What you think is ugly, I may find beautiful.

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Make Inside Out Sports your next online tri shop! http://www.insideoutsports.com/

I walked this path about 12 months ago when I bought a bike. The quick nut is that "affordable" gets thrown out the window pretty quickly. The Felt B14 is affordable, and if you live in country where they offer the B16, then that is very affordable. And, it is pretty decent looking. That was my baseline when I began shopping. So, I would vote for the B14/B16 as nice looking and affordable.

I like minimalism...

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

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Shiv?

The QR Kilo is another very good bike for the price

Sounds like you're just making a statement based off of the top of line bikes when most brands still offer more entry level. Cervelo P3s are great bike and not out of this world expensive or the Shiv as mentioned. I was going to say the Shit TT for your minimalist taste but I just checked it and it is a bit high just for a frame. I am sure the Speed Concept still have entry level models.

BMC Time Machine 02 105 is a great entry level bike that has served me really well. It is ready for Di2, EPS, or eTap. It has a lot of great features with a rather traditional frame style.

the kilo is kinda on the ugly side though.

I did see the PR series of bikes on the site though, they look nice.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

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I think you can get a bike like the Cervelo P2 in the mid-$2000's.

The bikes beyond the P2 and the P3 are better - the wind-tunnel numbers don't lie, but we are talking minimal gains. The ill-placement of one water-bottle on the bike, can wipe those gains out. Or a a poor helmet choice and a bib number flapping in the wind! Or bad choice of hand/arm position our front! . . an so on.

If you go all-in aero with everything else, with some of the lower priced bikes that, are pretty good (and don't forget until the last round of super-bikes the P3 was the Gold-Standard) you'll not be that far behind!

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

If Trek still made the Speed Concept 2.5 and just went with a simple all-black color scheme with 105 components for ~$1500 they'd sell boat-loads of them.

Alas, this is not the case :/

I don't find something like this 2012-gen bike hideous:

2012 Kestrel Pro $1399

As an off-topic aside, I've been getting into maintaining my long-neglected 2008 Cervelo P2C - it took a LOT of internet youtube videos and websites/forum research to figure it all out, but I'm coming along nicely - I actually now look at the "Park tool Advanced" toolset and think "That's not advanced at all!" which is amazing to me since just last month, a tire change was about all I could handle as a wrench.

I've been since a bit horrified with all the compatibility issues one runs into when trying to do something as simple as install current-gen Shimano 105 on a bike. You'd think it should be automatic, that any recent-gen bike should be able to do instantly. But no, there are different bottom bracket standards, apparently Cervelo went from the screw-in Hollowtech BBs (that I like, since I can pull 'em out and clean them) to a press-fit less serviceable BBRight so you can't just stick a cheap ultegra BB in there.

If I do buy a next bike (unlikely now) it HAS to have easily user-removable parts, including the BB.

The Diamondback Serios - as a complete bike - is a steal for a really fantastic bike. If you don't need/want the parts, it's not a great option (no frameset only). But if you do, hard to beat the price and quality.

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"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp

I wouldn't call any of the SC's entry level, I think they start around 4K. I'd also prefer frame only, but that's asking a lot these days.

The new P2 / P3 is ugly as sin. The proportions look funky to me, I don't like how the cabling is run, the seatpost isn't very good looking. If you are gonna run derailleur cables behind the stem, run the brake cable there too! I like the old P2 and P3. Don't like the current one.

The QR PRthree looks like it might be OK, but i've never seen one in person.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

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never even thought of BMC. Buddy of mine has one, he likes it and it does look good.

no idea what the prices are though.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

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I paid $2,500 for mine, totally stock. I don't know what you consider affordable, but that is pretty cheap for a carbon tri bike based on my research. There are cheaper, but I didn't like them when I test rode them, specifically the Cannondale Slice.

Is sub-$3000 what is considered affordable nowadays?

I think that's where the market is.

I really miss the days when you could buy an aluminium frame for $1000-ish. Those days appear to be gone, which means I won't be getting anything new for a while...

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

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I agree that triathlon/TT bikes seem to be at a kind of crossroads. There are divergent paths between increasing complexity and more wild innovation (or "innovation" if you're jaded) and more conventional design. I kind of miss the days like 10 years ago when you could just go buy a Cervelo P3C and you were good. And it was pretty much as easy to maintain as any bike, and had a minimum of proprietary gee-gaws.

But to answer your question, I'm waiting for final details on the new Cannondale. Which appears like it'll be minimalist, good-looking, and hopefully has decent aero performance. Just keeping my fingers cross that it has a rim brake option. (If you're listening, Cannondale, please have a rim brake option). The Canyon TT bikes also look good.

