Suggestions for a Tri Newbie Bike
2455
Member
1331 days
Triguy98 posted 34 weeks ago.
I normally advocate a roadie for new riders. If you dont have a bike at all, go with a road bike. You get more for your money, and the learning curve when it comes to bike handling is lessened.
What size bike are you looking for?/ how tall are you? Height has a big impact on how easy/ difficult it can be to find a bike used.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
10
Member
945 days
mccalip posted 34 weeks ago.
My best friend is jumping into tri's and he is going to the lbs this Sat to buy a bike. I recommended he start with a road bike and he can eventually put drop bars on it. Every triathlete has a road bike and uses it during the off season or to ride with groups. I use mine on my indoor trainer. If you find that your falling in love with tri's then you're ready for a tri bike. Use the road bike for 2 seasons and see how it goes; and how serious you get. I would spend at least $1200 and use the lbs. They will get you started right and fit you to the bike. Use ebay once you get smart and know exactly what you want. Good luck.
2950
Member
1368 days
Anton posted 34 weeks ago.
Road bike. Much more adaptable and does shorten the learning curve as Triguy says...
Check with your local bike shop...they often have used bikes. Try Craig's List. I know several folks who have picked up good bikes that way.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com
478
Member
1475 days
kona_expat posted 34 weeks ago.
Where do you live and how tall are you? I have a road bike for sale that's got clip-on aero bars and assorted tri add-ons. The bike would fit someone about 5'4", maybe even 5'5".
8
Member
252 days
llrauh posted 34 weeks ago.
Dude, I took the plunge and got a tri bike right off the bat so I have no clue...I DO know that the tri bike was difficult for me at first but the way I see it-I didn't know anything else about bikes so I dealt with it!
545
Member
556 days
Socket posted 34 weeks ago.
As a n00b myself I went with a road bike for budget reasons. It'll slowly become a more tri-like bike over the next year or so. Once I've got the right budget and race times, I'll look at upgrading. Even if I had the money I wouldn't want to be the guy on a full tri bike all decked out doing 15 mph :-)
But then I hadn't ridden a bike in 10 years before last fall so that probably didn't help. What's your current bike experience and do you have any kind of bike now? (including MTB)
872
Member
884 days
tsilcyc posted 34 weeks ago.
Go down to your local bike shop, get fit, and find out what your options are. Bike geometries are different and it's best to know what will fit you before you fall in love with a bike. The fit will cover both a road and tri bike so even if you're looking at road now, they will have your numbers when it's time to get the tri bike. A fit will cost anywhere from $40 on up. Not all shops are the same so maybe list your location and somebody can make a recommendation. Good luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my Log: http://www.felog.net/users/teamsln/query_log.aspx
Check out my Blog: http://www.felog.net/feblog/
22
Member
280 days
cheese0614 posted 34 weeks ago.
Thanks for everyone's comments. And to answer the question I'm about 6'3"-6'4" and live in Baton Rogue (guess I need to update that profile huh?). So let me know if any of you know of someone selling a bike that might be a good fit.
It sounds like a road bike may be the way to go for me considering cost and the learning cuvre. I used to be pretty heavy into moutain biking when I was in school up at Clemson, but since moving to Louisiana the land got a lot flatter and MTB riding thus went on the decline. So that pretty much sums up my experience.
134
Member
1049 days
Homebrewermike posted 33 weeks ago.
You might also consider a dual purpose road bike. The Cervelo Soloist Team for example has a frame that could easily be used as a road bike or tri bike.
276
Member
808 days
fastdog5 posted 33 weeks ago.
tsilcyc wrote:
The fit will cover both a road and tri bike so even if you're looking at road now, they will have your numbers when it's time to get the tri bike.
I may be in the minority, but I take a bigger road frame than tri frame.
16
Member
236 days
snailtrail posted 33 weeks ago.
Im new here and to tri training, but curious what all the talk about the riding curve when associated to tri bikes is about. I have tried quiet a few and didnt think it was any more difficult than a road bike. Just curious because I am about to buy a bike (only 1 though) and thought Id buy a tri bike......
...up wind after egg salad
276
Member
808 days
fastdog5 posted 33 weeks ago.
mccalip wrote:
...Every triathlete has a road bike and uses it during the off season or to ride with groups...
Not true.
872
Member
884 days
tsilcyc posted 33 weeks ago.
fastdog5 wrote:
tsilcyc wrote:The fit will cover both a road and tri bike so even if you're looking at road now, they will have your numbers when it's time to get the tri bike.
