A triathlon tests one’s endurance, as it involves running, swimming, and cycling all done over a given distance. For triathlons, there is so much to consider including your body fitness and comfort.
More importantly, a lot of consideration will need to go to your running and trek needs, such as your running shoes, as well as to your cycling needs. You need to get the right bicycle at the bike shop that will help you cover distances in a faster and easier way.
There are different types of bikes. They include the mountain bike, gravel bikes, road bikes, and triathlon bikes.
They all have their differences when it comes to things such as the bike fit, the bottom bracket, the frame angles, the road frame they are meant for, wheels, geometry, size, seat position, and so much more. Depending on the bike, the seat tube will normally be different.
If your question is which ones are best for triathlons, then that would be both a road bike and a triathlon bike.
However, even with just these two, there’s a lot to consider before you head out for the actual triathlon.
For example, will you be doing a time trial or racing against other people? A time trial is just a situation in which the athlete competes against the clock to secure the fastest possible time.
A road bike is highly versatile so it can work like a triathlon bike for a race, but both bike types perform well. However, there are a number of differences between a triathlon bike and a road bike.
Table of Contents
Triathlon Bikes vs Road Bikes
1. Frame Geometry
The most basic and notable difference between these two bikes for the rider is the bike geometry design, especially when it comes to the seat tube angle. Triathlon bikes come with a steeper seat post angle compared to road bikes.
The seat tube angle of a road bike on average is positioned at 78 degrees compared to the seat tube angle of a triathlon bike that is set at 72 degrees. The fact that the seat tube angle of a triathlon bike is steeper makes it easier for the rider to cycle at a faster speed because of the riding position.
It allows you to bend your body down more to a better, steeper angle that helps reduce wind resistance. Wind resistance is one of the main factors that greatly affect your speed while you ride.
The steep seat tube angle will place you further from the bike and will allow you to achieve that much-needed aerodynamic stance easily. When you’re on a tri-bike, your hips are normally pushed forward, giving you a lower rider tension and less engagement on your quadriceps and hamstrings.
2. Hand Positions
Another difference that exists between a triathlon bike and a road bike has everything to do with where you place your hands. A triathlon bike comes with aero bars for an aero position while a road bike uses regular handlebars.
Most triathlon bikes’ models come with specially framed tubing as well as special wheels, features that help in minimizing drag. This hand positioning also helps the cyclist increase their speed, which is important in triathlon competitions.
Thanks to the aerobars on a triathlon bike, you’ll be able to assume a more aerodynamic position that involves lowering the body and having your arms well in line with your torso. This is of course thanks to not only the aero bars but also the seat tilt.
When the cyclist is lower, their elbows are rested more which is a more optimal body position for a faster ride. Unlike the handlebars found on a road bike, aero bars on triathlon bikes serve as armrests and handgrips at the same time.
3. Weight
It’s not uncommon to run into a triathlete lifting the tri bike they use for competition easily over their heads. However, realize that this is not because the bikes are lighter in weight.
If anything, tri bikes are actually heavier than most road bikes around, which is why it takes a well-seasoned rider to handle the tri bikes. Road bikes, being lighter, are best suited for a steeper angle road or any other steep climb place where the gradient is 6%.
Tri bikes are not great for hill climbing as they are meant for flatter terrain.
4. Required Muscle
Triathletes will be forced to sit in a position in which their leg muscles, like the hamstrings and quads, are strained. While this is fine if you’re going to be riding your bike alone on the road, it is difficult if the cycling portion will need you to adjust your legs to run faster.
In this sense, a tri bike is better because of the inherent posture of the triathlon bike that facilitates a more aerodynamic position allowing you to use less of your quad muscles. This is particularly great because it will save those muscles for when you jump off your bike later to run on the road races that follow the bike riding.
This makes triathlon bikes more suitable than road bikes.
5. Frame Tube
A road bike is built to give a triathlete comfort while they ride over long distances. Road bikes are made from vibration reduction and cushioning material to give triathletes more comfort.
The top tubes for road bikes dampen vibrations because they are made thicker. They also maintain stiffness to allow the proficient transfer of energy.
A tri bike on the other hand gives a more streamlined frame featuring either large flat tubes or oval ones. The frame tubing helps in cutting air and reducing the frontal area.
6. Speed Factor/Aerodynamics
When it comes to speed for a triathlete, the clear winner is a triathlon bike since it comes engineered with design features that make sure the bike has plenty of rolling resistance on the road. The drag is also minimal.
Remember, when the aerodynamics is greater, there is an increase in speed, something that a road bike doesn’t give much of when the two are compared. However, before you completely dismiss a road bike, keep in mind that overall, the performance in races is also dependent on your efforts.
This perfectly explains why some seasoned riders will often be seen riding road bikes even during competitions but at the same rate as those amateurs on triathlon bikes.
Conclusion
When it comes to triathlon events in various cities, towns, or states such as Quintana Roo, triathletes have to choose their bikes wisely.
I have already highlighted that the main difference between a road bike and a triathlon bike lies in the geometry of the frame, bike seat tube, the wheels, the type of bars which could be normal handlebars or aero bars, and so much more.
If you still have questions, there are bicycle websites that come in handy for racers as they give a reasonable answer on the website for any query. All it takes is a single search for a website with information on the differences between a road bike and a triathlon bike and you will get a good result.
The website will have a great profile and will show the advantages and differences of one vs the other bike when it comes to different activities they can be used for such as a race. They will also have an image illustrating more on the difference between the two and how both fit a race.
Depending on the website type, it could have cookies. “What are these cookies,” you may ask.
Cookies are built for a website to track, personalize information about the user interested in a bike for a triathlon, and then save the information. These cookies are more for the website’s benefit rather than the users’ though but they aren’t exactly harmful.
However, despite how annoying the cookies can be, there could be some great deals on another part of the website that you could really benefit from. It could be tickets to some races or a discount on certain bicycles, which is exciting.
That said, this article should come in handy if you’ve been wondering which bicycles are better for competitions.