New to Tri's and need a good starter bike

Whats your price range and how tall are you?

I am 5'6 and I'm not sure what a good starter bike goes for. I guess a few hundred dollars but nothing too much. I'm just not sure. Thanks for the reply.

I am new also and started with my $125 kmart mountain bike. Everyone blew past me and did not know I was part of the group, so I went and bought a road bike for $500. It is a Giant OCR-3 with alumininum frame. It is rated as the best entry level road bike by some bicycle magazine. I am happy with it. By the time I paid taxes, bike pump, shoes, clipless pedals, helmet , jersey, bike shorts, saddle bag, bottle holder the price was in the $800-$900 range. I would never have spent this much if I knew beforehand it would cost so much.

However, when I was in the bike shop, I was thinking of a 3 year investment time line. I figure I would blow $40/month OR MORE! on something else if I did not do this so I am actually getting off cheap !

Initially I wanted to go the used route but after spending 1 weekend and not finding anything for under $1500, I decided to try and modify my mountain bike so that I could keep up with the group. I was in the bike shop trying to buy slick tires for my bike shop when the bike shop owner told me I could never make that moutain bike keep up with the triathlon group and I should stop putting money in it and get a road bike if I wanted to do triathlons. The slick tires would be $60 installed and I would eventually be getting a road bike anyway for triathlons after I discovered the bike itself was the problem so why put $60 in the mountain bike for a few weeks use when I could get a whole new bike for $600 and use it for several years ? HE WAS 100% RIGHT.
I am logging 50 mile rides now and then swimming afterwards. With the mountain bike, I was worn out after riding and discouraged because I was so far behind everyone else.

I've had the bike 3 weeks now and I have looked at alot bikes in bike shops, both used and new. I am happy with my $500 New Giant OCR-3.

I am with Money.

The OCR-3 is my starter bike. 6 races in and I am still doing well with it.

For the price you can't beat it.

Jason

I dunno if this will help, I picked this bike up for $200.00 at a galyans store. Not the greatest but a good starter bike.



Edited by ChrisAndNat 2004-07-19 4:49 PM






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Thanks so much for your help! I really do appreciate it. This bike is right in my price range. What was different about it that you didn't like? Also, Do you know if there is a galyans store in NJ? Are they a chain?

Anyway, I'll do some research and let you know. Thanks again soooo much! :-)

Edited by FIN16 2004-07-20 11:43 AM

galyans is a chain but im sure Diamond backs are not too expensive even on ebay or something.

what is the name of the bike or style from Diamondback?

It's a Diamondback Interval and for $200 it would be a fairly good buy for a first timer. It has a 7005 aluminum frame with a Sora shifter and rear derailler. It is definitely not the kind of bike I would buy but hey, for someone who needs a bike and is just starting out, it beats the department store variety by many miles. The seat looks horrible; if it is padded, exchange it for a nice firm seat, you'll be happy you did.

Thanks for the info.....

I HAVE A HUFFY MOUNT BIKE , NEED ROAD TIRES AND THE FRAMES HEAVY. I'M A BIG ROOKIE IN TRAING .

Yep, I have a mountain bike myself... For now that is what works... I like the price of the Diamondback for a true beginner bike. I will upgrade once I complete my first Tri.

I am having a hard time finding the DiamondBack for under $500.00. Any ideas.

I forgot, oshmans has bikes like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=36...

heres some others;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=36...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=36...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=58093&item=3...

Ooooooh, I am sorely tempted to buy the Trek 560 with the Cyclone derailler. She is a beauty.

What about women specific bikes? I have an old Cannondale and it has a short top tube (I don't know what it's really called) and it's a perfect fit. All the unisex bikes I've tried have been too far of a reach to the handlebars. Any ideas?

You don't have to go to a Bike store for a Great deal. I did put slicks on my MTB and Trained on it for 6 weeks for my first Tri back in July. BUT the day before the Tri, I found at a Garage sale a Raleigh Marathon for $15 dollars. It had a flat tire, and needed 2 new cables. After putting $35 dollars into this bike, a friend talked me into using this Raleigh the Next day. I am glad I did!!! I was passing people on Hy-breads, and Converted MTBs.

The Training I did on the MTB sure did help, and I was able to Cut 7 minutes off my time in the Next Tri I did in August!!!
I will continue to ride this OLD Clunker for the 2005 season and so on. I will never finish in the top 1/3rd of a Sprint Tri, but Training and having fun doing them is my Goal!

The Best part of my story, I was climbing this Hill in the second Tri. 1/2 mile climb about 200 Ft rise, when I passed a Guy walking his $3500 Cannondale. HA HA HA

this thread is probably dead but I just layed away a 2003 Diamondback Interval at a local Dicks Sporting Goods. The thing had cobwebs on it it was there so long! $234! Sweet. I did my first sprint tri last spring on a $5 Huffy I found at Salvation Army.