Need some help w/ Tri-Bikes (sorry!)
63
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305 days
charlie6460 posted 14 weeks ago.
http://www.trifuel.com/forum/12667/motobecane-mirage-pro-review
997
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363 days
ChunkyB posted 14 weeks ago.
Man, my spidey sense is tingling. But I'm trying to refrain.
Those all look like road bikes with clip-on aero bars. I would look for a good used tri bike before I bought any of those. And, if it were me, I would actually look for a good used road bike and get some clip-ons, but that's just me.
Also, I have some problems with the way that bikes direct advertises. Much of what they claim on their site is misleading, and much of it is downright lies. This thread may be yet another example of shady advertising by bikes direct. If it is, then please leave now and never come back.
If it isn't, and you actually consider getting a bike from bikes direct, then make sure you understand that their suggested retail prices are way overblown. You will get a good deal, but not a screaming deal like they would like to make you think.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
63
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305 days
charlie6460 posted 14 weeks ago.
To follow up. I rarely ride my Motobecane bike now. I have a Felt S32 that I am very happy with. I only use the Mirage if I am on a trainer or with roadies. I agree with Chunky. My satisfaction with the mirage pro bike has dropped a lot since I wrote the review. I would advise against it. After you get the bike you will still need to assemble it. At first it looks easy, but there are always a few tweaks here and there that you will need some help with. Also don’t under estimate the value of a good bike fit.
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104 days
kriv3454 posted 14 weeks ago.
what about somethign along the lines of this
http://triathlonlab.com/product/triathlon-starter-kit-102.html
63
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305 days
charlie6460 posted 14 weeks ago.
In the end you will regret not going through a GOOD LBS. I truly wished I bypassed the online experience all together. Make sure you find a good LBS with good service. There are plenty of crappy ones out there also!
997
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363 days
ChunkyB posted 14 weeks ago.
kriv3454 wrote:
what about somethign along the lines of thishttp://triathlonlab.com/product/triathlon-starter-kit-102.html
Again, just a road bike with clip-ons.
Honestly, if I were you, I would start checking craigslist frequently and see what you can find. In the mean time, go to your LBS and try out a few road bikes and see what feels good and what you like. If you really want a tri bike, I wouldn't try to get a cheapy one. I would get a road bike used (you can find some screaming deals on craigslist or other local classifieds) and put some clip-on aero bars on it if you want. I would definitely stay away from getting the cheapest tri-bike known to man though.
The main differences between a tri-bike and a road bike are the frame geometry and shape. An actual tri bike will be much more aero than a normal road bike because all of the tubes will be "sharper" and more aerodynamic (cylinders = bad). Other than that, they will usually be stiffer, for better power transer, and probably heavier. The main difference, IMO, is the fact that the seat tube angle is a lot steeper, so you're basically sitting farther forward on the bike. This is mainly so that your running muscles don't get quite as tired while biking, but you can also get this effect by getting a different seatpost that has some forward offset.
Long story short: don't get a bottom-of-the-line tri bike. Get a nice road bike (used) and tweak it as you see fit. You will really get much much much more bang for your buck going this route. I can't say that enough.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
7
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109 days
breezy posted 14 weeks ago.
I agree with all the comments above. You may not need a tri specific bike for your first sprint triathlon. You can get a great road bike for the price range you are looking at and add aerobars for a similar effect. I would highly recommend getting a professional fit on your bike with or without areobars though, to ensure you are not wasting energy or increasing your odds of injury.
Happy hunting!
9
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467 days
trismitty posted 14 weeks ago.
I agree with the majority. You may save a few bucks on a bad frame, but you'll pay for it (and more) every time you take it to LBS for maintenance. Typically, bike shops will service a bike purchased in house free of charge for at least the first year. I've seen so many guys come in with Motobecanes and Mercier from bikesdirect only to find out that for about a hundred (or two) more they could have been on a nice felt (including a fit and service).
Road vs tri...if you only plan on having one, then get a road bike with clip-ons. The TT bike will be faster, but save that investment for later (when you're sure you're really hooked on this stuff...and that time WILL come!) Good Luck!
Trismitty
7
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112 days
skyrone posted 14 weeks ago.
I also agree.
My first bike was a Felt F70, I bought it from a LBS for a great deal because it was a 2005 model and the 2006's had been in the stores for quite awhile. I highly recommend seeing what your local bike shops have in your size from the previous model years. I got mine with 105 componentry, SPD pedals, carbon seatstays, and a bitchin' yellow paint job all for $850. After that I threw on some Syntace aerobars from eBay and I was ready to rock.
