Hello all,
I've been thinking about getting my first triathlon bike and have several ideas floating around in my head. I'm looking for some guidance on which route would be the best short and long-term solution.
Current Information:
I did my first 70.3 this year and enjoyed the experience. I made some mistakes and wasn't very fast but I'm really motivated to improve all three disciplines.
My current plan is to do a couple olympics and half distance in 2020 and a full ironman in 2021.
I have a Scott Addict Gravel 30 with a set of gravel and road wheels. I also have pedal power meter.
I've done a tri bike fit and got a list of recommended bikes that would fit me. The bikes that were recommended to me in prioritized order where:
Bar clamp reach (Hx): 505
Bar clamp stack (Hy): 646
Pad X (rear): 415
Pad y (rear): 680
Crank Length: 175
Saddle Height 805
I'm looking for a bike that will last me several years and one that I can slowly acquire some upgrades between now and the full ironman. If I choose to continue doing triathlons I'd like to be able to roll some of the gear into a newer bike (like wheels, cockpit upgrades, etc.)
Option 1: Scott Plasma 10
I know that fit is one of the most important things when getting a triathlon bike but I have trouble understanding why I would get the Scott Plasma 10...it just seems pretty expensive for just getting a full mechanical ultegra groupset (unless I'm missing something else) and I have trouble seeing that being worth $1000+ more than the felt B14
Option 2: Felt B14
The felt B14 seems like a pretty decent first triathlon bik to get me in the aero position and get the majority of the benefits of a triathlon bike. Over time I'm assuming my position might get longer and lower and the adjustability of the B14 seems nice as I get more comfortable with the aero position. At a price of $2300 that leaves quite a bit of room for getting upgrades.
My problem with the felt B14 is that it's rim brake. If I'm going to buy a nice set of wheels would it make sense for my first triathlon bike to be disc brake? My current road bike is disc and it seems triathlon bikes are starting to move towards that.
Option 3: Cervelo P-Series
Now this bike just came out and I have no idea if this bike is a good fit for me. But I'm drawn to the bullet proof frame that has some technology flow down from the P5 and also it has disc brakes. I'd be looking at getting the 105 disc version which is $3200. I know the dic brakes are cable as opposed to hydraulics but at least a set of upgraded wheels would work on my Addic and/or a future triathlon bike upgrade (that will most likely be disc brake?)
Option 4: Quintana Roo Four or Five
I don't really know very much about Quintana Roo bikes. They seem like nice bikes and I think the same applies as the cerevelo. Any disc brake wheelsets that I buy now could be carried forward to a disc brake triathlon bike in the future.
What are your thoughts?
TL;DR: Is it worth spending $1000 extra for a mechanical disc brake bike so the wheels can be used on a better triathlon bike in the future...assuming that's the way the triathlon bike market is heading.
I've been thinking about getting my first triathlon bike and have several ideas floating around in my head. I'm looking for some guidance on which route would be the best short and long-term solution.
Current Information:
I did my first 70.3 this year and enjoyed the experience. I made some mistakes and wasn't very fast but I'm really motivated to improve all three disciplines.
My current plan is to do a couple olympics and half distance in 2020 and a full ironman in 2021.
I have a Scott Addict Gravel 30 with a set of gravel and road wheels. I also have pedal power meter.
I've done a tri bike fit and got a list of recommended bikes that would fit me. The bikes that were recommended to me in prioritized order where:
- Scott Plasma 10 (2015+) Size L
- Felt B14 (2015-current) Size 56
- Specialized Shiv Size L
- Quintana Roo PR Five Size L
Bar clamp reach (Hx): 505
Bar clamp stack (Hy): 646
Pad X (rear): 415
Pad y (rear): 680
Crank Length: 175
Saddle Height 805
I'm looking for a bike that will last me several years and one that I can slowly acquire some upgrades between now and the full ironman. If I choose to continue doing triathlons I'd like to be able to roll some of the gear into a newer bike (like wheels, cockpit upgrades, etc.)
Option 1: Scott Plasma 10
I know that fit is one of the most important things when getting a triathlon bike but I have trouble understanding why I would get the Scott Plasma 10...it just seems pretty expensive for just getting a full mechanical ultegra groupset (unless I'm missing something else) and I have trouble seeing that being worth $1000+ more than the felt B14
Option 2: Felt B14
The felt B14 seems like a pretty decent first triathlon bik to get me in the aero position and get the majority of the benefits of a triathlon bike. Over time I'm assuming my position might get longer and lower and the adjustability of the B14 seems nice as I get more comfortable with the aero position. At a price of $2300 that leaves quite a bit of room for getting upgrades.
My problem with the felt B14 is that it's rim brake. If I'm going to buy a nice set of wheels would it make sense for my first triathlon bike to be disc brake? My current road bike is disc and it seems triathlon bikes are starting to move towards that.
Option 3: Cervelo P-Series
Now this bike just came out and I have no idea if this bike is a good fit for me. But I'm drawn to the bullet proof frame that has some technology flow down from the P5 and also it has disc brakes. I'd be looking at getting the 105 disc version which is $3200. I know the dic brakes are cable as opposed to hydraulics but at least a set of upgraded wheels would work on my Addic and/or a future triathlon bike upgrade (that will most likely be disc brake?)
Option 4: Quintana Roo Four or Five
I don't really know very much about Quintana Roo bikes. They seem like nice bikes and I think the same applies as the cerevelo. Any disc brake wheelsets that I buy now could be carried forward to a disc brake triathlon bike in the future.
What are your thoughts?
TL;DR: Is it worth spending $1000 extra for a mechanical disc brake bike so the wheels can be used on a better triathlon bike in the future...assuming that's the way the triathlon bike market is heading.