so, Im going to start doing triatholons this summer and am in the market for a decent road bike. Im looking for something 500-1000 dollars that is enough for a beginner and will still be adequate in a few years. I need as much input as possible because Ive never owned a road bike before so thank you in advance MD
I KNOW JACK ABOUT THE SPORT BUT MY UPS DRIVER RIDES 9 MONTHS OF THE YEAR HE TELLS ME "TREK" IS THE BIKE NOT SURE IF ITS PRICY OR POPULAR BUT THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THIS BRUCE
I personally ride a Cannondale. But like Thuh Bruthuh sez, Trek is a sweet ride as well. The list of high end race bikes is endless and you'll get opinions from everybody. Best is to take some test rides on various makes and be sure to get properly fitted before buying. Dave
The single most important factor is having a bike that is fitted to you. This is a lot more than simply being able to stand over it. Check out PRKBikes.com. He's not geographically convenient to you, but I don't know anyone who knows more than him about the science of bikes and bike fit. Good luck!
Best bet is to talk to other triathaloners. Who knows, you may get lucky and find someone selling the perfect bike for you.
Um, that would be "triathlete," not "triathaloner." At any rate, if you want a bike for Triathlons, there are numerous theories on what's best. Depending on your height, you can go with a bike with 26" wheels but if you need a frame size over 54cm, I would go with regulr 700c wheels. If you're going to do any serious road cycling and not just triathlon racing and training, you should get something with a seat angle in the 74 or 73 degree range. Also, if you're looking at that price, you're best off with something used. Many pro racers sell their gear every season and you can get pro level stuff for great prices. The first thing that you need to do, however, is find out what size you need. You can get fit by a fit professional in your area. If you don't know where to start PM me and I'll get you someone.
come on ryan...go ahead and admit it...we call them tri geeks! lol!! seriously, as ryan says, get fit properly. a bike is like a suit, if it fits , you will wear it more! if you are able to find a team bike that would be great but if not, get a guru or a cervelo p2k as they are both a good bit of bike for the money. do keep in mind that you can spend as muc money as you want to ...especially when you get into the italian exotic metals and such!!! have fun and shave those hairy legs!!! it's no fun when the first funny person hazes you and yanks off the hair on your legs for the first time.
You're joking, right? Pete, Yeah, we call them tri-geeks, and we call them dork bars, but if that's what it takes to get more people on bikes, I'm on board. I forgot to tell you: I was at the Tour of California last week for the TT stage. I was in the team cars for much of the day but I got to catch up with all the old crew. I told your boy George that you sent to say hi, although he was swamped with people so I didn't really get to shoot the ****. It was great, though.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/nemesis06_SPECIAL.htm This is the same bike as the Fuji Aloha 1.0. The 2005 Fuji is on sale for the same price for in-stock sizes. The 2006 version is $1800 or so. This is a tri-bike. Tri-bikes have a different seat tube angle so that you are sitting on the bike correctly when you are on the aero bars (you're elbows will rest on those bars in the middle). I did my first triathlon last year on a borrowed bike. I liked it a lot but decided on a road bike as my first since I would be doing more road biking than tri-biking. I bought an all carbon Giant TCR Limted. I may still actually order that one above simply to have a decent tri-bike for 2x a year tri-athlons. If the distance is short enough (20-miles or less) consider a road bike for your first. A LOT of people like to call Bikes Direct junk but most of them have no personal experience with them. I do not either, but on bikeforums.net there is a long thread about them and the only complainers are non-users. Everyone who's used them has been happy. Know this however, by using BD you will not have the service of a local shop to fall on. If something breaks, you have to e-mail BD for service. A local shop will of course service the bike for you and charge you like anyone else but not warranty the bike. Some think patronizing a local shop for bike purchases will get you better service. IMO if you use them regularly, and buy other items from them you'll get good service. Fuji is the same bike. Find a local shop off the fujibikes web site and go there. They '05 Aloha 1.0 is on sale for the same price, but again only on in-stock items. They could help fit you to the correct size. If you go with the BD bike, maybe buy your tri-shorts, shoes, and some other stuff from them as a thankyou for helping you. Maybe use them for maintenance as well if you like the guys that help you out.
