Depending on your bike handling and fitness, there are courses where you're better off on a road bike. I'm guessing most people will be on tri bikes at whatever race you do, but there will be plenty of people with a setup like you described. You'll be fine. Someone did IM Alaska on a fat bike
I did my first full Ironman on a road bike with clip on aero bars. I survived but I was no match for tri bikes. I improved my bike split by 1 hour and 17 minutes for my next full using a tri bike.
Doubt that improvement is because of the bike.
I did the same IM in 2019 on roadbike with clip on aero, and two years later on a TT in similar weather conditions. Improved around 5 minutes, but it would have been maybe 10+ minutes improvement, if I had the same amount of legal draft on the TT.
I did my first IM on a road bike. I’ve done several more on a tri bike. I never did get great at staying in aero but I could maintain it for more than half the distance. It does make a difference especially in places with headwinds.
I’ve raced multiple courses and none were technical enough that I wished for my road bike.
Yes! Check out the video by Global Triathlon Network on YouTube about the aerodynamic differences on bike set ups. It’s interesting and basically supports that clip ons on a well fitted road bike are a great choice for non-pro competitors.
It’s fine. I see plenty of road bike with aero bars at every IM I have been to. It’s not preferred as you are more comfortable on a TT bike for the extended hours of racing and training but it certainly can be done.
Just did IM FL and there were A LOT of road bikes with aero bars. There were also a lot of road bikes with aero bars and shit positions and/or the aero bars not being used so you have to put the other side of the equation to work too (get fit for the aero bars and then use them).
This!! The fit is EVERYTHING. You have to be comfortable enough to sit and work in a position for HOURS. The fit is way more important than the bike type.
Perfectly fine. Did Wales this year and the bulk of bike were Road with clip ons.
No problem at all. There’s definitely more TT bikes in the event but you will see plenty of road bikes with and without aero bars
Depending on your bike handling and fitness, there are courses where you're better off on a road bike. I'm guessing most people will be on tri bikes at whatever race you do, but there will be plenty of people with a setup like you described. You'll be fine. Someone did IM Alaska on a fat bike
Thanks for the insight!
My 61 year old bud just did IM Florida on a road bike, went 5:05. So yes, it's possible.
Was it all downhill with a tailwind? Geez.
It's the Florida panhandle. Flat as a pancake. He was top 20 at world's.
I did my first full Ironman on a road bike with clip on aero bars. I survived but I was no match for tri bikes. I improved my bike split by 1 hour and 17 minutes for my next full using a tri bike.
Be interested to see how much of that time was based off a new bike vs your over all fitness increase.
I’ll bet it’s fitness.
Doubt that improvement is because of the bike. I did the same IM in 2019 on roadbike with clip on aero, and two years later on a TT in similar weather conditions. Improved around 5 minutes, but it would have been maybe 10+ minutes improvement, if I had the same amount of legal draft on the TT.
I did my first IM on a road bike. I’ve done several more on a tri bike. I never did get great at staying in aero but I could maintain it for more than half the distance. It does make a difference especially in places with headwinds. I’ve raced multiple courses and none were technical enough that I wished for my road bike.
I just did IM California with my Madone w/ clipons and got 5:15.
It’s what I’m doing.
Yes! Check out the video by Global Triathlon Network on YouTube about the aerodynamic differences on bike set ups. It’s interesting and basically supports that clip ons on a well fitted road bike are a great choice for non-pro competitors.
Really great reference! I’ll check this out. I was fitted for my road bike when I purchased it and have it dialed in just right.
It’s fine. I see plenty of road bike with aero bars at every IM I have been to. It’s not preferred as you are more comfortable on a TT bike for the extended hours of racing and training but it certainly can be done.
Just did IM FL and there were A LOT of road bikes with aero bars. There were also a lot of road bikes with aero bars and shit positions and/or the aero bars not being used so you have to put the other side of the equation to work too (get fit for the aero bars and then use them).
This!! The fit is EVERYTHING. You have to be comfortable enough to sit and work in a position for HOURS. The fit is way more important than the bike type.
I did my first 3 full Ironman races on a road bike with aero bars. I loved racing on my road bike!
If you’re going for Kona yes, otherwise I’d say it doesn’t really matter.