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Discussion: Bikes for 1st-timers
Subject: Bikes for 1st-timers By: Jill Bronz Written on: 2005-02-04 22:38:11 Message: I'm going to be doing my very 1st Sprint tri in May, 05 and I currently only own a mountain bike. I'm reluctant to buy a road bike if this may not be for me. Can I use a mt bike or will I totally stand out as a new-bee???
Subject: bike's for 1st timers By: Ken Fortier Written on: 2005-02-05 08:13:33 Message: You probably will not be the only one with a mountain bike, but you will notice the road bikes going by you rather quickly. As for being a "newbie" - no one will care - every one there will have had a first race at one time - you will see the vast majority are there for "fitness" only - winning is not even a consideration. As far as knowing whether triathlons are for you, you willl know sooner than you think. Triathlons are addicting, but it is not the races; it is the training and the fitness that comes from the training. If you train consistently thru May and complete your race, you will already be addicted and a good triathlon bike will only make it that much more rewarding. A suggestion: Use your mountain bike for now as you should be building a base anyway (speed not that important)- if by April you find you look forward to training each day - and for certain, if you find you really enjoy "brick" work outs - your hooked and get a tri bike.
Subject: MTB for 1st tri By: bob gracey Written on: 2005-02-08 11:05:30 Message: I would go to your local bike shop and get some slick tires to go on your bike. Get tires that you can put 80+ lbs of pressure. This will reduce your rolling resistance greatly. Also lock out your front and rear shocks if possible. And then save your $$ for a road bike
Subject: newbie By: Daniel Tester Written on: 2005-02-10 01:10:27 Message: I'm a newbie myself...I just started this month but I'm so pumped. If I do stick with it what is a good beginner road bike for triathlons.
Subject: Intro Road Bike By: Chris Bixby Written on: 2005-02-16 13:53:23 Message: You may want to look at Felt. They started off only making Tri bikes, but have started to make regular road bikes. They make a good bike with decent components for 20% less than a similar Specialized. Best advice is to talk to your bike pro. You want to have them available to help you.
Subject: RE: Bikes for 1st-timers By: John Day Written on: 2005-03-02 17:30:58 Message: I'm with Chris- I love Felt bikes and they are totally affordable. My first bike I used for tris was a little road bike I bought for $100 and then I spent well over that outfitting it with aerobars and pedals. I did great with that old bike. It's not about the bike- it's about the engine on it... Bob is right, get some slick tires for your mtn. bike and that will help tons. Warning: this is an addiction. You will spend tons of money on this, but like I tell my wife, tri. junk is cheaper than heart surgery, so go spend it- you only live once.
Subject: RE: Bikes for 1st-timers By: Jamie Boward Written on: 2005-03-02 18:54:43 Message: I have been working for Trek now for about 4 years and I really like their carbon line however they do not make a good carbon tri bike. They do have two real good aluminum tri bikes called the Equinox 7 and 9. I have test ridden the Felt and the more I see them the better I like their product because of the availability and they have some really well priced bikes. I however ride a Guru full Titanium with Dura Ace 10 two different sets of carbon wheels (depending on climbing and wind conditions) I have put well over 8,000 into my bike but I wouldn't advise this unless you are really serious about your results and are single (or plan on being soon after LOL). Cervelo is another company to look at they have a full Ultegra bike with race ready wheels for less than 1500 and the upgrade to that is an Ultegra 10 speed with Carbon handle bars. It was the cheapest bike for the best compnents at the Interbike show in Las Vegas in October. Another place to look is www.preownedbikes.com They have some real good prices on fully restored used bikes. My fiancee just got her a nice Quintana Roo on there and it is vitually brand new. I would put slicks on the mountain bike for the first few races to see if its something you will like and if it is then look at saving up and buying a decent bike down the road. jamie
Subject: RE: Bikes for 1st-timers By: S Pullen Written on: 2005-03-23 23:37:58 Message: I'm a tri newbie and I am training for my first three sprints. I have no bike at all. I've been doing extensive research to figure out exactly what to get. There's a ton of information to wade through and there's 100x more opinions than there are bikes! At first I was only considering getting a tri bike because, I was going to do triathlons. My two final choices for tri-bikes under 2k was the Guru Cron-Alu (1600-2100 for either 105 or Ultegra) and the Cervelo Dual (1500-1700 with Ultegra). I couldn't find anyone to say anything bad about either. So just as I was about to buy one of these bikes (after saving quite a bit), I read a few articles on slowtwitch.com.... Dan Empfield (founder of QR and a tri-gear legend) seems to think that if you're a newbie having a road bike is more important because it's easier to train on a road bike. So then I though Felt S65 or possibly the Cervelo Soloist.... I really only have money for one good bike and at this point I am interested in hearing opinions..... A good road bike with clip on aero bars for race and training OR a tri bike for racing and trainging??? The advantages of the road bike option would be that you could more easily do group rides and react more quickly and be safer in a riding pack (Peloton?).... The advantage of the tri bike is probably a better bike split in your actual race.... ANYONE want to kick these ideas around???
Subject: RE: Bikes for 1st-timers By: bob gracey Written on: 2005-03-24 10:51:46 Message: I will chime in on S Pullin. I have been riding for about 3 years, swimming for many and running for 3 months. I did my 1st tri last month and enjoyed it so much I am doing another next month. Having said that, my option is a road bike with clip on bars. I took them off my son's bike. Clips on bars are cheap. Syntace bars are under $100 i believe. Two bikes are not so cheap. And convincing your wife, girlfriend , SO, that you REALLY need two bikes (and we know that you do) may not be the easiest bit off diplomancy. I believe that eventually I may get a tri specific bike but as a newbie I will wait a while to make sure that this is something that stays in me. besides I am saving for an Orbea carbon frame this year
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