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Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?
OptionResults
Sub $2000 Tri Bikes remain an important category.
Sub $2000 Tri Bikes are an unimportant category.
The first bike you should buy is a road bike.
The first bike you should buy is a tri bike.
This is a multiple choice poll.

2011-10-10 1:43 PM

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Elite
3498
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Laguna Beach
Subject: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

Has the sub $2000 triathlon geometry bike become less important?

What do you recommend a new triathlete buy: Road bike or Tri bike?

Why?

Inquiring minds (and bike companies) what to know.

Cat with bowl on his head and other fun photos for best answers.

 

 



2011-10-10 1:44 PM
in reply to: #3717925

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Elite
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Laguna Beach
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?


Edited by Tom Demerly. 2011-10-10 1:47 PM
2011-10-10 1:52 PM
in reply to: #3717925

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Elite
3498
20001000100100100100252525
Laguna Beach
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

Quick question:

If: The first bike a person buys ought be a road bike;

Then: Athletes should own two bikes, a road bike and a tri bike. Correct?

2011-10-10 1:56 PM
in reply to: #3717934

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2011-10-10 1:57 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Master
1799
1000500100100252525
Houston
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

Not only do I think sub 2k is an important category, I'd say getting even lower price options would help the sport grow.

2k is a lot of money.  If you make 100k a year it is 2% of your annual income.

Getting a dedicated Tri bike at a low entry point allows for the athlete who is in the first few years of Tri's to feel like they are getting a better bike without having to spend so much money that they feel they have to make a life long commitment to justify the purchase.

 

ETA:Tom you need a new kitty.  You can't just reuse the same one for every poll!



Edited by NewClydesdale 2011-10-10 1:59 PM
2011-10-10 2:03 PM
in reply to: #3717943

Elite
3498
20001000100100100100252525
Laguna Beach
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

Hmm. OK, I'll get us a new cat.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply (on both topics...) Sir. Appreciated. Smile



2011-10-10 2:05 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Expert
1258
10001001002525
Marin County, California
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?
Sub $2000 bikes are completely relevent and not just for new triathletes. It took me a year to save for a Quintana Roo Chiqilo and I have found it to be a great bike in the HIM and IM I have raced it in so far....and at 21.4 mph/average(4th off the bike) for the HIM and 17 mph/average for IMSG they are certainly capable of speed if you have the engine!
2011-10-10 2:07 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Extreme Veteran
640
50010025
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

this topic is relevant to my interests.  :-)

I'm a runner wanting to transition into triathlon after the first of the year.  It is triathlon that I am interested in and not group rides.  I need a bike but being new to the sport find $2200 a hard pill to swallow.  $1200 for bike (not including trainer, pedals, shoes, helmet) seems about reasonable to me.  Unfortunately, there are not many options out there unless I buy used which is proving to be difficult.

2011-10-10 2:11 PM
in reply to: #3717934

New user
38
25
Raleigh, NC
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?
Tom Demerly. - 2011-10-10 2:52 PM

Quick question:

If: The first bike a person buys ought be a road bike;

Then: Athletes should own two bikes, a road bike and a tri bike. Correct?

 

Then how are they expected to race in xterra?

 

2011-10-10 2:11 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Member
5452
50001001001001002525
NC
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

All other triathlon bikes were doomed by the new Shiv.

 

2011-10-10 2:15 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Veteran
312
100100100
Southern Pines, NC
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

I am new to triathlons (and biking in general). I bought an aluminum TREK road bike last summer so I could train for my first tri. Until six weeks ago I had not even considered buying a tri bike because at this point, my bike handling skills still aren't very advanced and I have a bad shoulder and felt a tri bike would be uncomfortable for me. With that said, I was at the IMKY expo with my boyfriend and Quintana Roo was having an incredible deal on their bikes. I looked at their aluminum tri bike because I could buy it for about the same price I paid for my road bike, but I ended up buying a carbon because it was such a great deal.  I love it. It is actually easier for me to ride than my road bike.

