Ask Kikay Runner: Road Bike or Tri Bike?

This is a section on my blog where I answer questions people ask me. If you have any questions for future Ask Kikay Runner entries, email me, tweet me, or leave me a message on the Kikay Runner Facebook page.

Jeff Dayrit asks: I’m currently on a Ceepo Mamba and decided to train for Cebu 70.3 next year. I’m using the Mamba on the road geo (seatpost in normal position) and short aero bars.

Was looking at pictures of Mako and have seen it on both seatpost positions.

Which setup do you use for half-IM distance? Does riding the Mamba on fast forward make you run fresher after? Do you have a dedicated road bike that you ride for training and group rides now that you’re racing on the Katana?

My concern is that this is my only non-mountain bike and want to keep riding on one setup instead of changing between road rides and tri racing.

Have to make a decision on 1. Whether to keep the Mamba and set it up in regular or fast forward or 2. Sell the mamba and get a real tri bike (which I’m not sure I would like to do usual long/group rides on).

Hi Jeff,

The Ceepo Mamba was one of the most comfortable bikes I’ve ever ridden. I don’t know if I could have done all those long miles in Nuvali otherwise for my full ironman.

What people don’t know is that there were actually two “Mako” bikes built. The first one was a size S that I used for the latter quarter of 2013. That one had the fast forward seatpost position. The second one was a size XS built just before Challenge Philippines and also used for Challenge Roth (full IM distance) and Ironman 70.3 Philippines. That one had the regular seatpost position.

Either way, the Mamba would still have a more aggressive frame geometry than a road bike. I’ve always ridden with a triathlon fit (one optimized for aerobars), even when on a road bike.

According to my bike fitter, some experienced athletes (like Coach Ani de Leon Brown) ask to have their bike fits for their tri bikes made LESS aggressive when they train for Ironman distance. This is for greater comfort so they can do the mileage needed.

The Ceepo Mamba is already in itself a tri bike (usually marketed to ITU athletes). I’ve seen it set up with drop bars as well as tri base bars and aerobars. I’ve trained and raced on it with dropbars and clip-on aerobars, and seriously the only advantage of the basebars is that they are more aerodynamic and you can shift while you’re in aero position. When in group rides, the drop bars are still the best and safest.

I don’t have a road bike right now because I have no space for it, but there’s a reason people with tri bikes also often end up buying a second road bike.

If I were you and only had space or budget for one bike, keeping the Ceepo Mamba is hard to beat 🙂 It will carry you well throughout your Cebu bike split and the training you’ll need to get there.