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Newbie with question

cobannero

Feb 23, 05 6:55

Post #1 of 13 (312 views)

Newbie with question	Can't Post

Hi everyone,

Newbie here with a question regarding bicycle rules in my first tri. I'm on my (very old 90?), road bike "Raleigh Technum" (aluminum), which has been doing nicely for me so far.

Can I use the bike to enter my first tri? I'll be doing the the June 12 at Harimann state park (http://www.nytc.org/calender.cfm). I e-mailed them twice but can't get a response yet in three weeks. Do I have to check with each event' regulations everytime I wish to enter future tri's? I'm not looking to win...YET. Just get my feet wet this year before plunking down a bunch of $$ for some tri models I've been drooling over lately.....(bicycle models). :)

Also, has anyone done this event to give me an idea if it's hilly and punishing for someone constantly practicing on flat terrain and the treadmill during lunch breaks.

Thanks for any input

Lone Racer

Feb 23, 05 7:06

Post #2 of 13 (296 views)

Re: Newbie with question [cobannero] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Welcome

I've never done any of these races, so I can't tell you anything about them. As for the bike question - I don't know that model, but as long as it's not some UCI rule busting design, you should be good to go. Most newbies start out on some old wreck or, as in my case an old mountain bike. As long as it's road worthy, you won't have any problems with the race officials. I would put this bike question behind you and not give it another thought.

good luck - train safe - have fun

put the mettle to the pedal

Terry in MN

Feb 23, 05 7:08

Post #3 of 13 (291 views)

Re: Newbie with question [cobannero] [In reply to]	Can't Post

You can use any bike you want as long as it's in rideable and safe condition. That's pretty much the only rule for triathlons in the states! By safe everything needs to be tightened (headset, etc), should have working brakes, and your handlebar ends must have plugs....

Tom Demerly

Feb 23, 05 7:12

Post #4 of 13 (285 views)

Re: Newbie with question [cobannero] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Welcome on board.

Yes Sir or Ma'am (whichever the case may be). You can have a fine race on your Raleigh. The first 50 triathlons I did were on a bike that was very inexpensive and quite old and I learned a lot, had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the sport.

I make my living selling triathlon bikes so I am shooting myself in the foot by saying this. However, the truth of the matter is you don't need super fancy equipment to enjoy this sport. A basic bike with enouth air in the tires and a pretty good fit so you are reasonably comfortable will get you to the finish line with flying colors.

Congratulations. I hope you feel the same things I did when I did my first races. It is a wonderful sport that, 23 years later, has taken me around the world several times and given me some very fun experiences.

Good luck to you- oh, and we expect a report on your first race My Friend...

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/
(NOTE: This poster owns a retail business selling triathlon related products).

Murphy'sLaw

Feb 23, 05 7:20

Post #5 of 13 (270 views)

Re: Newbie with question [cobannero] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've seen dudes (and dudettes) riding Harriman on mtb's, so, an "old" road bike should be no problemo.

I think the only mandatory bike requirements are the standards: that you have a helmet, and wear it *securely buckled* whenever you are on the bike. Or you WILL be DQ'd. That, and you must have end plugs in the end of the bars, they check for that too at pretty much every race, don't remember if they did specifically at Harriman or not. These are both fairly standard bike req's at every event. Oh, and don't draft. And stay RIGHT.

PS - It's hilly. Not a good course to PR the bike split. One pretty long gradual hill pretty much out of T1, followed by a mach schnell downhill, which ends with a haripin 180 deg. left turn. Oh, and the TA is a gravely parking lot, so it's a very good idea to have sandals or whatever to wear from the swim finish to the TA, since running barefoot on Item 4 sucks.

Ride on-

float , hammer , and jog

On ST hiatus from 11/1/08 until Spring '09

bvfrompc

Feb 23, 05 7:35

Post #6 of 13 (252 views)

Re: Newbie with question [cobannero] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I did my first three tris on a mountain bike, an old road bike would ride circles around it.

The only thing I knew they checked for was to make sure there there were bar end plugs on the end of the bars (for safety reasons).

