My First time ever posting to any forum, hello, signed up for my first triathlon for this summer, and I need a bike, I have an old road bike, and a good mountain bike, but I test rode a tri bike a week ago and it was pretty cool. After riding that bike, I am not looking forward to doing a twenty five mile road course on a mtb. I have been doing a lot of research on bikes and I am willing to spend the money on an entry level tri bike, but some of the deals you see on ebay seem pretty decent. I have seen a few stores that seem to specialize in selling used bikes online on ebay only. I don't want to mention any names because I am not sure if that is allowed, but does anyone have any advice or has anyone ever bought anything from stores such as these? and if so do you have anything to offer that could help me with making a decision?
make sure that you are able to get on a frame locally even if you buy it online. fit is everything for bikes...there's also the added benefit of knowing you've got a local place to ask questions or get repairs done on a frame they know...
sorry, no help on the online purchase thing...but welcome to trifuel!!
I dunno maybe I'm a nervous nelly but bike fit is very important. i have a good local bike shop and they do a very good job fitting the bike to me. can a internet bike shop give you the same level of service?
Welcome and good luck in your first race!!!
Unless that road bike is really super old and heavy, I might suggest waiting and buying your tri bike after you do that first race and know that you love the sport. Unless you've got tons o' cash to spend (and if so, send some my way!), I'd wait before making an investment in a tri bike to be sure you don't get stuck with a piece of specialized equipment for a sport that you decide isn't for you. And if it is, then great, buy the bike as a post-race reward to yourself to get psyched for the next event! 25miles isn't that long to do on a road bike - I regularly ride 40-50 miles on my road bike - so you'll survive one triathlon unless that "old" road bike really is a million years old and weighs more than current model mountain bikes.
[QUOTE=Tamara;66020]Unless that road bike is really super old and heavy, I might suggest waiting and buying your tri bike after you do that first race and know that you love the sport.[/QUOTE]
I agree. Also, any old road bike will be much faster than even a really nice mountain bike.
IMO, for a beginner, a new bike doesn't make much of a difference at all. If anything, an old clunker will give you an even bigger confidence boost when you pass guys on sweet bikes!
thanks
Thanks for the replies, and the encouragement, very much appreciated.
The bike I am looking at online is a Quintana Roo Tequilo, supposedly a 2004 model, I did go to a local bike shop and ride a newer model Kilo which I think is the same type of frame, but I am so skeptical of scams, I think I may just wait, save up some extra cash and spend it next year.
The other thing, check the local bike shops, pawn shops, and craigslist. You can usually find something for a hundred or two bucks that may not be new, but will be a lot better than a mountain bike.
[QUOTE=jperubog;66029]
The bike I am looking at online is a Quintana Roo Tequilo, supposedly a 2004 model, I did go to a local bike shop and ride a newer model Kilo which I think is the same type of frame, but I am so skeptical of scams[/QUOTE]
As long as you pay through PayPal, you're covered against scams. Most deals on ebay are legitimate, and I've gotten some really good deals there. As long as the seller isn't asking you to pay with a wire transfer or shipping out of someplace like Hong Kong, you can be pretty sure that you're safe. My current road bike was from ebay. I got an '05 Ultegra Ridley Excalibur for $1600 and it retails for well over double that. I absolutely love it; it's in great shape and amazingly fast!
A QR Tequilo is a nice bike, too, so if you want to get it you might as well. Even the psychological factor of having a fast bike can make you faster.