OK, don’t laugh at me, but I have just completed my first Triathlon on my Mountain Bike w/ Road tires on it. I finished, but got spanked on the bike portion. This was a bit tough to handle as I was the 7th fastest swimmer and my run was in the middle of the pack. I never want to feel that depressed again, and so I am wandering blindly into the realm of Tri-Bikes. I have shopped around a bit and seem to be running into many people who want to sell what they have in stock, rather than helping me find the right fit. I am 6’3 w/ an inseam of 32. I have been told I need anywhere from a 54cm to a 63cm. Since I don’t feel I can trust bike shop owners, can anyone out there help me? I am also in the market for a used tri-bike, anyone looking to upgrade and sell their gently used rig?
Wow. Where to begin…
Firstly, I am one of these swindlers, these malingerers, these shop owners of whom you speak. 
Some shop owners want to sell what they have in stock at any and all costs. That may be bad, it also may be good. The determination between the two will depend on whether what they have is right for you and its what you want. Only you can ultimately determine that unless you subordinate the decision to the fella or gal selling you the bike. Sometimes that is a wise decision.
Think about this: Is it better to take the unaccountable recommendations of a bunch of INternet forum know-it-alls who have no accountability for their advice or is it better to say to shop owner, “Look, I’m buying a bike on your recommendation. If it isn’t right, I’ll be back and I’ll be disappointed and expect action.”
The key here is a guy who sells bikes for a living also firstly *buys bikes for a living. *He may buy them with a different end motive (i.e. resale in hopes of profit) but chances are he has more experience buying and selling than the average person outside the industry.
All that said, wonder about your dimensions. You say you are 6’3" and a 32" inseam? The guy who told you to buy a 54 was right (becasue of your inseam) and the guy who told you to buy a 63 was right (becasue of your torso). those are some weird dimensions. Your legs need the 54 but your torso needs the 63. Assuming that your legs and your torso will occupy the same the same bike at the same time then you need to be “looked at” by a good bike fitter. I wager the dimensions you are quoting here are rather casually acquired and that your *actual *inseam is quite a bit longer. If not, you have a built like a Dachsund.
Firstly, as Slowman has said many times, shop for a bike shop rather than a bike. Once you find a shop, compare fit and not bikes. The key thing is going to be finding a shop you feel you can trust. It is 100% acceptable to lay it on the line with the shop owner and say something like, “I am in the market for a bike but I don’t want something pushed on me that you happen to have a lot of just for the sake of moving inventory. I want a proper fit and the optimal bike for me.” If you level with the guy, he should level with you.
Good luck My Friend. Try Dan’s dealer locator on this website main page for some assistnce in finding a good tri dealer in your area.
I thank you for your suggestions. Let me apologize,* I *meant no disrespect towards shop owners or sales experts. I have just been a bit frustrated with the fact that I have been bounced around in terms of fitting. I did have a typo, my inseam is more like a 34, still long torsoed, but certainly no weiner dog! I will follow your recommendations in terms of shopping for a good bike shop, sounds like a great piece of advice. Thanks again for your help, and sorry if I stepped on your toes, not my intention at all!
Absolutely no offense taken. Your cautionary outlook is warranted as there are a new breed of triathlon peddlers out there who are loaded up with inventory going no where. They are hungry to unload their museum pieces.
Every year in our region some shop rife with cash professes to be “the new triathlon shop” in town. Two years later their wetsuits are 50% off and all their tri bikes (two years old now…) are basically “make offer”. A lot of retailers smelled quick profits with the triathlon boom, but they haven’t been in the game long enough or hard enough to walk the walk.
I hear you. You’re comments are well warranted.
When you say you have an inseam of 32", how did you measure that? The normal way would be to stand against a wall barefoot and snug a hardcover book (~1" thick) up into your crotch, and then measure from the top of the book to the ground.
If your dimensions are accurate, I would be careful about buying a used bike as it is unlikely that it will fit you without needing modifications which could quickly jack up the price to more than you would spend if you bought a new bike from a shop that is willing to swap out parts for free. There are lots of posts on here along the lines of “I got a great deal on bike X, but if I ride it for more than 10 minutes my back kills me, so I’m sellingit for 50% of what I paid for it and buying a different bike.” A couple of hundred bucks seems like a lot when you are writing the check, but if spending a little more means you get a good fit and you prorate it over thousands of miles, it is some of the best $$ you will spend.
Good luck!
Nice comments Tom. You cannot beat the RIGHT bike shop. You made an interesting statement “Look, I’m buying a bike on your recommendation. If it isn’t right, I’ll be back and I’ll be disappointed and expect action”. Please explain further. If a shop makes a size suggestion, and the fit is wrong, what recorse has the buyer got. A friend of mine (no, not me) bought their first road bike (yes Tom, in SE Michigan, but they did by a wetsuit from you), and the size is way off, I’m talking possibly two frame sizes.
