Triathlon bike or Road bike?

A question we often get asked is which bike should I ride? Should I ride my road bike or my TT bike for my training? The answer generally is that you should use the bike that you intend to race on. As an athlete you need to be comfortable with your bike come race day: know how it handles on down hills and in cross winds. If you have done most of your training on a road bike, especially in the hills, then you may not know how to handle steep fast descents and cross winds on race day on a TT bike which is stiffer and more twitchy. 

For triathlon the Time Trial position on aero bars is the most efficient and comfortable way to ride. It therefore makes sense to do most of your training in this position but build strength holding this position. If you are uncomfortable and cannot hold the position this is a good sign that the riding position may require adjustment or you need to spend more time in the saddle.

You need to be comfortable in your set up and this is why we always recommend a bike fit. You need to be ensure that you can maintain the riding position for the duration of the race whether that be 90 km for a 70.3 or 180 km for the full ironman distance. A too aggressive set up might be very aero but if its not comfortable it could decimate your run split. Always prioritize comfort over possible aerodynamic advantage. 

By David Hunt certified TriSutto coach