Bikes bikes bikes

jmkizer - 2010-12-06 7:50 AM I currently have a road bike -- Trek Madone -- and I just completed my first season of tri.  I am interested in getting a 140.6 worthy tri bike.  I test rode a Felt B16 and a Look 576 which is what they had in stock in my size.  I liked them both (did not love either of them).  I liked the Rival shifters on the Look.  I liked the feel of the aero bars on the Felt.

My road bike is a lot more agile and I guess that's to be expected (my entire tri bike experience consists of these two short test rides).  I'm just not sure where to go from here.  Try the Kuota KFactor if I can find one in my size?  Wait for the 2011 Cervelos to arrive in a few months?  Try to get the Felt more dialed in?

Really, I'm a little lost here and I'd appreciated some advice.

I'm trying to keep the total transaction (bike + saddle + pedals) to the $3000 range. 

Also considering Cosmic Carbone SL wheels.  I have Ksyrium SLs on my road bike and love them!

mjengstrom - 2010-12-06 9:32 AM Your Trek Madone is most likely IM worthy, depending on what your goals are (finish, podium, MOP, FOP, etc).  Also, keep in mind that it will take a while to get used to a tri bike and it will not feel as agile as your road bike.

I agree with the other advice.  Get fitted and see what bikes will fit you best and go from there.  It may mean having to wait until a bike that fits you is avail.  Especially on a longer tri, you want to be super comfortable on the bike and the best way to do this is to get properly fitted and then spend a lot of time on the bike to adjust to this new position.  You can continue to fine tune the fit over time as your body adjusts to this new position.

Does your $3K budget also include wheels?  Would you be ok just using the wheels that come with the bike or using your Ksyriums?  The wheels that come on the Felt will likely be more aerodynamic than the Ksyriums, but not as good as a set of race wheels.

jmkizer - 2010-12-06 9:20 AM They did the measurements and put them on a worksheet but I didn't ask for the stack and reach numbers.  I was on a 2011 Felt B16 (52) and was told that I'd be a 51 on a Cervelo and Small on a Kuota K-Factor.  The shop I was at had the Felt and a Look in stock in an appropriate size (did not note the size on the Look).  I wanted to compare the Felt with something other than my road bike which is how the Look came into the picture. 

There is another shop that's fairly local that carries Kuota and I will go over there to try that out.  I'm feeling a little lost with my tri bike shopping.  The feel of the tri bike is so different from my road bike I'm just not sure if I'm heading in the right direction or....

jmkizer - I was on a 2011 Felt B16 (52) and was told that I'd be a 51 on a Cervelo and Small on a Kuota K-Factor.  

Gregkl - 2010-12-07 8:05 AM Well, I will play devil's advocate here and say there is too much emphasis put on bike fit.  I have had fits done by several fitters over the years and each one tweaked my position on the bike.  If bike fit was so exact that only one bike would work, then no matter who does your fitting, they should all set you up exactly the same.  This also does not take into consideration that your flexibility, strengths, and physical issues play a part in how the fitter sets you up on the bike.  Three months later, you may be more or less flexible and that could play a role in your fit.
Most good bike fitters can take a few basic measurements and suggest a frame size that will work.  Saddles, stems, seatposts, cleat placement and aerobars are where the fine tuning and a great fit will come in.

All that said, your Madone is definately IM worthy like one of the other posters indicated.  A tri bike takes getting used to and if you are not comfortable with the handling, you will most likely be slower.  Comfort can be dialed in to your Madone for 112 miles.  I know, I rode my Tarmac in IM and felt great!

I know, I know you fit gurus are going to lambast me for this one.  That's okay, I just think that people should know that the fit is not some magical formula that will make century rides and longer comfortable.  It takes time in the saddle to adjust your body too.