Bike enthusiasts are often confused when choosing the best bike for their needs. Whether you’re thinking of buying a road bike or a triathlon bike, you should know what each has to offer and how it will fit your riding style.
If you’re preparing for a triathlon, you may naturally want to go for a field-specific bike. But this doesn’t always have to be the case. Here, we tackle the triathlon bike vs. road bike debate to help you find the best model for you.
Triathlon Bike vs. Road Bike – How They’re Different
As the name states, a triathlon bike serves its purpose in triathlon races. On the other hand, a road bike is better suited for road (and off-road) races.
Most notably, the differences between these two bike types lie in the design.
Frame Geometry
The frame geometry of each bike is different. For example, in triathlon bikes, the seat angle is at a steeper angle of around 72°. On the other hand, on a road bike, the seat tube angle is usually about 76°-78°.
But what does that mean in practice?
Well, the steeper the angle, the faster the speeds that can be achieved by the rider. The higher degree of a seat angle allows you to bend your body lower than when the seat is flat. The bending down helps reduce wind resistance, which is the main secret to going faster.
Aero Bars
The second significant difference is that triathlon bikes have aero bars, while road bikes have handlebars like regular bikes.
Many special triathlon bikes also feature specific frame tubing and special wheels. All these changes are made to boost speeds and minimize drag, both crucial aspects of triathlon races.
Saddle Location
The saddles on road bike frames are farther behind the pedals, and the handlebars are also a bit higher. This allows the rider to climb steep terrain, handle sharp turns and descents, or accelerate more explosively.
In triathlon bikes, the saddle is further forward and almost sits over the pedals. The bars are also in a lower position. This puts the rider in a more aerodynamic position to achieve faster speeds and move through the wind more efficiently.
Triathlon bikes can still descend, climb, accelerate, and corner despite the differences. They just don’t do it as well as road bikes. Plus, most triathlon courses are mostly straight on flat terrain. In contrast, road bike races often occur on hills and similar terrain. This is also why most Tour de France competitors never ride bikes with aero bars.
So why are these differences significant, and why do they exist in the first place?
The simplest answer is – drag. As previously mentioned, a triathlon bike positions the rider higher, with hands wider, and is generally more suited for an “aero” position. This allows the triathlete to navigate the wind faster without extra effort.
Road cycling also incorporates drafting. Riders in the front do a lot of work, while the riders behind roll much easier. Draft triathlon races feature at national championships, Olympics, and amateur races. For these events, riders are required to have a road bike. But still, most triathlon athletes are non-drafting. Plus, the riders need to keep a 7-meter gap between them, so triathlon bikes offer a more efficient position for non-draft racing.
When to Use a Triathlon Bike
When should you use a triathlon bike then? It’s pretty simple. If you participate in non-drafting triathlon races, you should use a triathlon bike. For draft triathlon races, riders have to use road bikes anyway.
The simple rule of thumb is that more challenging terrain (in climbs, descents, sharp turns, and similar) calls for road bikes even in non-drafting races.
Regardless, professional triathletes can use triathlon bikes on just about any terrain, given that they have mastered the critical competencies required for the sport. Professional riders often prioritize climbing, descending, and cornering elements. Once mastered, it’s easy to use the benefits of the aerodynamic position for most races.
Which Bike Should You Get?
The best bike for you depends on your skills, needs, and geographical area.
Your Skills
As a beginner triathlete, you may want to follow the natural bike ownership progression practiced by the more experienced riders. Usually, when you first start out with the sport, you want to go for road bikes. The bicycle you use for your first races doesn’t make much difference. These competitions should only be used to gain general experience and understanding of what you have to offer.
After a few road bike races, you can upgrade your handlebars and install clip-on aero bars. This helps reduce drag and allows you to go a bit faster. Note that this isn’t how road bikes should be ridden, but it’s a good step towards advancing further.
A triathlon bike is often a natural progression step after a few years of riding road bikes. Most triathletes use their road bikes for group rides, recovery rides, or hilly routes.
Your Needs
Which bike you should get also depends on your needs in general. A tri bike will be better if you focus solely on triathlon. But if you plan to do group rides, road racing, and similar activities other than the triathlon, then go for a road bike first. Triathlon bikes aren’t the best for group rides and road races, so it’s better to have a bike well-suited for the task.
After all, if you become a professional triathlete, you can always have one tri bike and one road model and change them depending on your needs.
Geographical Area
The choice also depends on whether you mostly bike on flat terrain or mountains with steeper hills. Triathlon bikes are designed to help you ride faster and more efficiently on flat and straight roads. On the other hand, if you live in an area with hills and prefer to bike longer distances, then the road bike is a better choice.
Consider a road bike if:
- You’re a beginner triathlete
- You plan to go on group rides
- You often bike on steeper terrain
- You like to ride longer distances
Consider a triathlon bike if:
- You’re a triathlete with years of road biking experience
- You want to focus only on triathlon
- You don’t do group rides
- You don’t often ride long distances, especially not on a steep road
- You mostly ride on flat surfaces
Understanding the Differences Between Triathlon Bike vs. Road Bike
Hopefully, this overview has answered all your questions in the triathlon bike vs. road bike debate. Now you know which bike type fits your needs, geographical area, and skills.
The more time you spend in the sport, the more you’ll understand how each bike can be beneficial. Make sure not to rush with professional triathlon bikes just yet – give yourself time to get into the sport and practice achieving great results with a road bike first. Time will tell when you’re ready to upgrade to a triathlon model.