difference between tt bike and road bike

abcdggs

as a bit of a noob i was wondering if anyone could explain to me the difference between a time trial bike and a road bike?? any help is greatly appreciated
J

seanybiker

dont really know but i presume a tt bike is set up better and probably lighter for speed etc.

Home:Ballyhoura

Usually not lighter at all, it is basically all about aerodynamics. Every part of the bikes and it's components are designed to give minimal wind resistance. Look at all the aorofoil tubes, they are more like aeroplanes! They usually have deep section rims for this reason and often a disc (filled in) rear wheel.

Along with this, the riding position is much differenct to a normal bike. You have special TT bars which crouch you down into a low position with a very small frontal area. Basically they are alot faster but are only used for Time Trials, Triathlons and the likes. You couldn't do a road race on one just cause it's faster - you simply couldn't ride in a group on one! Hope this helps

Quigs Snr

A TT bike is usually heavier, but it doesn't matter Aerodynamics are king.

A TT bike will often have bigger gearing e.g. a 54 or 56 ring on the front instead of a 53, with a 11-21 on the back instead of a 12-25 or something like that, the reason being that TTs generally don't have serious hills on them, so its more important to get a big gear turning on the flats.

The bars are also important. The TT bars get you low and more importantly, narrow which helps out a great deal with wind resistance, as does the shape of the frame and wheels.

The biggest difference for most though is the geometry of the frame, the seatpost tends to be at a steeper angle, pushing the rider further over the cranks giving you a different riding position, pushing you low onto the bars and opening up those powerful Gluteus muscles. Generally you tend to get further over the pedals on the TT bike towards the bars.

Stark

Quigs Snr wrote: »

The biggest difference for most though is the geometry of the frame, the seatpost tends to be at a steeper angle, pushing the rider further over the cranks giving you a different riding position, pushing you low onto the bars and opening up those powerful Gluteus muscles. Generally you tend to get further over the pedals on the TT bike towards the bars.

Easier to run after being on a tri-bike due to the steeper seatpost angle as well apparently.

scottreynolds

abcdggs wrote: »

as a bit of a noob i was wondering if anyone could explain to me the difference between a time trial bike and a road bike?? any help is greatly appreciated
J

http://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/General_Fit_Articles/Tri_road_or_tweener__647.html

There's a good article for you. But basically they are entirely different from the way they support you to the way you ride them etc etc. Its not just weight etc. The geometrey is different and the cockpit is different. The wheels are the same size, the front,rear derailuers, crankset, headet, bottom bracket are the same but thats about it :-)

abcdggs

thanks all, very helpful as usual

abcdggs

scottreynolds wrote: »

http://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/General_Fit_Articles/Tri_road_or_tweener__647.html

There's a good article for you. But basically they are entirely different from the way they support you to the way you ride them etc etc. Its not just weight etc. The geometrey is different and the cockpit is different. The wheels are the same size, the front,rear derailuers, crankset, headet, bottom bracket are the same but thats about it :-)

Great article, thanks