Tri / Triathlon / Triathlons - do they float your boat?

Even on congested routes, as long as you keep your head up, overtake with plenty of room, shout at people to keep left, and slow down for sharp turns and pinch points, you should be fine.

This. Ride sensibly and you'll be fine. IME I've felt safer at most Tri's I've done than any Gran Frondo/Sportive type events (although swimming is my best discipline so I tend to have reasonably clear roads).

Thanks both. I've done a lot of TTs and some crits. Not expecting to treat this like either of those, but would like to be as fast as is (safely) possible. Will probably take both bikes and decide nearer the time, but I suspect the TT will win out.

In general TT bikes are a bad idea whatever the course & conditions.
That's just not true though, is it.

Long, straight, closed road courses are screaming out for and aero machine.

A tight, technical , multi-lapped course is not.

In fact, there's not a whole heap of tris where a TT bike might be considered a poor choice.

What distance is the bike leg?

^^can't think of a single full length tri where TT bike isn't the best option.

26.5 miles. Last years winner did it in 1:06 something, so I don't think it's a drag strip, more a mix of A roads and lanes in Gloucestershire. I'm hoping to be at the sharp end of things, but I have the advantage of not having to swim or run. Looks like it will have to be the TT bike then with best wheels ;0)

In fact, there's not a whole heap of tris where a TT bike might be considered a poor choice.

I'm not sure I can think of any Tris I've done where full aero wouldn't trump the road bike (or even TT bike with shallow wheels). The only possible exceptions are Wasdale and Helvellyn but even so the last time I raced Helvellyn I wished I had my TT bike.

I've not done races like Blenheim for a long time but I hear those kind of courses can get very congested but I'm not sure a road bike is going to help with that.

When KL say's full length I immediately imagine he means double-iron or more...

For the multi-lapped ones (Hyde Park, Dorney, for example) I might consider a road bike with aero extensions.

I'd still have deep aero wheelz though.

88ft of ascent?...
http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/fairford-eng/south-cerney-triathlon-standard-distance-route-17266622

Yeah, take the TT bike

I'll use my 808 and disc :-) I'm guessing there aren't any restrictions on what I wear? My club skinsuit isn't going to have me thrown out is it? Probably a really daft question but...

That's the route yeah, but most of the Strava activities I've looked at from last years event seem to have around the same 900ft of climbing. Still relativity little but not 88ft.

I love the TT bike at Dorney... Much flat, many aeros.

I don't know of any clothing restrictions for Tris. CTT say you need your shoulders covered but I don't know of any equivalent rules in Tri. In fact aren't short sleeve skin suits becoming popular in Tris now?

Aren't those just tri suits?

When KL say's full length I immediately imagine he means double-iron or more...

Of course, anything shorter is a sprint.

I did do QuinIron on a road bike, but I'd only trained (i.e. commuted) on my fixie and didn't fancy trying to do 5 days in aero position with no TT training.

I wasn't so much concerned about whether the skinsuit itself was an issue more if there were any rules that mean you have to tell them in advance if you want to race in club colours (like having to pre-register any sponsors on kits for open TTs).

KL = hardcore!

Only rule for Tri I think is no nakedness.

legal

The BTF rules aren't particularly complex.

Again, you're wrong, tommy.

The rule is that you must have a one- or two-piece non-transparent suit, with an additional running or cycling top if required, within gaps of over 10cm.

Upper bodies must be covered, the chest at all times (so no riding / running with zips undone in the front).

Haha. Different world. Maybe I'll stick with the skinsuit this time, then pants if I do another :-)

That's the route yeah, but most of the Strava activities I've looked at from last years event seem to have around the same 900ft of climbing. Still relativity little but not 88ft.

Check activity on the Garmin site instead? Dont lots of people complain about Strava's innaccurate altitude reporting?

I have a Category 1 rated segment near my house, but the road is pan-flat...

Yeah the Strava data is sometimes terrible as it depends on the accuracy of the device. I think the segment altitude info is taken from the ride from which it was created rather than from an average of all the rides through it which is why some categorised climbs appear on flat roads.

I assume the ~900ft is accurate as it's been recorded by several people but I'll be more than happy if the climbing is over stated.

The BTF rules aren't particularly complex.

Again, you're wrong, tommy.

The rule is that you must have a one- or two-piece non-transparent suit, with an additional running or cycling top if required, within gaps of over 10cm.

Upper bodies must be covered, the chest at all times (so no riding / running with zips undone in the front).

South Cerney triathlon is not an ITU sanctioned event as such BTF rules unlikely to apply

I did that triathlon last year on a SS Pompino and I overtook most people up the hills.

It was fine from what I remember.

Have always wanted to finish a race wearing race belt, number and trainers only. One of these days.

South Cerney triathlon is not an ITU sanctioned event as such BTF rules unlikely to apply

http://www.votwo.co.uk/events/triathlon/south-cerney-triathlon/?VIEW=south-cerney-triathlon&ROUND=30

"As part of the entry system to the event all participants agree to the following: This event will be run in accordance with BTF Competition Rules. Please ensure you have read and understood these rules. They can be found on the BTF website here ."