I may be in the minority, but I take a bigger road frame than tri frame.
The fit is about your body size, not the bike. They will measure you and then find bikes that fit your dimensions. For example, my wife has long legs and a short upper body so a standard road bike designed for a man doesn't fit her well at all. A lot of tri bikes fit her very well though.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my Log: http://www.felog.net/users/teamsln/query_log.aspx
Check out my Blog: http://www.felog.net/feblog/
872
Member
884 days
tsilcyc posted 33 weeks ago.
snailtrail wrote:
Im new here and to tri training, but curious what all the talk about the riding curve when associated to tri bikes is about. I have tried quiet a few and didnt think it was any more difficult than a road bike. Just curious because I am about to buy a bike (only 1 though) and thought Id buy a tri bike......
If you buy a standard road bike and get fit, you will most likely not have very much drop from the saddle to the bars. Let's say you go out and buy a P3C and get fit for it. All of the sudden you have 14 centimeters of drop. If you've never ridden with the seat crushing your junk, I guarantee this will be the first part of the learning curve that will get your attention.
The second thing that troubles people is the aero position. Your hands are not near the brakes and they are in the center instead of the outside. It makes people nervous and it also is less stable.
The list goes on... riding the nose, climbing while in the saddle, your knees touching the arm rests, having your bottles behind the seat, neck pain if your not used to the angle, etc.
Personally, I love my tri bike and ride it all the time. But I know people who have dumped them or changed to something less steep.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my Log: http://www.felog.net/users/teamsln/query_log.aspx
Check out my Blog: http://www.felog.net/feblog/
17
Member
194 days
Kwyjibo posted 26 weeks ago.
tsilcyc wrote:
The list goes on... riding the nose, climbing while in the saddle, your knees touching the arm rests, having your bottles behind the seat, neck pain if your not used to the angle, etc.
Just curious (newbie question) what is the difference in having the bottles behind the seat?
G.
287
Member
1338 days
kevinb421 posted 26 weeks ago.
having bottles behind the seat has a few purposes, first it adds the obvious, additional bottle space which can be quite helpful in longer races, but its most important function to me is it causes me to stretch my back to reach which is very very helpful when you are spending hours in the aero position.
"If your not going to win, make the fellow in front of you break a record."
4496
Member
1645 days
kylie posted 26 weeks ago.
Although it is also one of the most aerodynamically bad place to put them...
276
Member
808 days
fastdog5 posted 26 weeks ago.
mccalip wrote:
Every triathlete has a road bike and uses it during the off season or to ride with groups.
FALSE!
4496
Member
1645 days
kylie posted 26 weeks ago.
False, but lots of fun if you can swing it! :)
107
Member
457 days
kakman posted 25 weeks ago.
fastdog5 wrote:
Hmm, you must have thought we missed it the first time you said it.
mccalip wrote:Every triathlete has a road bike and uses it during the off season or to ride with groups.FALSE!
Actually, it's pretty true. Down here, and I'm sure many other places, you're not welcome on bunch rides if you're riding a tri bike.
In fact I can't think of one triathlete I associate with who doesn't have a road bike (it may be their only bike or it may be in addition to a tri bike).
I have a Soloist team and just swap the seatpost insert when I want tri position - works great.
/k
276
Member
808 days
fastdog5 posted 25 weeks ago.
mccalip wrote:
In fact I can't think of one triathlete I associate with who doesn't have a road bike (it may be their only bike or it may be in addition to a tri bike).
So it's true in your experience, but not universally. Just trying to follow your logic.
107
Member
457 days
kakman posted 25 weeks ago.
fastdog5 wrote:
Perhaps you should read my whole post again - it pretty much explains it. I'm fairly certain 'mccalip' was meaning "most" rather than 'every" but we can be anal about the semantics or accept the reality that most do have both.
mccalip wrote:
In fact I can't think of one triathlete I associate with who doesn't have a road bike (it may be their only bike or it may be in addition to a tri bike).
So it's true in your experience, but not universally. Just trying to follow your logic.
Whilst I'm sure there's people with tri bikes only, I'd submit they'd be the exception rather than the rule.
/k
I would love to hear everyones suggestions on a begginer bike for a Tri Newbie. Should I go with a Tri Bike or Road Bike?
Also, and this may be a long shot, anyone selling a Tri Bike? With the cost associated and me just getting started I've decided it would probably be best to go used.