Entry Level Tri Bike Recommendations...please!! (Page 2)

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2009-08-15 7:46 AM
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Subject: RE: Entry Level Tri Bike Recommendations...please!!

I built up a Leader Frame last year for my first bike and it was great.  It cost $140 for the low end frame which what I have.  The frame was smooth, light, and very for good for climbing.  

2009-08-15 7:52 AM
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Subject: RE: Entry Level Tri Bike Recommendations...please!!
highenuff - 2009-08-14 9:57 PM

One final question...
When adding Aero's to a roadbike how much are you actually going to pick up in terms of mph? Any issues with pain? Since the geometry will be different is it even worth it?
Or like the pervious poster said do I just roll with the road bike as is for the rest of the year and buy a tri specific bike next year?


As always great information here...I love the site..


My LBS installed my clip-ons and had me get on and off the bike to get them to fit. It increased my speeds between 1 - 2 mph immediately.
2009-08-15 3:41 PM
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Subject: RE: Entry Level Tri Bike Recommendations...please!!
the bear - 2009-08-13 11:40 AM

Nelg - 2009-08-13 10:21 AM If you already have a road bike, just toss some aero bars on it and save for a good tri bike rather than entry level. Personally, I don't think bike upgrades are worth it until you are averaging over 22 MPH and in grasp of the podium or on it and want to stay there. To put it into perspective, a CAT 3 guy on our road team showed up at his first tri with a standard road bike and a borrowed aero helmet. He averaged 24.1 MPH for the sprint distance and won his age group even with having to pin his race number on as he had no belt. Now if you are at the level where it will make a difference or you just like having neat stuff go for it, buy the nice new bike. However I can assure you that if your road bike is in good shape and you ride it a ton you'll end up passing people on fancy tri bikes and feel pretty satisfied doing it.


This comes up often and I fail to understand the relevance. What matters isn't how much faster you are than other "people on fancy tri bikes," but rather how much faster you will be on a tri bike. If the CAT3 guy in your example had a nice tri bike with all the aero bling (and a race belt), maybe he's competing for overall rather than winning his AG.

Personally, I'm 1 to 1-1/2mph faster on my tri bike than my road bike at similar efforts, even those at which I'm averaging under 22 mph.
Cool


Aero gains are seen exponentially, if you are putting out enough watts to average say, 18 MPH and you get a tri bike and a good aero position you may pick up say one MPH. Now if you are already averaging 21, your gains will be higher like your 1.5 MPH.

Just trying to frame that going to a tri bike isn't going to be like flipping a speed switch to put you in the front of the line for bike splits. However once you have your legs built up it will make a bigger difference. It really comes down to how fat your wallet is and what your goals are, but it's no silver bullet.
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