Have a past of running and road racing. Now onto my new obsession, which I am loving, tri's. :) Currently have a great road bike. Now wanting tri bike. If dollars weren't an issue I would just buy new tri bike and keep road. I am on a budget of course. Thinking I could sell my road bike (sniff) in order to purchase the tri bike I want. But LBS said I may regret not having my road bike and rec putting clip aerobars on my roadie etc to use for my tri's. My ultimate goal is to stay in tri and duathlons, eventually doing an IM. Whats your advice??
I crossed that same bridge
I crossed that same bridge in 2006. I went the clip-on route with my road bike and have no regrets. This spring I bought my first dedicated TT bike...a Trek SC 7.0. It has been an amazing ride and having my road bike still has many benefits. I do most all my training rides on the TT bike but still do some rides on the road bike. I live in the mid-west and would anticipate using my roadie more in the winter when road conditions and salt can be an issue. With that said, I love the TT bike from the overall geometry to the speed...it pays to build up your fitness in the right geometry. I would encourage you getting a TT bike but not at the sacrifice of having to trade a road bike to get there. Have you looked at used TT bikes? Also, there are some amazing deals right now on 2010 closeouts. Good luck!
Deciding factor may be 1)
Deciding factor may be 1) who you ride with and 2) how many/what kind of races you do. If you currently ride with a road crew, showing up on a tri bike is verboten in many circles, so unless you like being snubbed, keep the road bike. If you train solo or with a tri team, I'd recommend taking the intermediate step of slapping on clip-ons for the end of this season and next. For $100 or so you can just add the clip-ons to your base bar and voila! Tri bike (sorta). Then farther on down the road, when you're 100% committed, you're racing tri/du frequently, and signed up for a full, *then* ditch the road and go all TT frame. If you take a progression approach, you may be able to keep the roadie and buy TT next season or the season after that.
+1 Use clip ons. I did for
+1 Use clip ons. I did for two seasons and then decided to spring for a TT bike this summer when I found one at a great price. I don't regret it, now I have a roadie when I want to ride with someone else. Also, when you decided to get an indoor trainer (and you probably will if you don't have one already) you can leave the training tire on the roadie and keep the TT bike for road training...
I rode my road bike for 7
I rode my road bike for 7 years with clip ons. Finally bought a TT bike a month ago...a P3. Love it. If you're going to do IM eventually...you'll eventually "want" a TT bike. (not "need"...but "want").
+1 to Trisooner
+1 to Trisooner
Thanks you guys. I
Thanks you guys. I appreciate the insite. I just stumbled across this site and I like it!
I guess I will be bars on my roadie....unless I come across the 3g's I need for my TT in my couch. :) Its hard to be patient when you want a pretty bike that goes vrooommm!
I dont want to sell my road so this idea works well. I am planning on getting fit with the aeros on road to prevent any muscle issues. Cheers!
I would just keep your road
I would just keep your road bike and use that. If you are already an experienced road cyclist, you will probably be faster or at least just as fast on a road bike. I have a TT bike and rarely use it (maybe just a couple of times a year). Road bikes are much more versatile and I don't think you will be happy with just a TT bike. If you can afford to own two bikes then sure buy one, but unless you are specializing in IMs having just a TT bike isn't going to cut it.