If you had $1500 to spend on a Tri bike (either a TT specific bike or one that can be easily converted for tri use) what would you buy? I’d really appreciate your expertise when it comes to the best tri bikes over the last several years that can now be purchased for $1500 or less.
What bike would you buy, and why would you buy it.
Thanks!
Litespeed Blade.
If you want, you can buy new for your price range.
Get a Fuji Aloha for $1300 and use the extra $200 for tight clothing or an aero helmet.
Cervelo P3.
If you had $1500 to spend on a Tri bike (either a TT specific bike or one that can be easily converted for tri use) what would you buy? I’d really appreciate your expertise when it comes to the best tri bikes over the last several years that can now be purchased for $1500 or less.
What bike would you buy, and why would you buy it.
Thanks!
I put together my bike for under $1500, Valdora AC-Tri, Blackwell wrist reliefs, T2 base bar, SRAM Rival/Force with the bar end shifters, Fulcrum 7 wheels, Specialized Toupe saddle, carbon x-wing with tnut, etc.
Judicious sifting through the classifieds, and an understanding LBS helped.
John
Cervelo P2SL. I’ve seen the anodized one slip below $1500 on ebay, that finish is indestructible.
Why the P2SL? Well…it’s a Cervelo!
Used Cervelo P2 or P3 for sure. The frames are more aerodynamic than most and just a tad heavier then the carbon versions.
Thanks everybody, I really appreciate your great suggestions.
What about Felt, or Giant, or Kestrel or some of the bike other manufactures?
X2 on the fuji Aloha. I bought my one year old used for $700. I love it. I know its not the greatest bike in the world, but I have had some very good races on it.
You might find someone unloading a 2008 Felt B12 (carbon) for 1,900 or so, the S22 is good but you should get that for 1,200 or under at this point. If the choice was P2SL or S22 at the same price the Cervelo wins. B12 vs P2SL then the B12 (carbon) is slightly ahead on weight and, perhaps, coolness.
Your best bet would be to buy the bike piece by piece. I have about 700 bucks invested in my bike. I found deals on slowtwitch and ebay and built the bike up myself. It’s a Blue T-12 with all the fixins’. I bought the frameset, which included front and rear dura ace derailleurs, on slowtwitch for 250 bucks. If you look real hard you can get a nice bike without killin’ your funds.
I posted a big, long, elloqueuntly worded and thoughtful reply to your original post and then had to step away from the computer. When I returned to post it…* puuuooofff!*
It was gone.
So, I’ll revert to posting a link to something we wrote on our website about the pros and cons of buying used.
Thanks Tom,
That’s very helpful!
I’d look for a cervelo Dual - discontinued now. Same geometry as P2C/P2SL but vertical dropouts. Stores have been closing them out for ~1300 and have seen them on eBay ~1k
For any used bike budget in for replacing cables, cassette, chain, bar tape, tyres. That will make the bike feel new and work smoothly.
All of Tom’s comments are spot on. Especially for a newby.
But I got a Fuji Aloha on craigslist with 200 miles on it with computer, ultegra pedals, shimano shoes, and a cycleops trainer for $700. In my size. Sold it this year (for $650) to buy a 1 year old P2C that had less than 100 miles on it, with about $350 in upgrades. Nubbies were still on the tires. Bought it off the classified forum for $2K. Rich people buy a bike and think they will be a triathlete. Then it hurts and they decide not to do it.
Thank God. I love America.
A lightly used P2C, P2SL, QR Seduza or Kuota K factor would all be quite dandy … Just go try a few new to see what fits best. Best if they have been used just a season with just a few hundred miles. All should have Ultegra / DA and decent training wheels … Since they can all be bought for $2K+ new, they should be sold for $500 less as soon as they have been out on the road much at all.
Another resource worth investigating is bikesdirect.com
They are a direct importer/discounter with some excellent entry level deals. It should be included in your research before you make a buying decision.
Another resource worth investigating is bikesdirect.com
They are a direct importer/discounter with some excellent entry level deals. It should be included in your research before you make a buying decision.