It's not the machine, it's the motor

Absolutely true... I bet spending $5k on personal coaching would make us all faster than if we spent it on a new bike. ;-)  But... I do like shiny objects.

Me thinks ye missed the point.....

She is probably going to wiin it with her POS bike!

u mad?

But clearly that's not the OP's intention to discuss with the thread, so your comment is a little troll'ish.

When Chrissie Wellington won her first Kona, she did it on a Cervelo P2C. She just said that it was the bike she felt most comfortable on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9P-QYzn5S4&feature=related

But, that doesn't mean anything. All it proves was that she was most comfortable on THAT bike...not that it's all about the engine. Obviously if the OP's fitness director rode a Felt DA-DI2 at $10K and it was a 58cm and fit her like chit, she would do worse than a well fitting aluminum bike.

The way I look at it is from an all things equal standpoint. There is undoubtedly going to be someone with an engine VERY similar to yours....and if you can best THAT person or people with better equipment, then more power to you.

Look back at your last results and see how much it would have taken to get that next position in AG or in the overall. My last race was 3 seconds for the next spot....I guess it just comes down to how much that spot means to you. To me, in any form of racing, it means everything.

Very true. Its definitly all about the motor. My motor needs major work though. Im betting 90% of this site would fly by me on my p2 while riding a mountian bike with knobby tires. The only reasons I bought the p2 are as follows:

1. I could afford it
2. Knowing my wife will kick my a$$ if I dont ride it is good motivation to go out and train when I feel like sleeping in.

In hindsight, I think a coach would have been a better investment at this point in time, but I want to get some base miles under me before I hire someone to fine tune everything Im doing wrong.

i concur.

i understand the OP point.  but i think bringing a knife to a gun fight is silly.  especially if you have a natural motor already.  why would you short change your self? 

now there are some things WORTH buying for speed.

1. clothing
2. fit
3. helmet
4. wheels (maybe depends on your speed IMHO)

if the bike FITS you then you will not see (at our level) any benifits from a alum vs carbon frame.  the components are only faster when being used.  the rest of the time they are just being carried around with you the same as the cheaper ones are.

i am currently trying to catch up to my bike as it is faster than the motor on it.  gives me little excuse for a bad t1 to t2 time......

a coach would be the best bang for the buck (maybe)

I'm at the point right now where why would I spend hundreds of dollars saving a few grams here and there, when I am ~20 pounds overweight.  Just thought I would throw that in there.

But clearly that's not the OP's intention to discuss with the thread, so your comment is a little troll'ish.

Bryan....I have no beef with you.  And, I enjoy your presence here.  I'm not the only one who asked a pretty straight-forward question.  Wouldn't she be even faster on better equipment? 

From where my thread on HTFU - swimming got derailed, I'd say there was no room for throwing stones, based on where you live.

I meant no harm or malice towards the OP in my question.  It's pretty common sense we'd all be well-served to work on our engines.  It's also pretty common sense that there ARE ways to attain speed, otherwise (with the SAME engine).



Edited by nc452010 2010-05-21 10:18 AM

I do think some people are missing the OP's point.

I took it as encouragement for those of us riding entry level bikes to keep working at it, because here's an example of someone who qualified for the most prestigious event in our sport without breaking the bank.  I did not take it as an argument against buying the latest bling, or that an entry level bike was as fast as a top of the line, wind tunnel designed bike.

I think the point of the thread is:

There is people that cant do 12 hours in kona even when the nicest bike available.  And there is people that can do it with an entry level bike. Therefore, it is the engine not the machine

What if the engines are equal?

then that would not be the point of this tread.

I think the point is:
                             "you can be very good without the latest and greatest equipment. "

I have made some very expensive upgrades that have made no difference in my speed. I am still not convinced I am any faster on my carbon fiber tri-bike than my Duel. I actually have several bike splits from previous years that are faster on the aluminum frame than carbon.

I agree with the OP thought but also think that a $1200 entry level Felt is a lot less of a limiter than some of the POS bikes you see in transition areas.

Ah, ok....so at what point in the engine's development does equipment become a factor? If ever?

And at what point is the equipment overkill? Is there a price point? Is a $2k bike ok but a $3K bike ridiculous? Or is it $5K?

That's what I always say... while I would love the carbon pedals and the carbon aerobars and what not... what I really need to worry about is my A$$ and the size of it.

Until someone can provide me with an aerodynamic carbon A$$, I will forgo the pedals and bottle cages...

Plus the "entry level" Felt was a top of the line couple years ago...

This too...

why people want to save weight on the bike when they are still over weight, or close to it!

Simple, because weight is weight....no matter where it comes from. So is aerodynamics.

I would, but it would hurt my hand when I smacked it, therefore...no carbon A$$ for you.