Hello from a newbie.....I'm doing the New York triathlon (my first) this Sunday and need some advice...I have been training on my hybrid since February and am a decent cyclist, although not as fast as I could be if I had a road bike. In a tire changing clinic a few weeks back I discovered that it is almost impossible for me to get my tires off my bike - they are armadillo, and have a really tight bead.
My husband arranged for me to borrow a friend's (quite nice) road bike. But I have only been able to ride it 3 times for about 6 miles each time, and since it is a different geometry to my hybrid, I feel a little less confident on it - it also seems to use my muscles a little differently than my hybrid does. But I am about 10% faster on it, although my goal for my first triathlon is more completion than speed.
I am leaning toward just going with the bike I am familiar with and have been training on these past few months rather than introduce something new to the mix at this late stage. The only problems are a) if I get a flat I may be screwed (what are the chances I could find someone official to help on the course?) and b) I will be slower on the hybrid.
Thoughts?
If your goal is to finish (and that's a good goal) then slower really isn't an issue, and there are likely to be others on hybrids and mountain bikes so it likely won't even be unusual.
As for the tires, practice a few more times of you can. You will get better at it. And it's likely the tires will loosen and stretch a bit and get easier to pull on and off. Another option is to use Slime (found in most shops and catalogs), which can seal most punctures from the inside. If you flat, spin the wheel give it a minute and then pump it up and off you go.
As for the other bike, I'd stick with what you know, especially going from a hybrid to a road bike. Big changes in position. Who knows what kind of aches and pains can develop from a longer ride on an unfamiliar bike.
Oh. And ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS make sure to pump the tires up before every ride. Low tire pressure is probably the leading cause of flats.
Hope this helps.
Jamie
I agree, go for the hybrid.
You won't find it as cool & exciting as riding the road bike, but in riding a bike you're not too familiar with, you tend to be more nervous/carefull/ ... and that won't help your time either.
Pimm