I’m sure the response is “depends on the shop”, but what is the professional code?
Cheers
Where are you located? I’m sure that you could get some good shop recommendations if you tell us where you are.
As hard as it is to do, try not to fixate on a particular bike before you get a fitting. Even though you may love the look of the Cervelos or Litespeeds, etc., let the fitting dictate which bike is best for you. Getting the most power and comfort from a good fit will make you faster than any high-tech materials or features that a particular manufacturer may have.
Good luck and have fun shopping.
I am in the Central PA area, Harrisburg/Lancaster. I live in Elizabethtown.
Hope the fence got put in all right 
But there was just a post about good shops in Lancaster.
Spinners in Leola is the shop that knows what they’re doin’, and Shirks is cheap, I’d avoid most other shops…
lot line? Thanks for the heads up, I have been getting lots of good advice, you are right. Know anyone upgrading that wants to sell their old tri bike? I am on a budget, but can’t stand the idea of training/racing on my mountain bike any longer. Thanks for the shop heads up, I will check them out!
Keep in mind, you don’t automatically have to seek a “tri-bike” to do Triathlons. If you’re riding a mountain bike now you may find success buying a quality road bike rather than just assuming you need a tri bike.
Only you can answer the question: If you know you only want to do triathlons and your only goal is your fastest tri performance then perhaps a tri bike is what will work best for you. However, if you want something more versitle, that will allow you to do: group rides, race tris, do bike races, etc. etc. then a good quality road bike might be the answer. You can always get some shorty aerobars for Trithlons and you’ll still be light years ahead of that mountain bike. A lot depends on your goals and finances, I know if I could only own one bike it would be a road bike.
Regardless, it won’t be long and you’ll be hooked like the rest of us and have a road bike, tri bike, cyclocross bike, mountain bike, commuter bike, track bike, etc. etc. I swear they put crack in bike lube, I can’t get enough of them.
I’m 6’4" with a 32 inseam. I ride a 61cm QR Kilo. I don’t remember my stem length, but it’s nothing crazy looking. There is no way you are going to fit on a 54 cm bike. That’s just nuts. My 61cm looks like a compact geometry bike under me. My brother is 6’9" with a 35" inseam and he rides a 63cm C’dale road bike. Good luck managing your addiction!
Well… i don’t know if this helps but my fit put me on a 61" frame. 6’3", 35" inseam
Finding the right shop can be hard, and finding the right guy at the right shop can be even harder. The best thing to do is read as much as you can about proper fit and get your own accurate measurements so that you have a pretty good idea what ballpark you will be in before you go shopping.
Also it is a good idea to go to the shop a couple of times to comfirm that they are good and you will receive the same level of service every time. Remember that you are going to be spending a lot of money and the more homework you do the happier you will be.
That being said, since you are new I will sell you my 2001 Tiphoon for $3K shipped. It will fit perfectly, I promise. Really.
One thing that helped me while shopping for my first Tri-Bike was this:
http://www.kuota.it/configuratore/calcolomisure/index_e.htm
Take a few measurements and plug them into this calculator and it will give you a good starting point. Once you have the recommended top-tube length, head tube length, etc. you can begin to look at specific manufacturer’s geometries. Most of the fitters that I have spoken to will do fits even though you didn’t purchase the bike from them. This should give you a decent starting point. Good luck.
I can recommend a couple of good shops in the Harrisburg area. World Cup Ski & Cycle in Camp Hill(717-730-9402) and Mountainside Ski and Sports (800-834-4573). I was at Mountainside yesterday getting info on the new Felt B2? carbon tri bike. Ask for Chris Starner at Mtside.
Just my two cents I am the same size as you and I bought a 58 and really like the feel. Also with your location take a weekend day trip into the Philly where you can check out everything from the elite factory (south st.) to all the bike shops that will cater to the triathlete.
A resounding thank you to all that have been so gracious in helping me get a start. Not to be greedy, but another question came to mind from all of the advice. Are tri and road bikes the same in terms of what size frame to shop for? I get the feeling that 58 cm is a good starting point on a tri bike, is it the same on a road bike?
I was going to say athatthe general rule for Tri seems to be one size down from road, but then I realized that I really am not qulified to make a statement like that.
I ride a small 57 tri and a 61 road. How’s that?
All things being equal it is really the top tube length that is the most relevent. It is easier to ride up/down a size on a road bike than it woudl be a tri bike. the window for proper fit on a tri bike is more narrow.
One thing that helped me while shopping for my first Tri-Bike was this:
http://www.kuota.it/configuratore/calcolomisure/index_e.htm
Neat calculator, thanks!
inseam: 36.24"
arm: 31"
trunk: 27.25"
height: 75"
Just what I wanted! A XL K-Factor! Sweet!