Using a TT frame as an aero road bike, and descending a mountainous route?
 

I'm thinking of building up a TT frame set with a regular road drop bar to use it as an aero road bike.
Would descending a mountainous route with such a setup be dangerous, or is stability depended mainly on wheelbase?
Is the only disadvantage the heavier weight of a TT frame?

Oh were stability solely due to wheelbase, or due to the bike only for that matter:)

Dangerous is an opinion. You have the bike and you know it's handling traits, what do you think? have you been up to speed with the bike yet? How strong are the brakes? Will you be riding alone or in a group? Will the frame/brakes allow the use of wheels and tires that make sense for a challenging route? Andy

I have not purchased the TT frame set yet. It is the Diamondback Serios Team Carbon Time Trial Frameset. I'm not worried about the brakes. I'll be riding in tight/close lines with a group. The frame should allow at the least 23mm tires with 700c wheels

I know nothing about the frameset that you are considering but helped to set-up a TT machine a few seasons ago w/ the then "new" hidden brakes and found them to be not only a nightmare to work on but the best that we could do get was weak, grabby and marginal stopping power, more like slowing power really.
Of course that was w/ TT levers on aero bars but that machine was so specialized for the flat closed course TT it was nearly useless for operation on open public roads, much less down a mountain. :eek:

Since road "aero" road designs are well proven and widely available what advantage would an emasculated TT machine sans the aero bars, wheels and TT position have over an aero design intended for road use descending mountains?

Since the lump on top of the bike is the worst for producing drag you will of course already have a well adapted low/aero position, full low-drag kit of skin-suit, shoe-covers, helmet and freshly shaved legs?

-Bandera

A TT frame is not a good choice for a road bike. They don’t handle all that well and are not very comfortable on a long ride. Due to their upright angles, getting a good road position might not be possible. I assume you’re getting a deal on the frame.

TT bikes are made for a very different type of riding than road bikes. This does not sound like a good idea.

Sorry for car reference, but I am going to take a quarter mile dragster and use it for pikes peak will i have any problems....

yes to OP situation and to my silly car references

Especially riding in group

form follows function

Yes, getting a good price on a TT frame. No hidden brakes. Regular direct mount brakes. I'm also very flexible, and can ride aero in the drops for long periods of time. That being said, I'm only curious as to everyone's input. Thank you for your thoughts :)

The wrong frame for the ride is not a bargain, regardless of price. Generic frames like that are so cheap, just get one that better suits your use.

I have converted a Quintana Roo Seduza and a Pinarello Montello FP8 to road bikes. They both ride better than Cipollini RB800 and Masciarelli Pitbull.

Good luck...

So you're asking about a bike you have zero experience with and wonder if it's "performance" in an event that's not what it is intended to excel at is a good idea.

To flesh out my initial questions- The bike's handling at speed on decents, in a group/pace line or over rough pave is unknown. You never have had the bike up to speed, or for that mater at slow honking hill climbing pace either. Many have already mentioned the concern about braking. Even with non "aero specific" brakes the cable routing of TT bikes can be problematic. You will be pace lining/group riding on a bike designed around the lack of this handling agility. This isn't about only the handling geometry but also the fit/ergonomics. The tire clearances for a TT bike are generally very minimal because TT courses are not chosen for their rough pavement. You have far more traction with the tires staying on the road's surface and this means reasonable tire pressures, which leads to tire widths being reasonable.

Last aspect I didn't comet on was the weight one. The differences between a TT and a similarly set up road bike are only a pound or two. Did you pee before the event? Better not eat too much the day before:) How you handle the flow of the event is vastly more a determinate the a couple pounds of weight. Andy

Like all cycling it's a very personal opinion , depends on how good you are at bike handling.

I know a tt frame is not going to be light, I know you will to fit the bike so you can feel confident .

Only real way to know is to try , but I can tell you a tt specific frame is a great way to get an aero road bike for a cheaper price , looking at most aero road bike is 2017 to 2019 they look like older tt bikes from 2012 anyway same measurements and all .

Most handling comes from the tires anyway so some grippy rubber will always help any bike handle better .

One last note I can give you , is some tt frames are wide from the side so they can catch the wind in a bad spit, while.some tt frames are not , so i would look for a tt frame that looks more like an aero road frame, I have been looking for a bmc time.machine or trek ttx or speed concept 7 , maybe a cervelo p2 or 3 , cannidale slice, ect.......

Why stack the cards against yourself before even buying the parts?

Uh, no. The bike's handling characteristics is mainly due to it's geometry. Road bikes (including aero) have a much different geometry from TT bikes.

The position required for climbing and descending at pace on the road isn't anywhere near what a TT machine is designed for, and probably can't be modified to duplicate.
Turn on your TV and see how dynamic the TdF riders are on big climbs in shifting weight for/aft while seated going up, standing to accelerate and moving forward and low to weight the front wheel on the descents, all while looking where the bike needs to go. Now watch the relatively static position in a TT. Starkly different position requirements met by incompatible specialist frame-set designs.

For all of the talk about "frame stiffness" for decades road machines are still designed with the ride compliance and tire clearance to race at pace on the horrid surfaces of the pave' and the lousy high altitude pavement of the big Euro Mtn passes. TT machines: Not.
Does that matter? Hit a big pavement ripple at pace in a decreasing radius corner and you tell me.

Does a TT frame make for an optimal mountain terrain machine? Of course not.

Once more:
Since road "aero" road designs are well proven and widely available what advantage would an emasculated TT machine sans the aero bars, wheels and TT position have over an aero design intended for road use climbing and descending mountains?

Horses for courses as they correctly say.

PS: On "great deals".
A waste of $,$$$ if not suitable for use and correctly sized.

-Bandera

Why not just get an aero endurance (road) frameset?

I know of one person who changed his TT bike to a standard road bike. Not a perfect set up, but doable for him. Looking at pics of the Diamondback frame, the rear brake is going to be a fun one. Been there, done it several times. It sucks. Even as a direct mount the setup behind the BB shell really does suck.