BTW, I want your cat with bowl if you're replacing him.

 



2011-10-10 2:17 PM
in reply to: #3717934

Master
1799
1000500100100252525
Houston
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?
Tom Demerly. - 2011-10-10 1:52 PM

Quick question:

If: The first bike a person buys ought be a road bike;

Then: Athletes should own two bikes, a road bike and a tri bike. Correct?

I didn't answer this part of the poll because the answer is... it depends.

However, if the first bike you buy is a road bike you should probably be willing to go aero bars before going 2 bikes.  Unless of course you have money to burn.

2011-10-10 2:17 PM
in reply to: #3717959

Elite
3498
20001000100100100100252525
Laguna Beach
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

"Sub $2000 bikes are completely relevent and not just for new triathletes. It took me a year to save for a Quintana Roo Chiqilo and I have found it to be a great bike in the HIM and IM I have raced it in so far....and at 21.4 mph/average(4th off the bike) for the HIM and 17 mph/average for IMSG they are certainly capable of speed if you have the engine!"

Suzanne gets the first good cat for an excellent answer, now e-mailed to product managers of three bike companies. Thank you.

Here is your special cat Suzanne- a bit of an unusual one, thanks for playing:

2011-10-10 2:19 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Extreme Veteran
3177
20001000100252525
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

2k and under bikes are still very important and relevant to the market. That is for both tri specific geometry bikes and road bikes simply because people want to get a good feel for the sport and choosing between a 200 dollar walmart bike and a 2500 dollar bike is a huge difference and for a growing sport, you don't want to alienate anyone.

I would recommend getting a good road bike to start with if a person is brand new to tris. they may not like it and it is easier to resell a used road bike than a tri bike (from what I have seen). Also a good road bike can be adjusted for a tri specific set up if it is purchased from a reputable dealer and fitted properly. They also then have the option of just having a road bike if they love riding but hate running or swimming. If they love tri's then they have a good bike to race on until they are ready to upgrade to a tri bike and then they can sell to cover cost or just have two bikes for racing and riding.

2011-10-10 2:21 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Veteran
312
100100100
Southern Pines, NC
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?
I think that might be a bunny rabbit.
2011-10-10 2:31 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Pro
4353
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Wallingford, PA
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?
A few random thoughts on the subject....

I believe that the VAST majority of people participating in triathlons are recreational or fitness oriented (i.e., doing tri's as a means to "stay in/get in shape") age groupers who have higher priorities for their money than spending several thousand dollars on a bike. Therefore, I absolutely think the sub-2000 tri bike is relevant. In fact, I believe that there are a lot of recreational triathletes who haven't taken the plunge to buy a tri bike because they're not willing to pay the price for even an entry level tri bike as a "second" bike, and are content to compete on whatever road bike they have. If there were more options at a lower price point, I think more people might consider buying a tri bike.

On the question of first bike as a road or tri bike.... I guess it depends on the person. For ME, it was absolutely the right call to get a road bike first, then a tri bike. I love my tri bike, but it's not the ideal set up for me for a lot of the riding I do (group rides, hilly terrain I prefer riding on my road bike, etc.) I can also foresee a point somewhere down the road when I might not want to compete in triathlons any more, at which point my tri bike will be unnecessary. On the other hand, I don't see a myself dropping recreational cycling for a very, very long time (only when I'm too old & decrepit & can't do it safely any more).


2011-10-10 2:38 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

I believe every triathlete/cyclist wants at least 4 bikes: tri/TT, roadie, cross, and a mountain bike (maybe 2: a 26er and a 29er).  That being said, I think you should have a road bike before a tri bike for the same reason parents shouldn't buy their teenagers sportscars and crotch rockets: you need practice on a more basic machine before getting into advanced machines.  But if you already have a mountain bike or hybrid, you could probably skip this step.