Not to nit pick here but that's not why tri-bikes have a forward seat angle. They have a forward seat angle to save your legs for running. With a forward seat position, you use much of your quads to ride, thus saving your hamstrings for running. As you get stronger and better, you can use a regular road seat angle and generate more power for cycling and still have legs for running. Why do you think that pro cyclists use regular seat angles for time trials? Also, if you really want to have you arms in the right place while in the aero bars, your ears should be directly over your elbows. And if you really care, there are a multitude of ways to get the fit correct for triathlon with either a forward seat angle and a regular road angle.
I would find the best used frame/bike you can afford. You can always change to lighter wheels/more aero as well, and upgrade your components. Less expensive components are normally a little heavier or they don't have as nice of a finish. You want all your power transmitted through the cranks and into the frame. If you can afford a good set of wheels, that would really pay dividends. It's better to save weight at the wheels than anywhere else. If you can find a used Trek or something in that area, I think that would suit you fine for now.
We have a stable full of Specialized bikes. Hardrocks for off-road; Expedition for cross-over for me; Crossroads for cross-over for John; Dolce Sport road bike for me; Roubiax Elite road bike for John. We are very pleased with the Specialized bikes. Here's a link to the Specialized website and their recommended triathlon bike: "Even for the best, like three-time Ironman Hawaii champion Peter Reid (each won on a Specialized), triathlon racing is all about efficiency, upping average speeds, cutting time in transitions and running competitors down; which are the paving stones to victory. With an E5 Advanced Alloy frame and vibration eating Zertz dampers in the fork, handlebars, and seat post, the Transition ensures speed because it's aerodynamically superior and easier on your body." http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=06Transition Transition models range $1200 - $4600 (check out all their others too!) Good luck! Carol The new Tricross by Specialized is a cool bike! Suggest that you go to a good bike shop that carries multiple brands, find a salesperson who knows bikes, tell them what you want to do and go from there.
I would start with a cheap road bike. Not a TT (Time Trial/Triatholon). I have a Giant Aero 2. I love it. It's not quite a TT bike, but not a road bike. It's their attempt at being both. $1200. What you think you want/like/need now, will change as you get better/faster. Make sure you get fitted and ride the bike. A lot of shops will just look at you and say "Ah, you're about a 54cm" and try to sell you on that. That won't work. Some people of the same height may not have the same proportions. Some will have longer legs, while some will have longer torsos. So even though you're the same height, you may need different size bikes. Frame sizes are not universal among manufactures either. So a 54cm frame will not be the same as a 54cm from another. I would not buy anything too expensive (under $1000) until you know what you really want and like. Don't get a Trek unless you think you're Lance Armstrong or want people to think you're Lance. Since you're not Lance, I'd get something else. Also don't wear a jersey with sponsors all over it unless they really do sponsor you. Wearing a jersey with sponsors all over it, when you have none is POWERFUL GAY. Those Lycra shorts are gay enough. You don't need to make it worse. I guarantee that even with a $600 bike, wearing swiming trunks and a cotton t-shirt with moth holes in it, you'll be passing people on $5,000 carbon bikes and wearing a jersey with sponsors all over it thinking they are Lance. Too many wanna-be in the cycling world. Beat them, don't join them.
http://www.triathletezombies.com/ buy a used frame dude or left over: http://gvhbikes.com/ this link was passed to me when i was going single speed. unfortunately, skin cancer sidelined me.
Strongly recommend that you seek the advice of a local bike merchant that is well regarded by the folks in a club or any group you will be riding with. The frames are all made in China now, so the difference in price all comes down to what components you want and how much you want to pay. You buy a pre-packaged bike for less (usually) than building one yourself. I'm a mountain biker, but $1,000 should get you plenty of bike. For the road, you want light weight, comfort, and a great trannys, IMHO.
Phil and Gerard are nice enough guys. If you're going over there, pm me and I'll give them a heads up.
I'm sure I've already run into them in the building, I just don't know who they are! They're one floor below my office. I'll be looking for that intro--or perhaps you'll want to warn them that there's a BMX freak upstairs. Once the spring hits, I'm sure I'll be looking for a road bike. I've never owned one, surprisingly.