I'm in UT so i have no idea on what the course is like but good luck!

cobannero

Feb 23, 05 7:36

Post #7 of 13 (252 views)

Re: Newbie with question [Tom Demerly] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks everyone for your replys.

FYI - Name is Eddie, live in Brooklyn, NY. Been very active since I was 10 in a number of sports including Martial arts, football and running until I turned 25. Inexplicably, I gained A LOT of weight and stayed there for the past ten years. Had a daughter in September (first kid). After our eyes locked for the first time, nothing has been the same since (for the better of course).
Recently lost 30lbs and need to loose about another 45 to somewhat resemble the old Eddie.

Thanks for your help and hope you all don't mind me asking the dumbest to wisest possible questions at times (until I'm familiar with things).

Tom - You have not shot yourself in the foot. If I decided purchase a tri bike, you'll be the first one to know. I went to dealer in my neck of the woods recently; lets just say I ran out of there as quickly as possible.

Race report? You betcha! At the moment there is nothing more I want than to take a picture with my wife and baby girl at the finish line (they'll have to bare with my sloppy sweat). It's still a while away and I'm constantly getting butterflys thinking about that day.

Thanks again,
Eddie

cerveloguy

Feb 23, 05 7:45

Post #8 of 13 (227 views)

Re: Newbie with question [cobannero] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yor bike will be fine. I did my first two tris on an old steel 12 sp that was two sizes too big for me.

You're bike has to usually pass a safety inspection at tris in our area. Just make sure everything is in good runnig order.

"OK, I'll admit I screwed up the facts"

tripoet

Feb 23, 05 7:50

Post #9 of 13 (217 views)

Re: Newbie with question [cobannero] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey Eddie: Welcome aboard! I see you live in Brooklyn. I do too and do most my rides in Prospect Park along with a lot of other Brooklyn Triathletes and Roadies. You should check out JackRabbit Sports in Park Slope for not only great deals on clothing and equipment, but for their terrific triathlon running/swimming/riding groups. They cater to all levels of triathletes. Lee Silverman (the owner) is a real good guy and frequent poster on this site.

Oh yeah, I did my first triathlon on an old '92 Specialized Rockhopper Mountain Bike with "city slick" "racing" tires. You will be fine. Have fun!

(This post was edited by tripoet on Feb 23, 05 7:54)

BottomFeeder

Feb 23, 05 7:56

Post #10 of 13 (205 views)

Re: Newbie with question [cobannero] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have a tri bike and a road bike, both of which I enjoy. But I can't wait to jump in a tri with a beach cruiser or a BMX bike or some such.

Sometimes you wanna race seriously. Other times you wanna let the kid in you come out. Either way, as long as you display spunk while wearing a grin on your face all day, you're way ahead of most folks.

Good luck.

-----------------------------------------------------
Tamed itseazy by day 10 of the 100/100 Running Challenge.
Who's next?!

cobannero

Feb 23, 05 8:44

Post #11 of 13 (170 views)

Re: Newbie with question [tripoet] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Tripoet,

I've been meaning to pay them a visit for a few weeks now (need new running shoes anyway). I'm sure I'll get there this coming weekend. I'm about 20 minutes away from there.

Maybe we'll meet at the park one day.

Eddie

tripoet

Feb 23, 05 9:17

Post #12 of 13 (137 views)

Re: Newbie with question [cobannero] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm sure we'll see each other at the Park. I'm usually on one or the other of my black Felts or else running around in the dawn's early light.

Jon

Feb 23, 05 10:10

Post #13 of 13 (88 views)

Re: Newbie with question [cobannero] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Using an old bike is fine, but if you live close enough to Harriman, you should train there. I train there every weekend (when it gets a bit warmer). I know a guy who was an Olympic bicycle racer in the 1960's, and he told me that he thought Harriman was the best place to train in the country. It is very hilly, and there is a 2-mile long climb on the triathlon loop that you may want to practice. There is also a wicked downhill with a u-turn at the bottom