LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?

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2006-10-17 4:48 AM

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Subject: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?
My god, few days ago, i found a bike 'litespeed tackyon 1999, with three high end wheel sets'

the Titanium Tri bike.

Today, i found a bike 'Bianchi 928 Carbon SL' the full carbon bike not sure what year it is

but it looks so clean and i guess it is maybe 2005 or 2006.

They both seems like pretty(actually, reallllly) god damn deals.

I want to hear from you IRONs.

should i just stick with LITESPEED tackyon?

Since 'tackyon' is actual tri bike, i have in mind in future i will need tri bike to compete,

but for about 2 years i will be only traning while i participate in small events.

Litespeed has 76 angle on seat, and 74 for Bianchi.

I heard it is good to start with road bike than tri bike from the first place.

But since Ti is stronger(but heavy) and last long, i think i might just stick with tacky,

but again, i hate people cutting me off because they have lighter bike.

specially when i ride my dirth/MTB bike(kona scab) with speedo tires, even when me and

someone on the road bike goes down hill at same speed from first place and when he doesn;t

even pedal as much as i do, and i pedal like mad dog, he still bits me. And i GET PISSED OFF!

(i was at 101 cadence and i guess he was about 90)

Ti and carbon issue is so confusing since i play golf(5 handicap) and know about these materials.

nowdays, every freakin drivers are made with Carbon shaft, and Ti club head.

This is so funny because i don;t think i can choose one material to be used in my driver.

cus they make me to drive more than 30m longer than one missed out.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. GIVE ME SOME OPINIONS IF YOU DON"T MIND


ps. Yes i actually went to another LBS and tried 50cm bike, and it fits me way better than

43cm bike. so the issuse with the size of the frame wouldn;t really matter anymore cuz

these bikes are in 51cm and 50cm.



Edited by PeanutJelly 2006-10-17 5:12 AM

2006-10-17 5:19 AM
in reply to: #570565

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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?
oh by the way, the tackyon is with 650c wheels and the bianchi is with 700c wheels.

does it really matter to have bigger wheels?
2006-10-17 6:55 AM
in reply to: #570565

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Queen BTich
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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?

It doesn't matter what distance race you do, if you want a tri bike, get a tri bike. I'd go for the Litespeed, titanium is a much more cooler bike. Of course I have one so I'm biased. Anything is going to be better than your MTN bike! 

(Your post is very hard to follow. Why all the spacing?)

2006-10-17 8:11 AM
in reply to: #570590

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Giver
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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?
You need to decide whether or not you want a road bike or a tri bike. The Tachyon is a 7 year old bike, so it may not be as great a deal as you're thinking it is. And be very, very careful about the sizes. Be positive they fit you before you drop any money (I'm confused about how you're currently riding a 43(?) but think a 50 or 51 will be OK. How tall are you?
2006-10-17 8:28 AM
in reply to: #570565

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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?
I was actually spacing cuz i thought it will look easier to read
but if is not, i will just do the normal.

I am not riding 43cm bike, I went to the local bike shop and measured my inseam once.
I actually didn;t like the guy at the shop, anyway, he told me 43cm will fit me according to
the trek guide book, but when i tried 43, it was too small.
Today i went to another LBS(my home LBS) and just tried 50cm bike if it fits
and it was much better fit(the bike shop i went yesterday, they didn't have 50cm somehow)
After trying out, i knew that i can do 50~51cm, and that's how... and i am 5'3''



Edited by PeanutJelly 2006-10-17 8:30 AM
2006-10-17 8:41 AM
in reply to: #570565

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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?

Don't worry about brand, wheels, tri vs. road or any other factors before settling on the right size bike ... a good deal on wrong sized bike is nothing more than a bike that does not fit + in turn wasted money.

Road bikes tend to demand one size larger than tri bikes due to the different geometery.  That said, different brands also have different fits due to different frame geometry, but this variance is usually not more than 2 cm. 

