Setting Up My Road Bike For Time Trailing - Need Advice

[tlarwa]

I'm looking for some help with the "best" procedure to set-up my road bike for time trialing. I used to race duathlons, and rode a Softride that was set-up specifically for time trialing. After a hip replacement (at 46!) I could no longer run, so the TT bike was sold. I have no trouble riding ... and have re-committed myself. I'm feeling pretty strong this year, and am looking to get back into some TT racing (triathlon relays and maybe a local TT series). I know I'll end up building another TT-specific machine at some point, but probably not right away. Sorry for the long intro...

Anyway, I ride a Waterford 2200. I have never set-up the road bike for time trialing, and I'm wondering what the best way to go about it is. To be honest, I am/will still be road riding primarily, so I do not want to go away from that type of cockpit set-up. So as far as equipment set-up goes, it probably will only mean adding clip-ons, maybe a forward seat post, or something similarly simple. My real question is how I go about setting up my position ... saddle position, reach, etc. Any suggestions on how to approach this to make the best out of the situation would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom

[pbbob]

I plan to do a couple 25's, a hill climb, a 6 hour tt a 24 tt and the ride across Indiana ride for time. Here is what I will be doing to the bikes I will be using:
Nothing.

did the same thing when I did duathlons.
It was good enough to get 1 age grade prize :banana:

[deechee]

I'm a little lazy now, but there are tons of articles here (http://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/F.I.S.T._Tri_bike_fit_system/Hip_angle_24.html) on slowtwitch about this.

I also remember on his older site a lot more information about the specific needs of converting road bikes etc. (ie. clip-ons are not all made the same, things like Profile GT jammers or VisionTech's mini TT's are better etc.)

That said, I agree with pbbob that there was a time when I happily raced without clips ons (forearms on bars) and had good times. I didn't like the hack on clip-ons, of messing the seat position. On the other hand, I do love my TT bike now :)

[tlarwa]

I plan to do a couple 25's, a hill climb, a 6 hour tt a 24 tt and the ride across Indiana ride for time. Here is what I will be doing to the bikes I will be using:
Nothing.

did the same thing when I did duathlons.
It was good enough to get 1 age grade prize :banana:

Hah! That is certainly an option ... and one I may opt for. Throw a set of clip-ons on for a different position, and let it ride!

Where do you live in Columbia? I lived there for 13 years (not far from Dobbin Center, or whatever that area is called now). I left in 1995 ... it's so different now!

[regularguy412]

Riding my road bike with clip-ons is how I've always done TTs. Never could justify having a completely separate bike for just Road TTs (never did triathlon).

I pretty much just clipped on the bars and used my basic road position. I reasoned that a road bike was designed for the rider's weight to be in a certain place , and not hung out over the front end on the bars. I also figured that my muscle memory was better and more efficient from having ridden so many miles in that normal position.

To follow in a similar vein as a previous poster: It was good enough to garner 3 wins and 4 thirds in ten attempts in the State 40K TT Championships, in my age group (Master's Class).

Mike in AR:beer: