I finally have enough money for a proper bike but now the decision of a tri specific or road has me stalling on the purchase…
here are some major concerns I live in san francisco lot of hills
want to ride alot
love road bikes
but love tri bikes as well and
hopefully in the future planning on getting a srm powercrank…
help
"hopefully in the future planning on getting a srm powercrank… "
Dude, If you have enough $$$$ for an srm you must have enough $$$$$ for two bikes (a road and tri). Or get a nice Road bike now and pass on the srm and buy a tri bike in the future.
If you’re only buying one bike, I’d make it a road bike; you can always put some shorty aerobars on for tris.
Get a road bike…and scrap the SRM untill you own every other training tool there is…and that includes a professional sponsor paying your bills.
You can get a Kestrel Talon - its kind of like both (that’s what I did, and I like it much better than my pure tri-bike).
Get a road bike…and scrap the SRM untill you own every other training tool there is…and that includes a professional sponsor paying your bills.
Two comments above saying forget the SRM. Why?
You first have to have a bike worthy of an srm. The poster does not even have a bike yet. The srm Dura Ace kit is over $3000, a nice bit of change. The srm is a luxury. The poster would be better off buying a Road Bike first and some clip-on bars. Then to improve the bike split in a triathlon, buying a tri-bike would be a better investment than an srm.
At the local Road Races around my area I’ve only seen one guy with an srm, a cat-2 that wins almost every race he enters and should probably be a cat-1. So unless the poster is winning some cat-1 races or winning some triathlons the srm investment is over the top and probably poseur status.
Go check out the 2006 Cannondale line w/SRM…
Very cool stuff.
Road.
I’m not a big cannondale fan, but that is some cool stuff.
It depends on how you train and what you are training for?
Are you going to be racing only tris or also road races?
Do you do the majority of your training alone or with groups (roadies)?
If you are going to race tris seriously and usually train alone or with other triathletes then certainly go with a tri bike. It’s the proper tool for the job.
If you are going to road race, or do a lot of group rides, centuries, tours, and only do an occational tri, and the majority of your training is going to be with roadie groups, then go with a road bike.
As far as the SRM’s are concerned, if you are going to dedicate yourself to training by power, then go ahead an get them (or a Powertap, Ergamo, CT) as soon as you can afford it, otherwise, buy the ‘other’ bike.
“You first have to have a bike worthy of an srm.”
“buying a tri-bike would be a better investment than an srm.”
“I’ve only seen one guy with an srm, a cat-2 that wins almost every race he enters”
“So unless the poster is winning some cat-1 races or winning some triathlons the srm investment is over the top and probably poseur status.”
Your bike must be “worthy” of an SRM? Why? The purpose of an SRM is to help you build a top-performing engine. Why should the bike matter?
Second, a road bike with clip-on bars and a superbly trained cyclist on board will be far faster than a tri bike and a sub-par cyclist. Research shows that power training can result in far bigger gains than you could hope to achieve by merely switching bikes. This makes a good argument for the SRM as an investment.
And finally, you’ve seen only one guy in your area with an SRM, and he’s winning races. That doesn’t tell you something? Maybe power training had something to do with that.
I would far rather be a “poseur” on a $500 road bike with an SRM and kicking ass than a true poseur on a $5000 Cervelo in the middle of the pack.
Sure…but how much better will a person get in a short time with a SRM as opposed to the same person on a bike with a HRM…oh wait, the SRM guy will be faster sooner due to a MUCH lighter wallet.
“Faulty Logic”, I don’t think so. Different logic yes.
I’m not arguing that power training is not an effective strategy. Training with power seems to make a lot of sense. I currently don’t train with power, I can’t afford that luxury. I just go out and train on the bike as much as possible using my HR monitor.
I highly doubt that there is anyone using an srm with a $500 bike. What kind of bike do you have? Do you have an srm?
I do however agree with you that a good cyclist on a road bike with shorties can probably go faster than a weaker cyclist on a tri-bike. But I don’t think you have to have an srm to be a stronger cyclist. There are other training tools far more affordable before an srm comes into play. First $200 on an indoor trainer would be a better investment. Or wet or cold wather gear for riding in harsh conditions would also be a better investment. The point is that I think an srm is a luxury and should be purchased after you have all your other toys first.
All you need is an SRM and a box of Power Bars…maybe some Duct Tape…you will be a pro in a year.
All you need is an SRM and a box of Power Bars…maybe some Duct Tape…you will be a pro in a year.
Too bad it’s not that simple…
Why is there always someone on ST ready to crush a dream and burst a bubble…how about Duct tape and Super Glue? The A-Team could go pro with just that…dont make me have to bring up McGiver…