Convert Road bike to Tri setup

slopey

Hi, Have done a couple of triathlons this year on a Trek 1000 road bike and am planning on doing a HIM next year and was thinking about adding aerobar to help improve speed. Have looked a couple of reviews online and was thinking about getting Profile T2+ Aerobars; http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=11081.
My question is would I also need to change things like the seatpost and the gear changing system. If I do need to change these has anyone got any recommendations?

Long'n'slow

You should be able to get away with simply moving your seat forward on the rails to allow you to shift your weight more over the front. Beware of moving it too far forward as it wil wreck your knees. Keep your current brake/changer configuration as it is costly to get the bar end changers and rearward facing brakes, plus it's a hassle to change when you take the aero bars off. You will more than likely not have to change gears too often while in the aero position, as that wil be on the long flat stages. When you do need to change gears ie. for hills, corners, in groups, you will be up off your aero bars so changing is not a problem.
To make the aero bars worthwhile you need to do plenty of practice in the aero position. Start with 5 mins in every 30, it doesn't sound like much but you will feel it in your lower back. Increase incrementally until you can go for 30 mins without sitting up.

Highway_To_Hell

I have the aerobars with flip up arm rests on my road bike, I feel they give you more options for hand positions, to use the aerobars you really need a nice open road without junctions/lights sharpish turns or else you will find yourself moving on and off the aerobars frequently to either break or change gear.

tunney

Longnslow wrote: »

You should be able to get away with simply moving your seat forward on the rails to allow you to shift your weight more over the front. Beware of moving it too far forward as it wil wreck your knees. Keep your current brake/changer configuration as it is costly to get the bar end changers and rearward facing brakes, plus it's a hassle to change when you take the aero bars off. You will more than likely not have to change gears too often while in the aero position, as that wil be on the long flat stages. When you do need to change gears ie. for hills, corners, in groups, you will be up off your aero bars so changing is not a problem.
To make the aero bars worthwhile you need to do plenty of practice in the aero position. Start with 5 mins in every 30, it doesn't sound like much but you will feel it in your lower back. Increase incrementally until you can go for 30 mins without sitting up.

Aerobars should be always used when they can, hills, corners etc etc.

You shouldn't ever be in groups during races - drafting.
You shouldn't ever be on aerobars in groups during training - its dangerous.

If you can't maintain 30 minutes straight off on the aerobars then your position isn't right.

slopey

Cheers for the feedback, think I'll change to those stryke bars and not bother with any of the extras. Plan on getting used to the position on the trainer this winter and so it should be easy to play around with seat position.