One bike or two??
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2227 days
Tribro posted 6 weeks ago.
my personal preference is keep the road bike. I prefer riding on the road bike, especially if I go out with groups or do mountain climbing or descending.
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1207 days
brittda posted 6 weeks ago.
+1. I use my race bike on my longer rides , but stick to the road bike most of the time. One can never have too many bikes :)
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1445 days
kylie posted 6 weeks ago.
It depends on your budget and goals. If you can get a tri bike that will feel good compared to your road bike, and keep the road bike, keep it.
If you'd have to get a cheaper tri bike that doesn't really compare to your road bike, you will find yourself never using the tri bike. In that case, if you like group rides, training on the road bike, etc., you might want to wait and save up for a tri bike that would be equivalent.
If you are going to get a tri bike that is way nicer than your road bike, you might find yourself reluctant to get back on the road bike, in which case you'll end up not using or upgrading it as well!
I love having both options, but I had to accept that I'm now spoiled and had to have high end bikes for both (having had a high end tri bike) to really want to ride on both of them.
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942 days
NotAsFast posted 6 weeks ago.
Actually, the rule of thumb is he who dies with the most bikes wins. Its the convicing the spouse that they are an integral part of the balance sheet that is the problem.
Three. One Cannondale 1995 era Aluminum, One 2006 Felt F1C road, and one Felt 2006 B2. The last built from eBay. Of the three I prefer to do my early training on my Cannondale so I dont destroy it on the potholes and salt scum from the winter. I then gradually transition to my two felts once the holes are filed and the weather turns for the better.
I must say, the cannondale is like the energizer bunny. It keeps going and going and going......
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1132 days
Triguy98 posted 6 weeks ago.
Keep the roadie, save money for a nicer tri bike. You dont do ALL your training on the roadie, but you do at least 50%, more during the offseason.
You can never have enough bikes. I have three now, with a frame to be built up. Might get a tandem in the near future, too.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
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Member
272 days
BrooksBier posted 6 weeks ago.
You will probably want two bikes unless you have a tweener like a cervelo soloist or a bike like that. The giant is a great training bike and you will not want to ride a tri bike on group rides. The good news is you could probably move the wheels around to save cost. I personally have a cervelo r3 and specialized transition and there are times where I have thought about getting rid of the specialized and putting clip ons on the cervelo but have stuck with two bikes. If you can afford two, keep two.
825
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1172 days
JamieM posted 6 weeks ago.
I agree with Triguy. Road bike first then tri bike. You'll probably be more comfortable for long rides on the road bike, at least for awhile. It took me a little while to be comfortable in the optimal position on the tri bike.
And since notsofast has thrown down the gauntlet--
Specialized Transition
Aegis Aro Svelte
Van Dessel Holeshot
Late 80's Trek steel roadie, reborn as my SS commuter
Gunnar Rockhound
And two frames hanging up that I just can't get myself to part with.
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Member
500 days
Nobody posted 6 weeks ago.
I love riding my Cervelo Tri bike for short or long distances. Even if I had a $5k road bike, I'd never ride it. I've never found being on my Tri bike to be any sort of a handicap. Roadies like to look disparagingly at me from time to time, but they'll do that if your jersey doesn't match your water bottle, too. Anything that separates me from them is a good thing!
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
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1479 days
DSmith posted 6 weeks ago.
I would stick with both. I try to keep two bikes in the garage. Currently a 2007 Felt B2 and a 2008 Trek Madone 5.5. A lot of group rides frown on tri bikes so I use the roadie. Plus the Madone is a lot easier to get up the steep hills. But I still favor the Felt for most of my training rides. It is always good to have a choice plus it is motivation to ride when you know you have a lot of money sitting in the garage gathering dust.
With that said when money is tight I always choose one good bike (usually a tri) over two middle of the road bikes.
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609 days
fastdog5 posted 6 weeks ago.
Depends on if you do group rides. I only ride with other triathletes; after I got my tri bike I never wanted to ride my roadie again so I sold it.
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772 days
lloydte posted 6 weeks ago.
Thanks for the opinions guys, looks like I'll be digging a little deeper into the pocket and end up keeping the road bike as well!!
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316 days
robgoodwin posted 6 weeks ago.
I got a Cervelo Soloist and two seat posts. One for the 73 road geomotry and one for the 76 tri geometry. Works great as a road bike and a tri bike. I could not be happier. It's a fantastic machine.
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1132 days
Triguy98 posted 6 weeks ago.
Nobody wrote:
I love riding my Cervelo Tri bike for short or long distances. Even if I had a $5k road bike, I'd never ride it.
That's what I thought for a couple years, as well. My lack of a roadie never really bothered me. Untill my long rides got longer and hillier. Adn you would be amazed at how much more comfortable a roadie is at lower speeds. At moderate effort or moderate speed, I take my tri bike anyday. But when you're out for 4 hours+ at lower efforts, and your crotch is just grinding into the saddle, thats where the roadie shines. And I dont have a $5k roadie, more like $500 used.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
339
Member
148 days
TriSooner posted 6 weeks ago.
I'll be the contrarian. Tri-bike only. Unless $$$ isn't an issue, sell the road bike and put the $$$ toward your dream tri bike. Personally, I would rather have one super-nice tri bike than have a road bike and a so-so tri bike. I sold my mountain bike and road bike to buy one tri bike: I chose every single element of the bike and haven't modified it years because I didn't have to compromise on anything the first time around. Also, last I checked, you can only ride one at a time.
Ironman Germany, July 6, 2008
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839 days
gfd posted 6 weeks ago.
I think the decision lies on what your specific goals are. I have a tri bike. It was the first bike I purchased since I was a kid with a paper route. My priority was and still is to compete in triathlons during the summer months and run two marathons a year. Therefore, having only one bike is fine for me.
I see my future goals as involving more cycling with group rides and centuries and toning down the volume of running miles while still competing in summer tris. I could purchase a lower model road bike this summer, but I would rather wait a few years and get the bike I really want without settling.
Hi guys just wondering if I can have some opinions on this dilemma. Currently I have a road bike, (Giant TCRC2) but am looking at getting a tri bike (I dont do road racing only tri's). The thing is I always hear people saying thats its good to have a regular road bike for all your training etc.... so, do I keep the road bike and buy a tri bike, or sell the road bike and buy a much better tri bike?!?