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Discussion: Type of Bike
Subject: Type of Bike By: Becky D. Written on: 2006-05-19 20:24:01 Message: Hi all, I'm a definately newbie: I signed up for first tri for this August. I've been wanting to do one for a while and am finally doing it! Anyways, my question is about the bike. I am doing a sprint tri ... I'm a good swimmer and running isn't a problem (though I'm not fast & will never be! ), biking is new. I have a bike, it's sort of an all-purpose bike. It's not a mountain bike, but it's not a road bike either. I'm wondering if it's feasible to do the competition (12 mile bike) on this non-specialized bike? I went for my first real bike ride since I was 8 a few weeks ago and road 26 miles no problem. My butt was sore the next day, but overall I was fine. Do I have to carry this bike during any part of the transitions? If I get new handle bars and clips for the petals would this bike be OK to use in the race? Thanks for all the comments & advice that is given readily. I'm lucky to have happened on this site. My training officially begins Monday (a little late, but I have a good fitness base)! Looking forward to hearing the replies.... P.S. It's not feasible for me to be buying a bike at this point...I'm a struggling graduate student
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Tim C. Written on: 2006-05-19 21:24:17 Message: I did my first sprint tri last year using my sisters 15 year old p.o.s 10 speed ( i think they used to make them out of lead) and did just fine. Just do the best you can and enjoy the experience with the bike you have. my .02
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Kei R. Written on: 2006-05-20 08:58:30 Message: There are lots of people out there with hybrid bikes and older road bikes.Definitely do-able. If you can afford to upgrade the big knobby tires into something smoother like road tires, it will make your life easier, but it's not a must. Like Tim says, it's all about doing the best you can and having fun.
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: joel y. Written on: 2006-05-20 09:06:52 Message: Becky, From my experiences, your first triathlon is just one that you want to finish. Also, it does not matter what you ride. It is virtually assured that someone will always be faster than you and someone will also always be slower than you. On that same note, someone will always have a nicer bike than you and someone will always have a worse bike than you. So don't sweat the small stuff. When you finish your graduate degree and are making those big bucks....you can go out and but that Kuota Kalibur (We can all dream). Danny
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Brad H. Written on: 2006-05-20 12:05:10 Message: Ride your bike... Don't worry. You are already in a better situation than the people you are going to be passing riding mountain bikes. After you finish (and get hooked on racing), I'd spend some time this summer looking around at garage sales and pick up a used road bike. Nothing special required other than skinny, smooth tires (and make sure it fits!) This will get you thru your first "formative" Tri years. Then comes the envy and hopfully the new red Cervelo P3 Carbon. (Yes, we all dream...)
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Becky D. Written on: 2006-05-20 12:27:07 Message: Ok, I feel better now. Thanks for the info! I have no doubt I will be hooked on racing, I'm already way too excited about it Problem is, I live in New England so the season for doing these is quite short! Again, thanks everyone! Becky
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Karine L. Written on: 2006-05-20 13:19:43 Message: Hello Becky. Here's my thinking... if you're not looking for the first place on your first tri then your bike is just fine. I think it is all about passion & it seems that you love the sport already ! This is great & congratulations on signing on your first tri ! I went to my first sprint tri & unfortunately it was cancelled because of a storm... I saw a lot of $$$ bikes, wondering if I was at the Olympic or something... oh well so what? :-) I was there just for the fun of it, looking at the real people stretching & training (which was great to look at I admit that !!!)... & me looking at the "nasty" sky & eating my honey teddy grahams. :-) This is just two different world & I'm just glad to be a little part of it ! That was a great feeling ! I have a tri bike (well my husband bought it for me a couple of months ago...) but it doesn't matter I would have been excited the same with my mountain bike. I know in my hearth I would love to be on the top of my age range (let's say... 5 or 6... ) but it is not going to happen anytime soon because I just started & some ladies have 15 years of training behind them... Yeah... I'm that old !!! :-) Anyway, after graduation & when you'll make the big bucks like Joel said, if you still have the taste for racing at a higher level then you'll go for a better bike. Good luck with your training & welcome to the tri world. :-)
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Dan W. Written on: 2006-05-20 18:04:31 Message: Becky, Congrats on getting involved! If you can, see someone about getting your bike fitted for you - i.e. proper seat and handlebar adjustments, etc. This can make a big difference, not only in cutting your time down a little, but in how comfortable you are, and therefore, how much you enjoy your time on the saddle. A recovering grad student myself, I understand the financial concerns. Since you already have a bike, stick with it - there will be plenty of other opportunities to put $ into your tri habit.
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Leo d. Written on: 2006-05-21 11:22:24 Message: Becky, I bought a used roadbike (100) and equipped it with a 35.00 aero bar. Added new pedals and that is my tri-bike. I will do my first sprint tri in august also and will use my home-made bike. I'll let you know how it goes! Good luck training and welcom to the world of triathlon. You found the right site at ontri.com All the folks on this website are great! Leo D.
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Jamie B. Written on: 2006-05-21 13:09:30 Message: a struggling graduate student is right!! You need to work on your spelling more than your biking. Pedals not petals definitely not definately lets hope teaching english/spelling is not in your future LOL As for the bike I don't think you will have a problem doing 12 miles on it. You will be amazed at the types of bikes and people that compete in sprints. You will see very large people on hybrids and even mountain bikes. If you are looking to just have fun I wouldn't worry about what type of bike or equipment you have because if you enjoy it than nothing else matters.
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Becky D. Written on: 2006-05-21 17:07:02 Message: Whoa Jaime. I stand corrected. I'll be sure to edit my posts carefully next time, I wasn't aware the grammar police were out this weekend. Everyone: thanks for the great advice and welcoming spirit!! I actually was at a bike shop all morning and got great advice there from someone who also does triathlons: he's on his way to Brazil next weekend to do an Ironman! I'm not there yet, but he had great advice. Thanks again! I'll let you know how my first ride with my new cleats and ***PEDALS*** goes later today (assuming the rain holds off!). Becky
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Jay T. Written on: 2006-05-23 09:18:50 Message: becky, the best and most cost effective improvement that you could make to your bike is to put on some street tires. Other than that, you ll be just fine and i wish you the best of luck!
Subject: RE: Type of Bike By: Becky D. Written on: 2006-05-25 18:28:09 Message: Jay, Thank you! I have been addicted to this site ever since I found it. In reading all that is posted and talking w/ the guys at the bike shop, I agree. The problem is ... on the bike I currently have I cannot fit road tires on. However, I did find out yesterday that there is a nice road bike sitting in my boyfriend's parent's basement (if you got all that!) last used by someone my height & everything !! We are looking into my using that for the race. I noticed a HUGE difference using the clipless pedals. I'm either going to use this bike (assuming it fits me properly) or bite the bullet and get the cheapest nice bike I can. We'll see. I'm hooked anyways ... I love the training so the race should be 10x the run. Thanks again, Becky
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