I think you can still get an alloy frame-only for $1000.

The groupset alone though, costs near $400 for shimano 105, which is the typical starting entry point for TT bikes.

The Trek SC 7.0 is $2,999. Not necessarily entry level, but also not 4k.

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Pink? Maybe. Maybe not. You decide.

My wife still has her turn of the century era aluminium Cervelo P2K which she bought new. Its been to Kona, Australia, Mt. Tremblant and a zillion local area sprints and served her well. She feels no need to replace it. I sold mine years ago. Wish I still had it.

$4k on Trek's People's Republik of Canuckistan site...

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

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I'm on a P2SL (black). I just wish it were a slightly longer frame and neater cable routing.

Inexpensive custom options?

Mine...

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

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Many affordable tri bikes and frames can be found here: https://www.mybikeshop.com/...constraint=Triathlon

How great would it be if somebody made the "Caad" (or maybe now allez sprint) of tri bikes. Nicely routed, good shapes, modern, moderately cheap.

Closest thing in recent memory was the 2 series Speed Concept, which nobody was interested in for some reason.

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My Blog - http://leegoocrap.blogspot.com

Yep.
I bought a new old stock Cervelo P1 ultegra for $800 back in 2013 or 14.
I screwed up bad selling that bike (got out of triathlon for a while).
Now I'm wanting to get going again and this thread is exactly what I've been thinking.

I'd like to find a black P2k aluminum frame for a few hundred and build up an affordable 105 bike. Real hard to find though. Only one I've seen in my size was $500 with a dent. That's too much I think.

I wish.

Whatever you do please get a bike with a down tube. Help squash the fugly TT bike fad that's happening.

I know I'm giving up "free" speed... but nice looking and affordable tri bike for me is my 2009 Cervelo P1 and my Hed 3s. OMG - an aluminum tri bike! Lol. My wheels and bike are certainly dated and bought used to boot. But for a MOP like me, it's a beautiful frame with a slick pair of wheels. My whole setup costs less than a single front race wheel.

Cannondale Slice 105, US$1949 (paint scheme may not be to taste, but the frame is about as inoffensive as could possibly be)
Orbea Ordu M30, US$2199
The Argon 18 E80 is a bit expensive for an aluminum bike down here in The States, but maybe in the home market of Canuckistan the value proposition looks better?

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"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

Whomever designed the seatpost head on the slice should be shot for fashion crimes.

other than that, it's OK except for that godawful paint.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

Have you considered any of those chinese carbon knockoffs? (I haven't tried them but they looked cool)

I thought with the right front end parts the New P2 & P3 were up there with the P5 (which is about as aero in the yaws that count as anything else around).

Yes, but this is a discussion about affordable tri bikes.

Just an FYI: Performance Bike presently has all of the Fuji Norcom Straight 2.X models on sale for under $2k. Change out the Oval handlebars for something a bit more aero, and you've got something in the P4 range drag-wise.

4k CAD

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___________________________________________
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2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)

This is what $3000 gets you in Australia. Basically P2, Shiv, Plasma, Trinity, TM02.
https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/...1&max-price=3000

There's a very good deal on an Avanti Chrono for anyone living in Queensland. UDi2 for $3500. Avanti don't get much love, but they make very fast track bikes and that knowledge and CFD experience transfers over.
https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/...-clearance/102960440

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'It never gets easier, you just get crazier.'

You should start with a fit. Does your fitter use a fit bike? Use your numbers from your fit. Your stack and reach numbers vital. Get the best fitting value out there

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Robert Driskell
Certified Master Body Geometry fit Technician
Certified Master Retul Fit Technician
Zipp Service Course Specialist
Bikes Plus Pensacola Florida

I don't need a fit. I know my numbers.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

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Then buy the best fitting bike based off the numbers there are many try bikes out there below 2500.

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Robert Driskell
Certified Master Body Geometry fit Technician
Certified Master Retul Fit Technician
Zipp Service Course Specialist
Bikes Plus Pensacola Florida

Canyon make an aluminium speedmax for about $1600 USD

The PR3 with 105 components looks reasonably priced too

Depends what you call affordable and hideous is in the eye of the beholder.
You can get Felt B16 for <€2000.

My lower (but maybe not low enough?) cost option would be a Canyon Speedmax CF8.0 (€2299)
The Canyon would be as fast as most, cheaper than most, and I think it looks better than most. I spent quite a bit more my Felt IA14 last year but if buying now it would be hard to look past the Canyon, although I might go for the CF9.0 or CF9.0 SL.

I paid 1975 for my new P2. When you get to 1000 dollar road bikes the quality level is poor. $1000 is not what it used to be.....

