I am a newbie to TRIATHLONS/DUATHLONS (did 3 this fall on a borrowed bike) and looking for a TRI-BIKE to be used in Eastern EUROPE! (my US work-contract comes to end in 5 months and I will be moving back to ROMANIA, however I decided to buy my bike while I’m still in the states…)
Not an easy task, considering that the bike should be available from a US source (preferably Detroit-MI) and, most important, servicing/parts should be available in Eastern Europe!
So far, the only major brand dealership available in close range of ROMANIA is FELT - Germany/Austria (Croatia, Slovenia, Czeh Republic, Poland -are listed as well w/o convincing info related to Felt’s TRI-machines).
Romanian bike stores/specialists are pretty good at mountain-biking gear and decent on road stuff but TRIATHLON specific gear/info is practically inexistent.
My preferred source for servicing would be HUNGARY (just west of Romania) convenient language-wise and within driving range!
A frame is just a frame but I’d mostly check into whether Campagnolo vs Shimano components are the most common. Campagnolo is made in Italy so may have a bigger representation in easten Europe than does Shimano. Also, a number of Europeans have posted here that the 650c wheel size is much less common there. Look into that and if true then definately go with a 700c bike.
A frame is just a frame but I’d mostly check into whether Campagnolo vs Shimano components are the most common. Campagnolo is made in Italy so may have a bigger representation in easten Europe than does Shimano. Also, a number of Europeans have posted here that the 650c wheel size is much less common there. Look into that and if true then definately go with a 700c bike.
Shimano components are pretty common backthere… problem is you can get mostly the mtbk stuff!
Good call on the wheel size! I was decided to go for 700c wheels and a dual (road/tri) frame/setup w/ complete Ultegra components → looked for quite a while at Cervelo’s SOLOIST Team and P2K! Even found a few Cervelo dealers in Austria (no website though) but nothing in Hungary.
I truly hope some of those europeans (you mentioned) will hop in with info!
My Cannondale prefference would be the Ironman 2000 which, of course is missing from their “menu” and well… the price for that R1000 is just “a bit overinflated” =equiv. to **$2700! **
That’s JUST a grand over it’s US price!
I don’t like the idea of being froced to build my bike from scratch with different parts I can acquire here-n-there, not sure of their quality (even no warranty) etc.!
I really don’t understand why you think this is a big problem. Any bike shop or independent bike mechanic can work on any bike since they all have the same campy or shimano components and two wheels. Who cares if you buy a brand or model that isn’t sold in Hungary because any shop can still work on it just as easy as their in store brands. All bikes are essentially identical except for their frames with the manufacturers logo on it. Just because they may not sell that particular model in eastern Europe doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy it to take home.
It’s obviously cheaper here to buy a bike. So just buy the one you want and take it home with you. The up side is that even if you had to sell it back home, you’d make money.
It’s a no brainer - just purchase the bike you want, take it home with you and stop worrying about it…
The prices here are so much better than backthere… I’ll just pay a visit to TOM over at **Bikesport, Inc. **(45 min. drive) and pick/get a bike fitted to me!
I am a mechanical/automotive engineer and it crossed my mind a few times that I should try to start/open a TRIATHLON specific bike-shop/store in my homecity back in RO. Eventually developing to a dealership later on…
So, just for (hi)story I bought backthen (summer-2004) my Cervélo DUAL from Tom D./Bikesport & almost 7 years later I’m happily racing on it without servicing nor riding position adjustment needed!
Needless to say that the Romanian cycling market has changed a lot (especially in the last 3 years) but the tri-specific stuff/knowledge is just about the same as in 2004.
So, thanks cerveloguy for advice and big thanks to Tom Demerly for this awesome build&position-setup!
I bought backthen (summer-2004) my Cervélo DUAL from Tom D./Bikesport & almost 7 years later I’m happily racing on it without servicing nor riding position adjustment needed!