Hi All,
I’m new to the forum and am looking for advice on buying a new (to me) tri bike. I have a running background but have just recently gotten into competing in Tri’s. I have completed a few sprint Tri’s and am contemplating giving the olympic Tri a go next. That brings me to this, I need a bike! I’m 6’4’’ and 205lbs so from what I have read and heard on different forums the correct size would be a 60 or 62. I would like to buy used and stay under $700. Is this a reasonable price for something decent on the secondary market? Any advice would be much appreciated (brands, what to look for, sizing/fitting) If anyone knows of anything that may suit my needs feel free to post.
You’d have a larger pool to choose from if you opened yourself up to a road bike - you’re size already is a limiter. Then, you could always slap on some jammer-type bars and get a decent position in for an Oly. This way, if you decide tri isn’t for you, then you can always ride the road bike.
$700 won’t get you a great bike, but should be ok to start. Be sure to factor in things like pedals, shoes, cages, bottles, computer, tools, flat-repair kit, etc. If that’s all included in your $700 budget, then you’re thin, for sure…
With a limited budget, I’d go with a used road bike (as the PP mentioned, much wider selection) and get a pair of clipons (easily under $50 used). Focus upgrades as you get additional $$$ on better wheels (a used deep-V wheel for the front and a disc cover for the rear) and an aero helmet and trisuit. All these will yield bigger bang for your buck than an aero frame, and will follow you to a better bike later on.
For $700 you should be able to get a good used bike with a carbon fork and 105 or Ultegra components.
Thanks for the reply snoots… That brings me to another question which has led me to some confusion recently. Is the Tri bike strictly for race day? Do folks have a road bike for training and only break out the Tri bike when race day comes along? Or do some use the tri bike with training wheels for the most part? Apologies for the novice questions!
You can use your tri bike all the time. Some people have them set up into some fairly aggressive (very aero, but can be fairly uncomfortable) positions, so they’re not great for day-to-day training.
The other thing is that road bikes are compatible with cycling road racing, criteriums, and other bicycling competitions. Most tri-bikes (aka TT bikes) are only really useful at triathlons and time trials. Also, if you go for a group ride with a cycling club on a triathlon bike, you may ruffle some feathers.
Thanks for the reply snoots… That brings me to another question which has led me to some confusion recently. Is the Tri bike strictly for race day? Do folks have a road bike for training and only break out the Tri bike when race day comes along? Or do some use the tri bike with training wheels for the most part? Apologies for the novice questions!
Apologies for questions not required!
Simple answer: it depends! Different people will do different things. I have a road bike and a tri bike. Tri bike at races, but also for training. I try and get about half of my training in on the tri bike. The other half on the road bike, just because I like to ride it, and because I don’t like to ride the aero bars when riding in a group.
Don’t get too caught up with the ‘stuff’ yet - you’ve got time for that. There are no ‘training’ wheels and ‘race’ wheels - just wheels! There’s a whole bunch of people out there - myself included - that got great deals on stuff that people bought and never - or hardly - used!
Thanks for the reply snoots… That brings me to another question which has led me to some confusion recently. Is the Tri bike strictly for race day? Do folks have a road bike for training and only break out the Tri bike when race day comes along? Or do some use the tri bike with training wheels for the most part? Apologies for the novice questions!
Definitely not. All I ride is a Tri-bike. I use it for racing, for training, on the CT, out for a spin with the kids.
Agree also that a road bik will get you a bigger pool to choose from…but that does not mean not to look for deals for tri bikes…But here is an example. I have a 2003 Klein with ultegra with 12,000 mikes on it ( same frame Rebellien rode on for Gerolsteiner). I have taken very good care of it. This year I am making it tri specific on the cheap. (Have other road bikes). If I were to sell it, probably would get 800. It is one of my favorite frames and I have no problem changing the cockpit or even just slapping aero bars on it (did 4 IM’s on it that way). So yes, you can get a decent bike for your price range.
Here is a good example http://www.ebay.com/…;hash=item2a17b71119
When you find something, post it and ask
Edit: Not saying buy this bike…just an example. In this case, if it ges for 400, buying a seat, bar ends, base bar, chain ect, you would be under, and you gat a sweet frame.
Kenney, thanks for the links… I have emailed the seller of the Cervelo for some more information.
Now that some have mentioned getting a road bike first I am getting somewhat cold feet about pulling the trigger on a full blown tri-bike.
2 concerns.
-I live in the city so unfortunately the local rides consist of a fair amount of stopping. Getting in and out of position so regularly seems like it may be a nuisance… Am I over thinking this?
-Having never ridden a tri bike, i’m not sure i’m flexible enough to stay in the “elbows down” position for an extended period of time!
-I live in the city so unfortunately the local rides consist of a fair amount of stopping. Getting in and out of position so regularly seems like it may be a nuisance… Am I over thinking this? YES you are
-Having never ridden a tri bike, i’m not sure i’m flexible enough to stay in the “elbows down” position for an extended period of time! **Your planning for possibly an Olympic - (i.e. 25 miles), with-in the race there will be a few hills that you will probably stand to climb - you should be fine. **
Your welcome…Tri bike or road bike, yes overthinking. Learn to handle a bike and that Cervelo will be fine…Many will say rod bike, many tri bike as a first bike. Road bikes worked for me that I used for tri’s,…way to many variables to say for someone just posting on the internet. I would say find out what you really want to do, but you are not dropping 3k on a bike. …If that Cervelo is a good deal go for it. You can always go the same route and buy a road bike later…or if that Cervelo falls through, visa-versa. …Keep us informned and use the forum as a tool. Cheers, Happy buying.
Now that some have mentioned getting a road bike first I am getting somewhat cold feet about pulling the trigger on a full blown tri-bike.
2 concerns.
-I live in the city so unfortunately the local rides consist of a fair amount of stopping. Getting in and out of position so regularly seems like it may be a nuisance… Am I over thinking this?
-Having never ridden a tri bike, i’m not sure i’m flexible enough to stay in the “elbows down” position for an extended period of time!
-Steve
Two very legit concerns. Riding in the city is really no more problematic on a Tri bike than it is on a road bike. Being comfortable getting in and out of your pedals is the part you need to master. And since you have never ridden a Tri bike, you owe it to yourself to go to a good local bike shop and ride one. A tri bike frame does not equate to a road bike frame, in a tri bike, it’s all about stack and reach (look at the top menu for that section of Slowtwitch). Definitely do that before pulling the trigger on anything, just to make sure you are not getting a bike too big or too small. And BTW, each manufacturer is different, so frame size is not as important than how well YOU fit on the bike.
