TRI BIKE
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![]() ![]() | ![]() Had a few questions regarding a tri bike. I completed my 1st Sprint 2 months ago and fell in love with the sport. I completed the Sprint on a mountain bike just to see if I liked the sport and now that I do, I have a few question/comments. This forum seems to answer a lot of my questions so I'll go ahead and list them to see what you think 1. I have never been fitted for a bike so I don't know what size I am. Can I just go to a bike shop and get sized without a bike? 2. Do all tri bikes cost that much? (Really the #1 reason what is holding me back) 3. Is there a site I can go to for used/cheaper tri bikes? Including the classified forum here 4. I want to do a HIM in the next 2 years so a Road bike is out of the question from what I've researched so far, right? I guess these are my main questions/comments. Total newbie when it comes to this sport but love absolutely every minute of it so that's why I figured I would ask the Tri-Community here. Thank you for any responses |
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![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Welcome to the sport! 1. If you go to a good fitter they will tell you what your stack and reach measurements are and will help you find a bike that best fits those coordinates. 2. I purchased my Cervelo P2 used from Facebook Marketplace for $500. Right now is a good time to be in the market. 2019 models are coming out so stores will want to liquidate older year models. You should be able to find a good, used triathlon bike for under $1000 if you are patient, you just have to make sure it's a good fit for you. 3. Craigslist, mybikeshop.com, slowtwitch classifieds, bikesdirect.com, nashbar.com, online swap meet for cyclists on Facebook, Tri n Sell it on Facebook, etc. Don't be scared to buy used! 4. Nope, I did Augusta 70.3 in september. Plenty of road bikes in the transition area. Admittedly, a few of them beat me during the bike leg too ![]() Don't feel like you have to take the plunge right away. Be patient and find a good deal on a used bike, they're out there. |
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![]() ![]() | ![]() Thank you for the response. |
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Official BT Coach ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Originally posted by jdwyer02 Had a few questions regarding a tri bike. I completed my 1st Sprint 2 months ago and fell in love with the sport. I completed the Sprint on a mountain bike just to see if I liked the sport and now that I do, I have a few question/comments. This forum seems to answer a lot of my questions so I'll go ahead and list them to see what you think
I guess these are my main questions/comments. Total newbie when it comes to this sport but love absolutely every minute of it so that's why I figured I would ask the Tri-Community here. Thank you for any responses
Hope that helps. |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I did my first triathlon (a sprint) on my mountain bike. Believe it or not, I had never owned a road bike in my life. I got hooked on triathlon and wanted to do longer course races. I went to the premier bike fitter in town and bought his lower cost carbon fiber bike (Kestrel) for about $1,800 out the door. The bike was available in triathlon or road configurations and I chose a road bike with a pair of good clip-on aero bars. I ride a lot in town where I am not in aero. Additionally, I wanted road bike brake levers. I am happy with my decision to go with a road bike. The second triathlon I competed in (and finished) was a 70.3. I actually saw a dude out there on a mountain bike, but that was the only one. There were a decent number of road bikes on the course. |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() There are a few online fit calculators. They're not a replacement for a proper fit, but can be used to start your search. Tri bikes are expensive. Capitalism at it's best! Volumes for tri-bikes are significantly lower than road bikes so design cost has to be amortized over a smaller volume. Yes, you can shop BT classified ads, craigslist, cycling forums. I got my tri bike from Ebay 12 years ago. Ride a bike that fits and that is comfortable. Maybe it's a tri bike, maybe it's a road bike with clip-ons, maybe it's a straight up road bike. My experience is that clip-ons/aero gets 1-1.5 mph. If that's 17 mph to 18 mph, you'll cover the 56 miles 11 minutes faster on the tri bike. Are those 11 minutes worth $500 more on the bike? I too have seen mountain bikes on HIM courses. I've also been passed on my tri-bike by a mountain biker as if I were standing still. Ride lots and ride smart and you'll do well whether it's a roadie or tri bike. |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Originally posted by McFuzz Ha! The mountain biker I mentioned in my post passed me a few times during the 70.3 and I passed him a few times. I am not sure who ended up in transition first. We weren't exactly back of pack nor were we solid middle of pack participants. Somewhere in-between. Not bad for a then 61 year old doing only his second ever triathlon. I too have seen mountain bikes on HIM courses. I've also been passed on my tri-bike by a mountain biker as if I were standing still. |
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![]() ![]() | ![]() Thank you for all the responses. I'm new to the gear side of things. Just want the correct stuff before I spend my money |
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![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Originally posted by McFuzz T My experience is that clip-ons/aero gets 1-1.5 mph. If that's 17 mph to 18 mph, you'll cover the 56 miles 11 minutes faster on the tri bike. Are those 11 minutes worth $500 more on the bike? Exactly. If you had a decent road bike and wanted to add a tri bike to the stable, I'd be fully on board with that. When you're waffling between a tri bike and a road bike, I agree with the "is moving from 92nd to 73rd in age group in a HIM worth it?" line of questioning. Not just the cost difference, but there are a lot of other compromises with a tri bike. If you don't have either, get the road bike first. It's a more versatile, and, frankly, safer bike to train on. I have one of each, but do 80% of my training on the road bike. If one had to go, it would be the tri-bike, no questions asked. Edited by gary p 2018-11-07 1:43 PM |
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