Sub $2K is still relevant because as others have stated, not everyone wants to (or can) jump to a $2500+ tri bike.  I have a roadie with aero bars that's going back to straight roadie over the winter and I plan on buying/building a tri bike for less than $1500 including race wheels.

2011-10-10 2:41 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Veteran
221
100100
Riverdal NJ
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?
My LBS put it to me this way a road bike is like a sports car. Good for riding around town racing the whole nine. A TT bike is like a Drag racer (yes this isn't a perfect analogy but i get it). I am in the market for a TT bike and am looking between 2 and 3K. I think a bike under 2K is OK just not for me. I would recommend to anyone that wants to start in the sport get a road bike first because of its versatility.
2011-10-10 2:42 PM
in reply to: #3717987

Elite
3498
20001000100100100100252525
Laguna Beach
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?
It's a "cabbitt".  Wink
2011-10-10 2:44 PM
in reply to: #3718033

Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

Tom Demerly. - 2011-10-10 9:42 AM It's a "cabbitt".  Wink

or a "rat?"

2011-10-10 2:49 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Champion
19812
50005000500020002000500100100100
MA
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

Buying a first tri bike over $2K means you know you are going to stick with the sport for the most part.

My road and cross bikes have been close to $2K but tri bikes more.

I would think low end tri bikes would sell well but with Tom comments thinking that may not be the case.

Just starting you can get a road bike for $700-1000 new..not really option for tri bike at that price point. Many women I know get what is more affordable as they are doing it for fitness and health. If they stick with it they may buy a tri bike but in the end, spend more.



2011-10-10 3:11 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Veteran
168
1002525
St. Louis
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

Any bike company that wants to sell me a new TT bike better have a sub 2k model available.  I have two kids to put through college and someday I'd like to retire instead of dying at my desk.  Buying a bike for north of 2 grand just isn't going to happen in my world.  I love toys, and going fast, as much as the next guy.  But I just can't justify that kind of money for something that really is optional.  Being nothing more than a age grouper who is just trying to get and stay in shape I can race on my road bike just fine, thank you very much.  But I do get jealous looking at the bike porn, sort of like going to the Ferrari club's car show, cool stuff to look at, and good for reminding myself of my place in the food chain.

2011-10-10 3:12 PM
in reply to: #3718038

Elite
3498
20001000100100100100252525
Laguna Beach
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?
I would pet it.
2011-10-10 3:17 PM
in reply to: #3717925

New user
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Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?
I agree that a sub $2k tri bike is important, but why can't a $700-$1000 tri geometry bike be a reality?
I know the real reason is supply/demand, cost to manufacture, etc...., but the components on a $700 road bike would be almost identical to the components on a $700 tri bike. It would be nice to see a basic tri geometry -steep seat tube angle, short head tube, etc.- with a Sora spec and some Alex wheels. Fuji makes the Aloha that is a perfectly good beginner tri bike at about $1200 but it still has Ultegra/FSA mix. Put 105/Sora and some generic base and aero bars on that and I bet the price tag would be even more friendly for a beginner.

Just my 2c.
2011-10-10 3:23 PM
in reply to: #3717925

Master
2158
20001002525
Subject: RE: Is the Entry Price Point Triathlon Bike Doomed?

So, I think it may have been said before, but clearly the sub 2000.00 market is key. I don't think there is as much profit in it for the big companies, but there is still a big market.

However, my recommendation to people interested in the sport is still a road bike first. They are more versatile, and for most recreational athletes, you won't be giving up too much speed compared to a tt bike. Plus, the versatility makes them better for charity rides, or even just riding around town.

I waited 2 + seasons of triathlon before getting a tri bike. I was pretty happy on the Giant FCR I had when I got started. Happier on the tri bike, but now that my Giant was stolen, I wish I had a road bike for more general purpose biking.

Then again, other people's interest in the sport, or income, might allow them to have more than one bike easily. For them, perhaps the saying that the correct number of bikes to have is N+1, with N being the number you have now, is true.

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