I agree on the new P2...great deal on a very upgradeable bike. I got great deal a partially parted out one new. Mine comes in at under 19 lbs with Di2, Quarq, and Hed Stinger Disc/9 in race configuration. Since most of my events are <40K, the time savings from a super bike are fairly negligible. Money would be better spent on fitting/coaching. However, I'd love to have a super bike...:)

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"Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps"
Blog = http://extrememomentum.com|Photos = http://wheelgoodphotos.com

Your definition of "nice looking, affordable" might be different than mine, but I think some good bang for the buck bikes out there right now are the Felt B14 at $2200 for a carbon fiber bike with a mixed Ultegra-level groupset, the Giant Trinity/Liv Avow (featured on the ST front page now), and the Cannondale Slice. You're getting an 11-speed 105 level groupset with the Giant, Liv, or Cannondale for under $2,000.

Are any of these the fastest bikes on the planet? No, but they all manage to be pretty good at getting the low-hanging fruit (except for that front brake cable on the Giant/Liv). The Giant front end is a bit limited for adjustments, though. I'm not a big fan of the Vision bars on the Cannondale, either.

The PRthree from Quintana Roo impresses me for the money. At $2500, it has a lot of nice trickle-down stuff from the PRsix happening, and they come with shorter than average cranks and a good, adjustable Profile Design cockpit.

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Travis Rassat
Vector Cycle Works
Noblesville, IN
BikeFit Instructor | FMS | F.I.S.T. | IBFI
Toughman Triathlon Series Ambassador

I think the Qunitana Roo Kilo is one of the nicest lower priced bikes out there.

I got this bike on sale from Nashbar for $750. It was $999 and used a 25% off deal. I think it is a good looking bike. Though only a 76 degree seat angle.

http://www.mekkbicycles.com/Tripro-AL-10.aspx

It works for my beginner self. Actually got the upgraded Saturae wheels for the same $750.

That's a nice deal! Nice looking bike I've never heard of the brand, but it certainly looks pretty nice!

NOW THAT'S A DEAL!!!

I'm super tempted to pick one up and field test it against my Speed Concept. Seriously. I have a bunch of friends that just got into the sport that would like to buy a tri bike but really can't/don't want to shell out $3,000+. Small note: size range seems a bit limited on Nashbar: http://www.nashbar.com/...3_10052_593316_-1___

I started a thread on this bike a little while back, asking if anyone had given it a go. Seems like a helluva deal for a new carbon tri bike.

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...F_P6251682/#p6251682

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"It never gets easier, you just go faster."
-Greg LeMond

Define your terms.
What is affordable?
What is nice looking?

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#swimmingmatters
Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind.
The Doctor (#12)

Two extra cheap options:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/...-sale-fuji-aloha.htm

and

http://www.bikesdirect.com/...estrel-talon-105.htm

I haven't seen them in stores, but Felt makes an aluminum TT bike, the S32. I think it's in the $1200 range.

Luckily affordable and bikes with down tubes still exist. All these new TT bikes are hideous sans down tube.

Bought a Scott Plasma 5 frame on Ebay for $700 bucks. Put on some Etap. Already had the wheels. That's $2000 for a top of the line bike. Not bad.

You found a Plasma 5 frame for $700!!!! That's an incredible steal!

Hi all,
The answer to the good cheap bike question is always going to be: "Buy used!"

eBay is your friend! This is a topic close to my heart as a deal finder and cheapskate. I'm going to at some point start a post on best used bikes.

I had the same question for all of last year. Went to my LBS over and over again to try to find something that fit me and was within my price range $2500. LBS sold me on a FELT that I really liked. Last year's model, within price range. Five days later, I find out they do not actually have the leftover model. Found another model (above my price range) that was discounted--again last year's model. Waited a couple of days. Again, that was not available. Then they tried to convince me to buy a new 2017 model. Got frustrated, logged on and found a QR PR5 from prior year at R&A cycles in Brooklyn. Drove up there and met some great guys at that shop! Got the PR5 for more than my original price range, but after experience with LBS, I was willing to pay for it. My advice, find a good, trustworthy shop and buy a leftover from the year before. The technology changes year to year seem minimal.

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I may not be fast, but once I get going, it is hard to stop me...

What shred of credibility you had left was just exhausted on this post.

Based on what? Your feeling that the bike is a POS? That you don't "trust" the wind tunnel data that Diamondback put out on the Serios? That you just don't like me?

As I've said before, the Serios reminds me a lot of the Transition, which lots of people just assumed wasn't fast - including a very detailed (ostensibly, anyway) post by Tom Demerly outlining all the flaws the Transition had as compared with the P3C. Of course, actual tunnel data showed that to be demonstrably false. There was a great thread - with data - here: http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...rs_P2009701/?page=-1

You can get a Serios AF for $4,499 for a complete bike with full Dura-Ace and Hed Jets. That's a great deal for a great bike.

