Reason for Tri-Bars?

acurno

Very basic and obvious question but I just want clarification. Looking to buy a road bike and notice a lot of them come with tri-bars. Are tri-bars used because in Triathlons there's no drafting, as opposed to road races where you can? Lowering wind resistance and all that?

Are they worth the extra few quid? I've done a couple of sprints last year and plan on taking it a bit more seriously this summer so just wondering should I make the investment on the new bike?

Thanks,
Alan

sliksurfer

Definitely get tri bars. I attached them to my road bike for a couple of tris last summer and theyre much more comfortable . Faster aerodynamically as well. there are 3 different types, straight, s-bend and ones that stick up like an L shape. Id go with the s-bend.

catweazle

I was looking for this a while back myself but I put it into the wrong section. Does anyone know the differences in shape, I am more looking at what I can afford and one of the cheaper ones on wiggle that got good reviews was this one which is an L shape

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Profile_Century_Aero_ZB_Aero_Bars/4000000916/

PatientBear

ajcurno wrote: »

Very basic and obvious question but I just want clarification. Looking to buy a road bike and notice a lot of them come with tri-bars. Are tri-bars used because in Triathlons there's no drafting, as opposed to road races where you can? Lowering wind resistance and all that?

Are they worth the extra few quid? I've done a couple of sprints last year and plan on taking it a bit more seriously this summer so just wondering should I make the investment on the new bike?

Thanks,
Alan

Hi Alan,

I did both the half- and full-ironman triathlons on a road bike, and I'm going to tell you that you should probably avoid the tri-bars.

By the way, the tri-bars are for lowering wind resistance, you are correct about that. However, a tri-bike has a different shape to a road bike and the handlebars are closer to you - it has a shorter crossbar basically. The road bike has a longer crossbar, and the hence you are stretched out a bit further.

Bottom line is this, the road bike is too long to fit tri-bars on. I've done it (hell - you can even by my old tri-bars if you want!) and I ended up ditching them. You're body is too extended and you will not feel comfortable. Also, the road bike is a perfectly good set-up. If you are racing with your face down low, you will be aerodynamic.

It's no so much the tri-bars that help with this, but actually the discipline of keeping your head down for the length of time involved. I did 160km, and my back was agony at the end of it - I mean, I was smiling with relief when I started the marathon!

If you want tri-bars you'll probably need a tri-bike, and it's not worth the money.

Also, if you do consider doing any long-distance tris, get a copy of 'Going Long' by Joe Friel and Gordo Byrn. Right at the start of the book he says 'when it comes to the bike, spend LESS than you're budget'. What he means is that as long as your gear has basic reliability, you don't need to spend a ton on it.

Hope all that helps, let me know if you want more info.

Cheers,
PB

acurno

Thanks for the advice. Couple of opposing views there but it's all good! Might leave them off for the first few races to see how I handle the bike first. Am not exactly looking for top ten finishes so the advantages on time don't really matter to me. Plus I'm pretty tall as well so my back would thank me for it!

Might check out that book as well. Have a 5+ year goal of doing the Ironman so will definitely take all the advice that's out there. I hear ya about people spending a ton on the bikes. Always get a chuckle when I pass out those on the pricey carbon fiber yolks with my trusty mountain bike!

Alan

kennyb3

you shold prob ask over in the cycling forum too, they ll likely give you a more detailed reply

MrCreosote

Good points from PatientBear but...

For me adding a set of tribars to a road bike made a reasonable difference. On the same course, same bike and identical weather 6 weeks apart I did a duathlon cycle 3 mins quicker over 24k with tribars fitted. I'm not a great cyclist by any means but I noticed it to be a good bit faster/easier.

For me I'm no more extended in the tribars than the drops, and find it more comfortable in fact.

Having said that I totally accept PatientBear's point about distance. I'm happy enough with tribars on my roadbike for 40k, 90k would be pushing it I reckon (never done it) and 180k....forget it

And anyway a set of tribars is pretty cheap at the lower end of the scale. Why not get/borrow a set and try them out?

tunney

PatientBear wrote: »

Hi Alan,

I did both the half- and full-ironman triathlons on a road bike, and I'm going to tell you that you should probably avoid the tri-bars.

By the way, the tri-bars are for lowering wind resistance, you are correct about that. However, a tri-bike has a different shape to a road bike and the handlebars are closer to you - it has a shorter crossbar basically. The road bike has a longer crossbar, and the hence you are stretched out a bit further.

Bottom line is this, the road bike is too long to fit tri-bars on. I've done it (hell - you can even by my old tri-bars if you want!) and I ended up ditching them. You're body is too extended and you will not feel comfortable. Also, the road bike is a perfectly good set-up. If you are racing with your face down low, you will be aerodynamic.

It's no so much the tri-bars that help with this, but actually the discipline of keeping your head down for the length of time involved. I did 160km, and my back was agony at the end of it - I mean, I was smiling with relief when I started the marathon!