I have since upgraded to a carbon tri-specific bike but still have my Felt, It is my training bike, commuter, and the thing I take out with roadie friends. Buy the right entry-level bike the first time and it will benefit you for a long time.
Good luck.
325
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1252 days
nyfan21 posted 14 weeks ago.
Just wanted to make a comment on my online recent purchase of a Cervelo P2 SL; got it for around $500 less than in the store. And I always hear people talk about how the LBS gives good customer service; never received that in Boston.
-Mat
58
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551 days
jperubog posted 14 weeks ago.
For a sprint it is not really necessary to have a tri bike, I would just ride the loaner bike you are using now if your friend doesn't mind, and if it is your first tri, I would wait until after the race before buying a bike to see if you want to take the next step and get more involved in the sport. In the mean time you can save a little more money toward that first bike. Do alot of research, visit your local bike shops, get a feel for the employees, are they helpful or are they just trying to push a bike on you? Look in the classifieds, thats how I found my bike.
I think picking a bike is one of the hardest things for newbies, simply because there are so many options, but just take your time and don't rush into it, whatever amount of money you spend, it is still alot of money and you just want to make sure that it will work for you.
Good luck
727
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486 days
theShiba posted 14 weeks ago.
I noticed that the OP hasn't come back recently...
997
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363 days
ChunkyB posted 14 weeks ago.
theShiba wrote:
I noticed that the OP hasn't come back recently...
Freaking troll. I wanted to believe that he wasn't a troll, but he betrayed me. I'll have to learn to just trust my spidey sense. Or, maybe I should call it my chunky sense.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
7
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104 days
kriv3454 posted 14 weeks ago.
I actually just got home about 10 minutes ago after a long day of work. Thanks for all the insight, I am not going to be able to use the loaner bike for the triathlon but I think I found a nice Trek at a LBS and think I'm going to buy it and add on some aerobars...is there anything else I should/must add before the tri?
thanks again all!
997
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363 days
997
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363 days
ChunkyB posted 14 weeks ago.
kriv3454 wrote:
is there anything else I should/must add before the tri?
Not really. You'll see many people at sprint races with normal road bikes without any kind of aero bars. I just race with my normal road bike, if you can call what I do racing. Just make sure the bike fits you really well and you enjoy riding it. That's what matters most.
And sorry again for assuming. I'll never trust my instincts again.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
7
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104 days
kriv3454 posted 14 weeks ago.
thanks for everything guys! i took the advice on a LBS and rode around a Giant OCR3 and decided that tomorrow I will be buying it.
so now for part 2! (haha ><) any ideas/websites for good priced aerobars and clipless pedals (I saw a nice set on another bike that had clipless pedals and the black plastic piece for regular shoe riding as well which would be ideal since I live by the beach!)
thanks again!
727
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486 days
theShiba posted 14 weeks ago.
This thing clips into a LOOK style pedal to provide you with the lamest possible way of riding a bike. If you get them, don't tell us please.
7
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104 days
kriv3454 posted 14 weeks ago.
no..those things are gayer than aids (hope that doestn offend anyone! haha)
looked around craigslist and found these 2 as well...good deal(s)?
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/721550342.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/bik/737036001.html
*edit* Shiba..I live in Huntington haha
997
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363 days
ChunkyB posted 14 weeks ago.
kriv3454 wrote:
so now for part 2! (haha ><) any ideas/websites for good priced aerobars and clipless pedals (I saw a nice set on another bike that had clipless pedals and the black plastic piece for regular shoe riding as well which would be ideal since I live by the beach!)thanks again!
You don't want those pedals. I have some that have SPD clip-in things on one side, and platforms on the other side, and I like them a lot. I have them on my secondary/commuter bike, and they're great for having both options. Here's what they look like. It's kind of hard to tell from the pic, but they are just a normal metal platform on one side and a clipless pedal on the other side. I would definitely go with that before the plastic clip-in things.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
22
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125 days
kaolelo posted 14 weeks ago.
of those two bikes on craigslist, i would go with the specialized, although either one is ok. make sure that you don't invest too much before you are sure that you are going to stick with triathlons, but make sure that the bike is at least fitted to you (which might mean a new stem) before you do a lot of riding.
I have been training for my first sprint triathlon for the past few months on an old road bike I got from a family friend and have been saving to buy a Entry level Tri bike.
Was looking the at the prices at some of the LBS around here and everything is $1000+ so I was curious about the following 4 bikes I found on bikesdirect, any insight is greatly appreciated!
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/aerott.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/mirage_pro09.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt1500.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt2300.htm