The good news is that time is on your side.  As we enter more and more into the 'off season' you will see more and more used bikes for sale as folks begin to upgrade for the coming season.  You will also see more and more 2006 models on sale ... and the longer into the off season you go, the cheaper they get.

Your bike will be your largest purchase. It is also the piece of equipment that you will spend the most time with while training. Both are good reasons to make sure you take your time in making the decision.

 

2006-10-17 9:47 AM
in reply to: #570565

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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?
If you are not positioned correctly, all the bells and whistles in the world won't help. As a reformed Roadie, obsessive Mt Biker, and die-hard Cyclocrosser, and occasional Tri/Du racer... I can tell you from hard lessons learned that a proper bike fitting from a reputable shop is an absolute necessity. I would rather buy a bottom of the line bike that fit me perfectly than be given a top of the line bike that didn't fit correctly.
2006-10-17 10:11 AM
in reply to: #570565

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Champion
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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?
I'll first assume (and we all know what THAT can do) that both these bikes "fit" for their respective purposes, or can be modified to fit you for tri.

I'm just going to chime in on frame materials.

Given that we're talking a used bike, I'd feel MUCH more comfortable buying a ti rig than carbon. Carbon is much more notch-sensitive (meaning that small scratches can turn into cracks and frame failures very quickly) than ti. But that's just me. Both bikes are good brands that have been in the market a long time, with good reputations.
2006-10-17 11:06 AM
in reply to: #570735

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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?
I have that same Litespeed, a Tachyon from around then. The frame is bullet proof, the only wear and tear on it is on the stickers.

I bought it used, and I've none done 2 Ironmans, 3 HIM some Oly and Sprints on it, a 200+ mile one day ride, countless 100 mile days while training and it's been great. I think that you'll find Ti has a spring like quality to it, very nice ride.

Mine has 650 wheels too, that is a bit of a hassle, need to make sure that you have plently of inner tubes and whatnot when riding with others (since most newer bikes are 700c wheels, it's hard to bum a tube if you need one).

Like the other posters have mentioned, bike fit is the #1 important thing. Mine fits me great, I've found other bikes I like the fit of, but not enough to think about buying them.
2006-10-17 12:39 PM
in reply to: #570565

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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?
Everybody knows that Celeste green is the COOLEST color on the face of the earth. So of course go with Bianchi

I've always wondered how a few ounces in wheel weight can make an appreciable overall difference when those wheels are packing hundreds of pounds on top of them. Do lighter wheels really make a difference? My sense is not, but maybe physics proves otherwise.

Is there a rocket scientist BT'er out there that can explain how ounces shaved off the wheel are significant?
JB
2006-10-17 1:33 PM
in reply to: #570875

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molto veloce mama
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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?
yea. bianchi. i'm biased too, though.

2006-10-17 1:57 PM
in reply to: #570875

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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?

jeffbach - 2006-10-17 12:39 PM Everybody knows that Celeste green is the COOLEST color on the face of the earth. So of course go with Bianchi I've always wondered how a few ounces in wheel weight can make an appreciable overall difference when those wheels are packing hundreds of pounds on top of them. Do lighter wheels really make a difference? My sense is not, but maybe physics proves otherwise. Is there a rocket scientist BT'er out there that can explain how ounces shaved off the wheel are significant? JB

Because it's rotational weight, and you have to overcome the intertia of moving them from a standstill, or to get them moving faster when you're accelerating.

Truth is, though, that even rotational weight is less significant than aerodynamics in triathloning and endurance cycling, indeed in most cases other than accelerating and climbing. Here's a deccent article.

http://www.ultracycling.com/equipment/wheels.html

2006-10-17 1:58 PM
in reply to: #570565

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Subject: RE: LITESPEED or BIANCHI ?

I thing the Litespeed is a great bike, but if you are looking exclusively at these two bikes, then Fit and comfort should be your priority.  You will not go wrong with either as long as it fits right.

 My 2 cents.
 

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