Im looking to buy a new Tri Bike next month and Ive been reading the posts on this forum and have done my share of searching, but I keep reading over and over that the right bike is the one that fits but we cant just go to a bike shop and test drive bikes in our size like you can at an auto dealership, so my question is how do you know what bike fits your body, any bike shop that you wander into is going to tell you what you want to hear and sell you what they have but is it really what your body requires. My measurements are 6’ 230lbs, I have a bodybuilders physique and can hammer it on a bike course. My current bike is a Felt, which I love but feel its time to move on to a lighter bike. I hear that all bikes are not created equal for all athletes so which fits my bodystyle. I like carbon fiber such as the equinox 11, Talon or the Aegis but then there is the new cervelo P3SL which I absolutely love,
I’d first start by puting a Felt frame on a scale followed by a Cervelo. You are going the wrong way if you are trying to get lighter.
Cannondale’s top of the line tri frameset with the Hollowgram crankset would be a good choice for you. The frame has large cross-sections and a 1.125" steerer tube. You should have plenty of stiffness in the front end even at your size. Weight-wise, it is tough to beat as well.
The new Felt B2 frameset is 4 pounds for the frame fork and headset. I’m pretty sure that is a couple of pounds lighter than a P3 for your size frame.
You could also get www.jamesframes.com to build you up a aero TT/Tri frame with whatever tubing you’d like to make it as light or stiff as you want. Full custom frameset choices are limitless and very affordable.
I’m partial to the Felt as I work for them. I’m 6’1" and 205#s.
About the last thing I’d worry about is the weight of your frame. I’m 205 and even though I dig light bikes, it ain’t going to make any difference for me. The nice thing about being heavy is that more frames are “comfortable.” Then again, fewer frames are “stiff.” You’re going to want someting that’s stiff in the bottom bracket, has good torsional stiffness, is well made, and obviously fits.
Although Tom D. doesn’t like the idea of test-riding bikes, I do. Not to see if it’s comfortable or fits perfectly, but to get a feel for it’s liveliness. Hammering, out of the saddle up a hill, and riding a small descent usually tells me a lot about a bike. They may not be as sexy as aero tubing, but round, sometimes oversized, tubes are the way to go IMO.
Poor aerodynamics and hideous graphics, but whose opinion matters anyhow?
But what you like, The Trek TTT has a lifetime warranty and a lots of use in the Tour, tough fit for a “robust” 6 footer however. That bike has NO headtube.
I am a clyde at 210, I have a Talon and love it. Its taken a beating. I have also been fitted and it has helped. But I was fitted after I bought the bike.
Positioning and aerodynamics dominate weight as criteria to consider for going faster in a time trial. Go for a well fitting bike that has great aerodynamic characteristics.
I’m 210 lbs (6’5") and love my Cannondale road bike and Cervelo P3 tri bike. People say that Cannondales and P3s are harsh riding, but both are super smooth by my standards. Personally, I’d never spend money on a carbon frame as they are expensive, heavier than aluminum, and any comfort benefits they provide can be compensated for with good tires.
When I have wanted to buy a new bike myself, I’ve set personal fitness goals that I had to meet before I would let myself plunk down the cash. Those goals served to motivate me to train harder and in the end I felt more attached to the new bikes. My own goals have been linked to consistent training and power output levels. One of them took me a year to build up to, but that made me more relaxed about plunking down $4,000 and also gave me some time to save up!
Maybe you already hit your goals, but if not, you might want to consider setting some stretch goals and using the bike as the reward.
Good Post Marc, thanks for all the info, what you said is exactly what I have done so far. Ive raced all year on my Felt S25 which is great but I did set a goal to get better and stronger and when I did then I would treat myself to a new bike, so here I am ready to buy something I just dont know which direction to go, I cant really compare my felt to anything else because i dont know what a good ride should feel like, I dont know what a stiff or harsh ride is like, all I know is my bike did feel pretty good especially after the fitting but and it was cool flying past people in more expensive bikes, ha. I must say I am leaning towards the Cervelo P3 and by your post I guess it can accomodate a heavier rider
One bike that no one will ever dispute as a looker is the new Colnago C-50 krono. Sweet. I am going backward as far as aero, but I just picked up a Waterford round tube steel tribike off the Ebay for $300 NOS and aerofork for another $100.
If I don’t think aero, it is the nicest riding tribike I have ever swung a leg over. Maybe the nicest riding bike period. (I have owned about 30 pro bikes)
I will see how I do on it next year, but for the 90 kilo guys steel is always a good option. G
I wouldn’t worry about a bike not being able to handle your weight. At least not in the class of bikes that you are looking at. Like Marc, I prefer Aluminum bikes and have had no issues with harshness. Your weight and strength might flex a bike more, but I wouldn’t expect frame failure to be a pressing issue.
“You could also get www.jamesframes.com to build you up a aero TT/Tri frame with whatever tubing you’d like to make it as light or stiff as you want. Full custom frameset choices are limitless and very affordable.”,SuperDave
Heavy D,
I second SuperDave’s comments regarding James Frames.
I belong to a bike club whose members include the mother and father of “PJ”, principal of James Frames. Both Mom and Dad ride custom frames made by their son. They are awesome bikes. Mom’s is aluminum and Dad’s is titanium.
After looking at stock bikes and settling on a price range, I recommend that you contact James Frames and investigate just how affordable a custom bike by them would be. You may be very surprised in a favorable way. You have nothing to lose and just could end up with a custom bike at a stock bike price. James Frames can supply the frame (just the frame), the frame and fork or a complete built up bike. The choice is yours.
