first non-mtb bike...tri or road..help?

Get the new road bike. It's more versatile, you can do nearly as much on it as far as triathlons go as you can with a tri bike, and if you end up hating tri's in a year, it's easier to sell. Plus new components and a warranty!

John

I bought a carbon road bike (Specialized Tarmac) and have been very satisfied with the result and flexibility this offers. I can ride it all the time, and it has worked great in the Olympic and Sprint distance races I run.... especially here in hilly Maryland. And I figure that I train about 25 miles for every mile I race, so the roadie geometry works better on nearly all my weekend and training rides. Plus, I wanted to check my agility, flexibility, and fitness level before I got into aero bars. So I am very pleased with this decision. I really dig riding my bike, and I like my more versatile road bike than I would like a tri bike.

...but aero drop position is faster, no question. My races have averaged about 16 MPH hilly races like Columbia, and 18.5 MPH on flat races like Nations.... when I get aero on the flats on my buddy's bike, I think I can get about 1 MPH faster with similar exertion level ... but this is purely a subjective, educated guess based on how the two different bikes "feel" . I think the advantage would be less on a hilly ride. Either way ... I figure that's two to five minutes on a 25 mile race. (is that right?.... sounds about right...)

Profile Design has an aero bar option called the CGT  (carbon) or the Jammer (alloy) that is especially designed to accomodate road bike geometry ie the pads and the grips are pulled a little closer to the seat than normal tri aero bars. Another alternative for customizing a road bike for tri geometry would be to use a true tri geometry aero bar and a seatpost similar to the Profile Design "Fast Forward" post that shifts the seat forward, steepens the seat tube from about 73 to about 75-78 degrees, depending on how far forward you shift the seat.

But, most of the racers I see, even in a sprint, are using true tri-kes , and I'll after this season's races (my second season) I'll probably get a tri geometry bike. I still beloeve I'll do most of my training on the rod bike.

My $0.02: Road bike... carbon frame ... one you can keep a long time. Then if you go for a HIM or start moving up in your age group, you'll know enough about your riding style to make a better investment on the tri bike.

Edited by jsselle 2009-06-18 2:28 PM

thx for the quick input.  i think i agree with you guys in that the road bike is probably the wiser decision. 

i compare it to shopping for a new car with about a 25k budget.  you can get nice new honda or toyota that will serve you really well, or you can get a used nissan 300z or a used sports car.  while you can't go wrong with the honda, you just can't stop thinking about the sports car.....and ur worried that you'll regret your decision even though you really are happy with it. 

i hate being so freggin indecisive.

i wouldn't listen to people on this forum.  not about the bike decision or anyone at the LBS either.  people tend to steer you in their direction or what is currently in the inventory.  there are benefits to both.  get educated on your choices:

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/bikes/difference.shtml


personally i heard it all and couldn't make up my mind for about 6 months thanks to people not giving a clear unbiased decision and everyone has their own.

I will try not to say one is better then the other consider what is said in the article.

respectfully, i dissagree on not to listen to anyone on BT.  i think what makes this site great is the personal preference/bias from all the different members is so wide ranging, it provides every possible angle for me to make a decisions.  especially when their post sounds exactly like what's going through my head.  regarding listening to the LBS...ur right, most of the peeps that i've talk to are just salesmen and don't care to talk to a noob if i'm not willing to give them 6k for new bike.

good article though!!....thanks for the link!!  it helped quite a bit!!

you misunderstood what i said, its not about other things.  there is alot of people here that give fantastic input.  just take the advice regarding bike with grain of salt.

that is all i meant. 

some people will recommend road bike because its better "supposedly" to a beginner, its more manuverable etc etc.  someone will recommend tri bike.  the same thread / question is asked alot.  and i had the exact question. 

i am just happy i made the right choice.  i hope you make the right choice.

LBS will sell you stuff on their lot.  just like car salesman.  you know the dealer you are going to.  ford dealer isn't going to sell you a nissan.  same here.

i ride a tri bike just an FYI and thanks to the article i was able to make that choice.

Edited by trix 2009-06-18 4:24 PM

All you need is a road bike for your 1st 2-3 years of triathlon. If you want to do longer distances, I'd say go for the tri bike in a few years.

I was in the same boat as your a few months ago.  I opted for the roadie.  I read all the same stuff you are right now and still check out all the nice tri bikes online for down the road when I can add another weapon to my arsenal.  

I put some small clip-ons on my roadie and hold aero on my solo rides, but I've done a couple of group rides and like having the roadie.  I'm also not interested in big group rides usually, but they are fun sometimes.  I feel like it gives me more options.  I'm planning on doing a half and do wonder how much of a disadvantage I'll have sometimes, but I think I'll be fine.

I have my eye on a tri bike down the road, but I don't think it will be an exchange...I'd like like to have both bikes.  Based on the two options you've put out there, I'd opt for the roadie and it will give you better resale down the road in case you want to swap it out.  It's more about you and getting comfortable on your bike so you can put in the miles and feel confident.  I'm by no means a super fast biker and just started a few months ago, but I still flew past plenty of people with nice Tri bikes in my first race when just an hour before I was a little intimidated checking out all of the nice bikes with race wheels before the race started.  For sprints and olys you'll be fine on a roadie and it really will be about your engine and not what bike you have.

my 2... 

Some bike shops will actually care about you. It's disappointing that some will go for the sale at all costs, and that some posters here have had such difficulties, but they're not all like that. Over the years, I've developed a good relationship with my LBS because they have offered free advice, made small adjustments without charge, and generally listened to my questions and needs. There are many shops in the area to choose from, but I ride with the shop that has always tried to help with my riding rather than to simply make a sale. Hopefully, there is a business like that in your area.

Back to your question, I opted for a used entry-level road bike on E-bay when starting out (Specialized Allez). Adding clip-on aero bars made it faster and more comfortable. After a few years of racing, building my engine, and saving money, it's now time to buy a nice, carbon-frame tri-bike (Specialized Transition). I didn't go for the tri-bike right away because I wanted to get high quality bike and could not afford it to start out.

What are your riding goals? What kind of riding do you do? How much do you have to spend? The answers to those questions should help guide your decision.

thanks for all the input folks.  i think i've decided spend some time at some of the bike shops in my area and try to find some bikes of both kind to try out.  i'm not in too much of a hurry and am happy to do my next couple of sprints on my mtb so i can take my time finding the right bike.  it will suck to get passed so much but it beats making a bad decision.

maybe i'll take the mtb to the LBS and get them to get me set up on it a little better so i enjoy riding it more.

thanks again!