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"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp

When you were sponsored by Dimond, you pimped that bike on this forum and when you had a falling out with the company you publicly trashed them as being unsafe. Now, coincidentally, of all the bikes on the market, you choose to recommend your new sponsor's bike. I am sure you are a great dude and I certainly don't have any reason not to like you. But if you want to be taken seriously you may want to recuse yourself from shamelessly recommending the bikes produced by your employer. Or at least make it plainly obvious in your signature line that you have a financial arrangement with these companies as opposed to "ask me about X/Y/Z". My two cents, take it or leave it.

hi Jordan -

what are the basic differences between the AF and the F? just the groupset? are the frames the same?

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___________________________________
Cure CF, because I love my daughter.
http://www.cff.org

I don't understand what it is people like you think sponsored athletes do (or are supposed to do)? Of course they plug the product of their sponsor -- that's what they are supposed to do! It's their job. Even if the product sucks.

If you are buying product because a sponsored athlete tells you it's great, then you must have missed the memo that a sponsored athlete is a brand ambassador who is not much different from a member of that company's marketing department. Jordan marketed for Dimond; now Jordan markets for Diamondback. I don't see the big deal.

Frames are identical except for paint/color. I actually ride a Serios F because I prefer black bikes.

Only difference is in part spec, which is more than just the groupset since it also includes wheels. But the frames are identical in terms of "quality." I.e., it's not like one is cheaper carbon or lower modulus or heavier or anything like that. Differences between AF and F frames are purely cosmetic.

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"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp

Giant Trinity Advanced, $1850, carbon frame, 105 groupset, aero brakes and a very stable ride compared to many other rides. I have the previous generation ride and the new version is a better bike at a great price.

thanks Jordan. i'm the same re: black bikes.

personally i like riding bikes / brands that are a little different, and still have an old Blue RC8. i'm drawn to the Serios because it's a great looking bike. it also reminds me of my childhood, when i used to ride Diamondback BMX bikes.

the AF looks like a nice deal, but the F seems to be getting into a price range that may not appeal to most buyers.

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___________________________________
Cure CF, because I love my daughter.
http://www.cff.org

I don't know the details, but it *must* have been an inventory issue. The Serios AF is the *higher end* model. It comes with better wheels and Dura Ace. The F comes with cheaper wheels and Ultegra. There's absolutely no reason for the F to be more expensive than the AF. You can see this from MSRP. The AF is $8,500 MSRP on sale for $4,499. The F is $7,500 MSRP on sale for $6,299. I don't understand it myself.

I tried to figure it out, but the AF is now totally out of stock, which makes me think they must have been clearing out inventory to make way for new model year stock. The F is still in stock in all sizes, but it's not that great of a deal by comparison...

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"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp

I have a friend who used to ride professionally and is now on a mekk.. he is very happy with it and to be honest if I hadn't just bought a felt I would have bought one myself. What about a quinntana roo pr3?

Probably stupid question, but what would be wrong with slapping some regular road bars on there and making that into a cheap aero crit bike? Would the geometry just be too aggressive for that?

Might be too slack for some but, honestly, it looks workable to me.

A2 bikes have complete bikes starting at $1899. They unveiled the bike at 70.3 Oceanside.


Its not the best looking bike IMO, but for a full carbon bike at that price point it looks like a decent value.

https://www.a2bikes.com/

P2.....except Cervelo can't do a decent paint scheme to save themselves.

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TriDork

"Happiness is a myth. All you can hope for is to get laid once in a while, drunk once in a while and to eat chocolate every day"

The problem is that there are a limited number of trigeeks buying tri bikes each year.
If a triathlete is going to buy a bike, it's the job of the bike manufacturer to sneak the buyer up from affordable to average, to fill their coffers. They aren't in business, to make us happy, they are in business to make money. Bike companies have found their niche and are going for it. In business I'd do the same.

That said, I think there is room in the market for someone to hit the budget conscious amongst us. I think if you look at how many of the uber bikes actually get sold compared to say the P2 type of bike, there would be a really fat part of the curve around P2's

I wouldn't suggest that people start making a modern version of the P2/P2K/P1 frame, but something in carbon incorporating most of the features that are shown to work well, integrated into a single bike, with 105 and some reasonable carbon wheels, and you'd be onto a winner. Sometimes good is good enough afterall. And paint it pretty.

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TriDork

"Happiness is a myth. All you can hope for is to get laid once in a while, drunk once in a while and to eat chocolate every day"