I need some advice. I have completed my first season of Tri’s this year, and have found myself wanting to upgrade my bike. I am currently using a 2003 Specialized Alliz road bike. For the most part, it still has all its stock components, but I have added Profile Aerobars.
I don’t have the funds to do a major upgrade, but I figured I basically have two general choices, and I was hoping that I could get some input on which direction would see the best improvements in my times.
Option 1: Sell my road bike and get some sort of used entry or mid-level Tri bike w/ accompanying tri geometry. However, it would pretty much have to be stock components, as I couldn’t afford to get good racing wheels/tires in addition to the bike and other upgrades.
Option 2: Trick out my road bike for Tri racing which would include: Racing wheels (HED3, Zipp, etc), new handlebars w/ bar-end shifters, possibly a fwd angle seat post, getting professionally fitted, possibly needing a longer stem, etc..
Assuming that I could do either of the two for roughly the same amount of money, which would be the best way to go to improve my biking times?
Will having 76 degree seatpost have a significant effect on my run time, versus just sliding the seat forward?
Background on me and goals:
Targeting a half ironman next year, and an ironman the following, plus the assorted Olys/sprints.
I am a solid MOPer, and probably will remain as such, but who knows…
Currently I can do the 40K bike in an Oly distance race at an avg 21mph.
Thanks for any thoughts on the situation.
I don’t have the funds to do a major upgrade, but I figured I basically have two general choices, and I was hoping that I could get some input on which direction would see the best improvements in my times.
Option 1: Sell my road bike and get some sort of used entry or mid-level Tri bike w/ accompanying tri geometry. However, it would pretty much have to be stock components, as I couldn’t afford to get good racing wheels/tires in addition to the bike and other upgrades.
Option 2: Trick out my road bike for Tri racing which would include: Racing wheels (HED3, Zipp, etc), new handlebars w/ bar-end shifters, possibly a fwd angle seat post, getting professionally fitted, possibly needing a longer stem, etc..
Assuming that I could do either of the two for roughly the same amount of money, which would be the best way to go to improve my biking times?
Will having 76 degree seatpost have a significant effect on my run time, versus just sliding the seat forward?
Background on me and goals:
Targeting a half ironman next year, and an ironman the following, plus the assorted Olys/sprints.
I am a solid MOPer, and probably will remain as such, but who knows…
Currently I can do the 40K bike in an Oly distance race at an avg 21mph.
Thanks for any thoughts on the situation.