What's the difference between tri and road bikes?
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Triguy98 posted 1 year ago.
Tri bikes are generally more agressive. You would be looking at a seat post angle of 76 or more degrees on a bike designed to have a lot of drop between the seat and handlebars. They are made to go straight and fast. Handling is tricky for the first bunch of rides.
Roadie are more relaxed, with seat anles of 74 degrees or less and not so much drop to the bars. They tend to handle and climb a bit better as a result of this geometry.
I would get a road bike, they are cheaper for any given parts spec. You can get a full 105 equipped roadie for $800- 1000, but will pay $1300- 1400 for the same spec on a tri bike. After being in the sport a couple years, and figuring out what you like most as far as training and racing, then you can make the jump to a tri bike.
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Anton posted 1 year ago.
Tri bikes are much more aggressive...You have to be careful as they have a tendancy to start fights in the transition area for no reason. ;)
Actually Triguy is spot on...I just couldn't pass that up.
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UFTriGator posted 1 year ago.
They also move the pressure exerted by your legs from your hamstrings to your quads and hip flexors (because of the position the steep seattube angle puts you in), which lets you be fresher for the run, since the running is heavy on your hamstrings.
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itri posted 1 year ago.
Thank you! I loved the idea that tri bikes will start fights in the transition area! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA:D
Thank you so much for the advice. Road bike sounds like a nice affordable pace to go for now unitl I find my fit in the tri world.
Now the other question would be... if I'm in the market for a new bike and want to do triathlons, would it be completely silly to get a mountain bike or do they maybe have something in between?
I live around a lot of trails and like having the option to off road every now and again. (I'm catching onto abbreviations:) HOwever... I don't want to be a complete snail for racing, either...
Do they make any kind of bike that can be switched from road to mountain?
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Triguy98 posted 1 year ago.
Depends on the types of trails you have. If the trails arent too technical, one could go with a Cyclocross bike. Its a road type bike thats built a little tougher and has wider tires on it. You could simply swap those tires out for skinnies for road trianing and racing.
That wouldnt be the optimal thing to do, tho. I would simply go with a lower end roadie for now, one that has a decent frame that will last a while. In another year or so, buy a hardtail MTB. You will be fit from all your road riding, and will just have to pick up the techniques for the dirt.
OR you could get into offroad triathlons. There arent as many of those around has the on road versions, but theyre pretty cool. Xterra is the most well known, but there are others. Then you could geta nice MTB and get a cheap, used roadie for training...
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itri posted 1 year ago.
THANKS Again:)
I am looking at a Raleigh Grand Sport for around $700 after all is done.
http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=343
I really appreciate your input as I think I will go with the idea of getting a good road bike and add to my bike farm later on with a mountain bike. We have an Xterra race in my area in august. Maybe thinking about renting a mtn bike for that one! Sounds fun!
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Nobody posted 1 year ago.
Get a used bike off of Craigslist. If you shop around you could get a road bike and a mountain bike for the same price of either new.
And keep in mind that a tri bike isn't really going to do much for you in a sprint-distance. If you were training for 1/2s or more, the advantage of the tri bike is a lot more significant.
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jerky1280 posted 1 year ago.
When I saw shopping for a beginner bike I got a lot of advice to buy a road bike and equip it for tris. I got a great deal on a 2006 Bianchi San Mateo (about $700 under MSRP) and love the bike. However, less than 6 months later I'm now wishing I'd spent a little more and bought a tri bike.
Oh boy here comes a silly newbie question... So what is the big difference between a tri and road bike? I am in the market for a new bike.
Price plays a factor. :rolleyes:
I do my first sprint tri next Sunday and hope to continue staying in the tri sport training for as long as I can before the snow comes then it's off to xx skiing!
Thanks!