Stelvio is off and matching tyres go on. Would also like so more "period" tri bars rather than those.
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Would also like so more "period" tri bars rather than those.
I'd let these go for £50, elbow pads are included but not shown in the pix
http://jorj.co.uk/gallery/?spgmGal=TT_Bars
would need a quill-ahead adaptor to fit your bike, e.g.
http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=K0123 -
that pink pig peeking out in picture 3 is unsettling..
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They're not going anywhere, currently 'gracing' my roller bike but they are not quite right so I wouldn't be sorry to lose them if you eventually decide they are right for your bike.
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Haven't a clue where the flat 'n fast ones are to be found - presume Cheshire way for my nearest. I've never really got to grips with all the codes and daggers needed to get an entry in in advance... d'ya know if there're any regular around here I can just turn up at and pay on the start line?
Hehe, I probably know about as much as you do as far as codes and daggers go! This: http://www.manchesterctt.org.uk/calendar.html may be helpful, but it does still leave much under the shroud of secrecy! Well, dates/times, a course code and an organising club is a good start, and I've just had a good find here: http://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/staff/c.storey/new%20MTC%20site/training/ttcourses.htm which appears to have course maps for the popular ones. I get the impression pretty much all the courses around here are pretty flat.
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Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT
Posted by
@hippy
Don't you find your position is less aggressive for middle/iron stuff, i.e. closer to an aggressive road position?
Out of interest, what are the approximate seat angles you use on each bike, assuming 1cm of saddle fore/aft movement is worth approx 1 degree of ST angle in either direction (and taking seatpost setback of otherwise into account)?