Finding a bike for next to nothing

IMHO the bikes you get from the big box retailers are not worth even the little bit of money that you would pay for them.

Find a bike to borrow or rent to train and do your first race. By that time you will have a better idea "if it will stick" and if you want to spend the money.

A second option is to buy used, shop craigslist and eby.

if you're unsure you'll stick with the sport, i'd suggest borrowing a bike to use or rent from a LBS to try out.

the only problem i see would be practicing, i'm sure you can get on a stationary to build your endurance. Or even craigslist search for something in your range


edit: i was too slow.... ^ what he said...lol

Edited by halfpint 2009-06-18 8:36 AM

I've got a thread in here about a Craigslist listing for a Cervelo p2sl that I just bought for $800


Keep your eyes open, explore the classified ads on BT, ST, craigslist, ebay.....all the meanwhile you are training hard and working it out for yourself whether this is a sport you want to pursue

Good Luck

Yeah I have been/definitely plan to continue checking ebay and craigslist for a good road bike. 

I have a few emails out to local bike shops and to a fairly local tri shop (sunrisetri.com) about being fitted so that I at least know what the heck I am looking for.

I am looking for something in the meantime to train around on, thus the low budget.  This way if I buy one and then a month later see a great value on craigslist I wont hesitate to jump on it.

I have the cheapest "Tri-bike" from www.bikesdirect.com...

I am, by far, more of the limiting factor than my bike.

I concur with the bear for two reasons:

1. The Big box stores do not carry a very wide range of bikes; and

2. The guy who puts the bike together may be the guy who usually puts out the detergent displays. I bought my son his first bike at WalMart, but I was a bike mechanic for years and still have my tools. Virtually everything needed to be readjusted. I doubt anyone there knows what a cone wrench is!

CL and ebay are good bets if you are patient. You can set up alerts for these sites so that anytime a tt bike or triathlon bike is posted you receive an email.

Good luck

Doug

That's pretty much what I will be for at least a year. 

Are you speaking about the Dawes Lightning one for $495? http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt1500.htm

Would it be worth waiting a couple weeks and getting that - as opposed to getting say a 200-300 one from Walmart etc?

Edited by Kulprit 2009-06-18 11:07 AM

I'm a fan of bikesdirect.com. I think you'd be better of with one of theirs vs something at Walmart. When I ordered from them, I had it in a week or less. The bike you posted is good, I also used to have the Mirage Pro, which is a little more. Neither is a tri bike--both are road bikes with aerobars, which are fine if you're just starting out.

You'll probably have to pay someone to put it together (not a full assembly, but more than you can or should do on your own) for you and tune it up, but you should develop a relationship with a local bike mechanic anyway if you don't already have one.

I'd recommend buying used and be patient (even if it means riding a gym stationary). In the mean time, engulf yourself in bike fit articles such as these or these and the basic bicycle maintenance so you don't have to rely on your LBS.

I'd also prefer a well-kept mid-level (105 or 600 equipped) '80s-'90s road bike (Schwinn, Centurion, Fuji, Bianchi, etc) over a Wal-Mart special. Just be sure to get one real cheap as to upgrade them to modern drivetrain will require new wheels & shifters and those are quite pricy. I started out with a late '80s Schwinn with 105 equipment that needed nothing and paid $50 for it and found a few more worthy bikes for about $100 that were immediately ridable. If you want the STI shifting, late '90s models can be had for pretty cheap (under $500).

You should be able to find a used tri bike for under $500 as well. Look for a '90s model without any aero tubing and 650c wheels such as the Cannondale Multisport, Klein Aeolus, Quintana Roo Kilo/USA Special Ed/etc, Litespeed Tachyon, etc. My first tri bike was an Aeolus I got for $375 and I watched a (about '95) Litespeed Tachyon go for $325 on ebay early this year. Any of these bikes should have at a minimum Shimano 105 equipment and will be fine for years of riding.

Another source I found some good deals on was local bike club message boards. Find any local cycling clubs and post a WTB in their classified section. In my experience, many have old bikes they don't use and just don't want to hassle with trying to sell them, but are more than willing to let them go for cheap.

thanks for all the info/advice guys - it really helps.

I thought I had a Quintana Roo Kilo for under $500 but apparently it was sold out from under me ... doh!

I trained for my first tri on a borrowed mtn bike, then a borrowed Raleigh road bike from friends. Ended up getting a new Trek 1000 for under $ 500 then sold it for what I paid for it and found a new 1500 with full 105's for $ 875, still not cheap but a pretty good deal.

A lot of good advice here.... you'll get more knowledgeable the more you look and eventually you'll be in the game.

Good luck !

I would suggest narrowing your hunt to a road bike rather than a tri bike.  If this is a sport you don't really get into, with a road bike you would still have something very versatile to use for fitness.  A tri bike would limit that. 

I have come to the same mindset and as I look I am looking primarily for a road bike.  Something like the Trek 1500 or similar.

But when scouring CraigsList and Ebay I am keeping an open mind if it's a great deal.

Craigslist is definitely the way to go.  I got both my bike and my wife's bike for well under 30% of the bike's retail prices.  Sure, they're used and have some minor "character" to them, but no more than I'd put in after a month of riding anyway.  I've found good deals on late model carbon bikes with Ultegra or Dura Ace components for under $1200, Aluminum frames for under 1k, some Steel frames with good components in the 300-400 range.  It take patience, but it pays off.  Also keep in mind that you can also get some good "vintage" bikes for under $500 as well.  So what if they're older bikes or they're heavier or they're not carbon, or didnt use a mold of Lance Armstrong's butt when they designed the saddle, they still will be way faster, better quality, and last longer than anything you can get at a department store.  

Keep in mind too that like fashionistas, there are bikers out there who will gladly take a loss on last year's stuff just to have the "IT" thing for the season.  Let them pay the depreciation and you can chuckle when you beat them across the finish line.

I belong to a big bike race team with 400 members. On the email list we see notices for bikes for sale all the time. TT bikes for bike racers are rarely used so they have limited use, are well maintained and good.

I'd see if there are any race teams in your area and contact them. We often have messages looking for bikes too. Lots of folks on my race team have 10 more bikes and might be tempted to let one go cheap to help someone.

If you live in Boston area and looking for a tt bike which is a tri bike, let me know I know of a few under $900 for sale currently.