If you want tri-bars you'll probably need a tri-bike, and it's not worth the money.

Also, if you do consider doing any long-distance tris, get a copy of 'Going Long' by Joe Friel and Gordo Byrn. Right at the start of the book he says 'when it comes to the bike, spend LESS than you're budget'. What he means is that as long as your gear has basic reliability, you don't need to spend a ton on it.

Hope all that helps, let me know if you want more info.

Cheers,
PB

Have to disagree, tri bars can fit nicely on any road bike as long as the road bike fits as a road bike and the person knows what they are doing.

Also Tri/TT bikes are worth the money, you don't need a P4 or a Shiv (althought they are probably cheap now) but a good geometry tri bike will make a huge difference.

Once again the difference between no tri bars and tri bars is HUGE.
On an IM bike leg if someone holds a wattage of 200 watts they will finish in 5:36 with a road setup*. With tri bars and a reasonable setup the 200 watts will result in a time of 4:46 - a saving of 50 minutes.


*Assumption is reasonable CRR, no wind, no climbing, 5% power loss due to transmission, no such course exists and in a real worked you would be looking at 20-30 minutes slower for 200 watts in both scenarios.

hunnymonster

PatientBear wrote: »

Bottom line is this, the road bike is too long to fit tri-bars on. I've done it (hell - you can even by my old tri-bars if you want!) and I ended up ditching them. You're body is too extended and you will not feel comfortable. Also, the road bike is a perfectly good set-up. If you are racing with your face down low, you will be aerodynamic.

It's no so much the tri-bars that help with this, but actually the discipline of keeping your head down for the length of time involved. I did 160km, and my back was agony at the end of it - I mean, I was smiling with relief when I started the marathon!

PatientBear, it sounds as if your bike might not fit you correctly, especially if you can't get comfortable and feel that you're extended on the tri bars. I find using the tri-bars to be the most comfortably position for my long rides, Set up correctly and you simply fall down onto them, no rattling wrists, no sores between thumbs and fingers

PatientBear

hunnymonster wrote: »

PatientBear, it sounds as if your bike might not fit you correctly, especially if you can't get comfortable and feel that you're extended on the tri bars. I find using the tri-bars to be the most comfortably position for my long rides, Set up correctly and you simply fall down onto them, no rattling wrists, no sores between thumbs and fingers

Hi Hunnymonster,

It's possibly but I wouldn't think so as I had the bike fitted for me at the shop and I never changed the set up after that. However, the tri-bike is a more aggressive fit due to the shorter crossbar.

Might be just a horses for courses thing as I simply could not get comfortable on the tribars on my road bike!

Fazz

I'm another yes vote for Tri Bars.

Rode my road bike for 3 tri's without, then got them and a bike fit done.
Far better, easier, more comfortable and more power.

I did a race with 100k bike in it after that and was very comfortable in the aero position for 95% of the race if not more.

I highly recommend them, but also highly recommend a bike fit to change your position with them as it is different.

I spend easily 90%+ of a race in the aero position, and am most comfortable and effective in this.

elvis jones

I vote yes also, i put on a pair on my new focus cayo and i now do 5% of my riding in that position. I'm times have dropped and i'm a lot faster in the wind !

couerdelion

How much more effecient,lower and less aerodynamic do you get than by being on the drops? I can understand that you're less of a 'sail' than on the hoods.

elvis jones

couerdelion wrote: »

How much more effecient,lower and less aerodynamic do you get than by being on the drops? I can understand that you're less of a 'sail' than on the hoods.

The position is more comfortable compared to the drops and i find it easier to breath as well. I can also stay in the tri position on hills where i don't have to stand and i couldn't do that with the drop bars.

The position in the wind is a lot better than a normal riding position, its not as low as the drops but more comfortable and you can stay in it for much much longer.

Nwm2

couerdelion wrote: »

How much more effecient,lower and less aerodynamic do you get than by being on the drops? I can understand that you're less of a 'sail' than on the hoods.

Over 10% less power required to stay at 40 km/hr in aero position, vs drops in this example: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/how-aero-is-aero-19273/

(Pretty crappy position in the drops in that study, but still...)

One reason is your elbows are closer together using aero bars, taking some frontal area away. Similarly, your forearms are exposed to the wind.

The drops themselves add significant drag, another reason why a tri bike which doesn't have them will be more aerodynamic.

(Interesting that people seem to be conditioned to looking at themselves/other riders from the side and judging how aero it is, and rarely look head on).

woody1

i put them on a flat bar racer ( hybrid ) as i didnt have the drop position available to me
i would say that id imagine its way handier to lie on the tri bars than stay in a drop position, and obviously for me its way more aerodynamic than being up on the flat bars, hands miles apart and chest open , im like a sail... it has taken minutes off my times but then again using the wifes lighter racer with the drops is a good deal faster than my bike as well,
and i got the tri-bars for free, which is an important detail...