General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Would you buy this Tri bike? Rss Feed  
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2019-01-29 10:51 AM


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Subject: Would you buy this Tri bike?
$250 bucks for a 2010 Fuji Aloha? Used and in decent shape. I have a fleet of other bikes but no TT bike or triathlon bike. Worth it for me to buy, or just use a road bike for my first triathlon?

By way of background, I'm a former runner and current cat 3 cyclist, but I've never done a triathlon because I can't swim (freestyle). I started swimming in November and am getting more comfortable in the water. I'll be able to complete the swim leg; hopefully with more freestyle than breastroke because my freestyle times are around 1:50/100M vs 2:05/100M with breastroke. I can pull with a pull buoy faster than I can breastroke, but I can breastroke forever. I've never done any openwater freestyle swimming but will this year. I'm getting better at swimming every week (slowly).

I'm not really interested in just completing my first sprint triathlon; I can run a sub 17 minute 5k and my ftp is presently 330w so I'm wondering if I'd be competitive. Of course, I have no idea what 5k I could run off a 20 minute hard bike effort because I've never tried.



I'm not the type of person to "just do" things; I like to plan and prepare and do well, so thanks for any insight!


2019-01-29 11:31 AM
in reply to: stevendex

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Master
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Overland Park, KS
Subject: RE: Would you buy this Tri bike?
If the bike fits you correctly then that's a pretty good deal of a starter TT bike. If it's in good shape it should be fine.

If you're a Cat3 road racer and can run a 17 minute open 5K you'll be competitive in a Sprint Triathlon even with a slower swim.

Given it's a sprint you don't want to take too much time in transition so maybe practice some of that.
2019-01-29 12:46 PM
in reply to: stevendex

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Champion
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Subject: RE: Would you buy this Tri bike?

Fact 1:  You're a Cat 3 cyclist

Fact 2:  You do not own a tri-bike.

The obvious conclusion is to rectify Fact 2 because N+1 is always better than N when referring to bicycle fleets.  

Fuji Aloha isn't high end, but at $250, probably a decent buy if it fits.  (I've done 3 IM's on a 90's Klein Aeolus).  

2019-01-29 1:24 PM
in reply to: McFuzz


17

Subject: RE: Would you buy this Tri bike?
Lol. It should fit reviewing the stack and reach #'s. It's a 61cm and I'm 6"5.

No, it's not high end, but at least it's 10 speed and I have race wheels I can throw on it.

I have four bikes already and my wife has three, so there's somewhat of a physical space issue.

I think for $250 I could resell it for more than that anyway if I end up doing more triathlons or stage races.
2019-01-29 1:29 PM
in reply to: stevendex

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Master
3888
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Overland Park, KS
Subject: RE: Would you buy this Tri bike?
You can now do USAC TT's as well (aside from Mercxx class).
2019-01-29 2:35 PM
in reply to: reecealan


17

Subject: RE: Would you buy this Tri bike?
Right. I've used that reason to explain to DW why I need another bike
Most Cat 3 stage races are Merckx style only but not all of them and most Cat 2 stage races require a TT bike if you want to be competitive.

I can't imagine an entry level Tri bike would be that slower with a 50mm front and rear disc than a $10,000 bike with an 80mm front and rear disc. Maybe I'd give up what, 5-8 seconds at most?


2019-01-29 7:03 PM
in reply to: #5254710

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623
500100
Subject: RE: Would you buy this Tri bike?
I sure would. I started with a Fuji Aloha and it was a good bike. I sold it to buy a cervelo P2. Best I could tell, the oval components are decent. It was
Shimano 105 derailleurs so shifting was fine.
2019-01-31 3:32 PM
in reply to: Parkland


17

Subject: RE: Would you buy this Tri bike?
Unfortunately somebody local bought it before me. Still looking for a cheap 60-61cm tri bike.
2019-01-31 8:13 PM
in reply to: #5254736

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623
500100
Subject: RE: Would you buy this Tri bike?
I wouldn’t sweat it. If you’re doing your first triathlon at the sprint distance, any road bike you already own will be fine, especially if you have any aero road bike. You’d be saving very little time with a triathlon bike and that’s assuming you had a good fit and could hold aero position for the entire race.

Do your first triathlon and see what happens.
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