Time Trial bikes in road cycling are stupid, change my mind

[mtechnica]

Originally Posted by Spdntrxi

TT bikes are restricted to UCI rules.

Are you arguing to argue or do you actually not understand what I'm saying? I can't tell with you or tomatopants.

[rice rocket]

Originally Posted by mtechnica

See you get the point. Making them ride a fixie is just as arbitrary as (in effect) making them ride a TT bike, and the level of competition as well as the outcome would be identical. So if one is an expensive PITA and one is reasonable and probably safer...

You could say that about any form of racing that has a ruleset (i.e. all). It's all arbitrary. Why race at all.

[mtechnica]

Originally Posted by fried bake

Froome was blowing his nose. So, to be clear, if the TT bikes were designed with plain wheels and not the disk this would probably not have happened but the thing is a sail and coupled with the speed and poor inherent handling, you get ish like this. #facts

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.eur...in-training-cr


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is exactly what I'm saying

[mtechnica]

Originally Posted by rice rocket

You could say that about any form of racing that has a ruleset (i.e. all). It's all arbitrary. Why race at all.

If it's all arbitrary then why make an illogical decision that benefits nobody, endangers riders, and costs more money? Tradition? TT bikes have existed for a minority of cycling's history.

[tomato coupe]

Originally Posted by mtechnica

If it's all arbitrary then why make an illogical decision that benefits nobody, endangers riders, and costs more money? Tradition? TT bikes have existed for a minority of cycling's history.

I hate to break it to you Bubba, but not all road racers benefit equally from TT bikes - technique and training are big factors.

[mtechnica]

Originally Posted by tomato coupe

I hate to break it to you Bubba, but not all road racers benefit equally from TT bikes - technique and training are big factors.

Do you have a point? Not all riders benefit equally from all kinds of bikes. Technique and training is the most important factor for all kinds of bikes and bike racing lol. I feel like you're just flailing here and making no points that mean anything. You're just hoping someone will side with you which is the typical strategy for internet trolling when they have nothing useful to contribute. Literally talking nonsense.

[ripvanrando]

The solution to lowered visibility in the TT position is simple. Instead of rotating the torso forward in the TT/Tri position, rotated it the other way. Visibility is perfect. Feet are out front and head is towards the rear. If you crash, you are closer to the ground and it is the feet and legs, not the head, taking the impact.

Not much of a racer here, but I never crashed in a TT position but have had my share of Crit fun. Isn't crashing part of racing?

[tomato coupe]

Originally Posted by mtechnica

blah, blah, blah.

A guy starts a thread with “change my mind” and then accuses someone else of being a troll. Priceless.

[mtechnica]

Originally Posted by ripvanrando

The solution to lowered visibility in the TT position is simple. Instead of rotating the torso forward in the TT/Tri position, rotated it the other way. Visibility is perfect. Feet are out front and head is towards the rear. If you crash, you are closer to the ground and it is the feet and legs, not the head, taking the impact.

This is genius actually. Recumbents have better visibility, even more advanced aero than TT bikes, and are even faster, so why not just switch to them for time trials?

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by mtechnica

Do you have a point? Not all riders benefit equally from all kinds of bikes. Technique and training is the most important factor for all kinds of bikes and bike racing lol. I feel like you're just flailing here and making no points that mean anything. You're just hoping someone will side with you which is the typical strategy for internet trolling when they have nothing useful to contribute. Literally talking nonsense.

The point is that for stage racing for GC, TT bikes allow the time trail specialists to gain time back. The TT specialists make the best use of the tool and that's their forte. You put them at a disadvantage by removing their tool. It IS a component of GC stage racing.

[mtechnica]

Originally Posted by tomato coupe

A guy starts a thread with “change my mind” and then accuses someone else of being a troll. Priceless.

You're the one arguing in bad faith, at least my point of view is consistent and understandable. People like you think you're so smart but you would get laughed out of a real debate acting like this. That or people would think you aren't smart enough to follow a nuanced conversation. Either or.

[mtechnica]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

The point is that for stage racing for GC, TT bikes allow the time trail specialists to gain time back. The TT specialists make the best use of the tool and that's their forte. You put them at a disadvantage by removing their tool. It IS a component of GC stage racing.

I'm not entirely convinced changing the bike would change the outcome much if at all. Sure there are some guys that have taken to the TT bike position better than others but stronger riders like Ganna for example are still going to win no matter what. I would posit that TT specialists are TT specialists mostly for reasons not having to do with what bike they're on.

[ripvanrando]

Originally Posted by mtechnica

This is genius actually. Recumbents have better visibility, even more advanced aero than TT bikes, and are even faster, so why not just switch to them for time trials?

UCI banned them in 1931. Yes, they are faster.

TT bikes have been around for at least 40 years. I recall watching the Prologue of the TdF in person around 1982 and there were disc wheels, bull horns, small front wheels, etc.

Changing TT in the Tours to "Eddy" style would unlikely change the order of results BUT would increase the time benefit to the faster riders. I like watching the TT with the fast bikes but do not think going back to 1960's bikes would change anything.

[tomato coupe]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

The point is that for stage racing for GC, TT bikes allow the time trail specialists to gain time back. The TT specialists make the best use of the tool and that's their forte. You put them at a disadvantage by removing their tool. It IS a component of GC stage racing.

I don’t think the OP is interested in actual counter arguments, as is the case with most of the “change my mind” threads.

[mtechnica]

Originally Posted by ripvanrando

UCI banned them in 1931. Yes, they are faster.

TT bikes have been around for at least 40 years. I recall watching the Prologue of the TdF in person around 1982 and there were disc wheels, bull horns, small front wheels, etc.

Changing TT in the Tours to "Eddy" style would unlikely change the order of results BUT would increase the time benefit to the faster riders. I like watching the TT with the fast bikes but do not think going back to 1960's bikes would change anything.

That's an interesting point that I never thought of. Anyhow the recumbent comment was tongue in cheek lol, but it's interesting to think about what restrictions exist and why.