How to Improve Your Triathlon Timing With a Good Road Bike
A triathlon is a grueling event that consists of a swim, cycling, and ends with a run.
If you don't have previous conditioning, you are going to find it hard to finish the event.
Sometimes, for such events, it's all about energy efficiency.
A good road bike can help you improve your overall timing.
Here's why.
Reason 1: More aerodynamic.
Reason 2: More comfortable ride.
Reason 3: Less weight to carry.
Reason 4: Better power transfer.
Reason 5: More competitive looking.
Reason 1: More aerodynamic.
A good roadie is definitely more aerodynamic.
If you are thinking about completing a triathlon with a mountain bike, think again! Not that it's impossible, but it's going to be energy sapping.
Your timing will be terrible.
That's why very few people (except beginners) use mountain bikes to participate in such events.
A good bicycle helps you deal with wind resistance.
The faster you go, the more wind you have to deal with.
With a more aerodynamic position, you spend less energy trying to overcome the wind resistance.
That translates to better speed.
You also save energy for the run.
Reason 2: More comfortable ride.
Good tri bikes, especially those with aero bars, provides you with a more comfortable ride.
The posture is more aerodynamic, allowing you to pedal smoothly and cover more ground quickly.
Your elbows can rest on the handlebars and you can recover while your competitors are struggling on their bicycles.
Reason 3: Less weight to carry.
Carbon fibre and titanium bikes weigh much less when compared to traditional aluminum bikes.
Of course, aluminum bikes are more commonly seen as they cost a lot less.
If you have the cash to spare, consider buying a full carbon bike.
A full carbon bike can weigh 3 to 4 kilos less than a mediocre aluminum bike.
That means those who are riding a poorly engineered bike could be riding with a 3 to 4 kilo handicap! Reason 4: Better power transfer.
Good roadies are engineered to transfer the maximum amount of power to the wheels.
If you ride a poorly engineered road bike, you notice that much of the power is lost when you pedal.
This is often described as "the bike is not very responsive".
High quality road bikes prevent unnecessary energy wastage.
As you pedal, the bike surges forward, and that's what you want to achieve.
Reason 5: More competitive looking.
Join an multi-sport event and you will notice many participants looking very aggressive.
They dress in dri-fit expensive looking clothing, and they ride super costly carbon bikes.
The event appears more like a bike show.
Each competitor is trying to showoff his or her latest (or most expensive) bike.
This has a mental element to it.
Besides being able to showoff, having a good road bike also provides a mental advantage.
You know, for sure, that others will find it hard to beat you.
After all, you are carrying less weight, and you are up against lesser wind resistance.
Before the event starts, you are already one up.
If you don't have previous conditioning, you are going to find it hard to finish the event.
Sometimes, for such events, it's all about energy efficiency.
A good road bike can help you improve your overall timing.
Here's why.
Reason 1: More aerodynamic.
Reason 2: More comfortable ride.
Reason 3: Less weight to carry.
Reason 4: Better power transfer.
Reason 5: More competitive looking.
Reason 1: More aerodynamic.
A good roadie is definitely more aerodynamic.
If you are thinking about completing a triathlon with a mountain bike, think again! Not that it's impossible, but it's going to be energy sapping.
Your timing will be terrible.
That's why very few people (except beginners) use mountain bikes to participate in such events.
A good bicycle helps you deal with wind resistance.
The faster you go, the more wind you have to deal with.
With a more aerodynamic position, you spend less energy trying to overcome the wind resistance.
That translates to better speed.
You also save energy for the run.
Reason 2: More comfortable ride.
Good tri bikes, especially those with aero bars, provides you with a more comfortable ride.
The posture is more aerodynamic, allowing you to pedal smoothly and cover more ground quickly.
Your elbows can rest on the handlebars and you can recover while your competitors are struggling on their bicycles.
Reason 3: Less weight to carry.
Carbon fibre and titanium bikes weigh much less when compared to traditional aluminum bikes.
Of course, aluminum bikes are more commonly seen as they cost a lot less.
If you have the cash to spare, consider buying a full carbon bike.
A full carbon bike can weigh 3 to 4 kilos less than a mediocre aluminum bike.
That means those who are riding a poorly engineered bike could be riding with a 3 to 4 kilo handicap! Reason 4: Better power transfer.
Good roadies are engineered to transfer the maximum amount of power to the wheels.
If you ride a poorly engineered road bike, you notice that much of the power is lost when you pedal.
This is often described as "the bike is not very responsive".
High quality road bikes prevent unnecessary energy wastage.
As you pedal, the bike surges forward, and that's what you want to achieve.
Reason 5: More competitive looking.
Join an multi-sport event and you will notice many participants looking very aggressive.
They dress in dri-fit expensive looking clothing, and they ride super costly carbon bikes.
The event appears more like a bike show.
Each competitor is trying to showoff his or her latest (or most expensive) bike.
This has a mental element to it.
Besides being able to showoff, having a good road bike also provides a mental advantage.
You know, for sure, that others will find it hard to beat you.
After all, you are carrying less weight, and you are up against lesser wind resistance.
Before the event starts, you are already one up.