i currently am using a quintana roo kilo bike frame, since i want to get serious with the sport i have to buy a customized bike. problem is i dont know what brand to buy and what size. also, there isnt any bike shop here that has a Serotta Size cycle for quality fitting. help!
2006-12-19 17:18:39 · 6 answers · asked by zih 2 in Sports ➔ Cycling
Lots of tri bikes on the market. You need to get one that fits so I won’t recommend one Mfg. There is nothing wrong with your kilo, as long as it fits and is in good shape you are okay. A new bike won’t make you incredibly faster, but you will be cooler :) Here’s some manufactures to look at. Quintana Roo, Cervelo, Litespeed, Yaqui, Trek, Kestrel, Kuota, Felt, Scott, Xlab. They each have their own pluses and minuses. Your only limitation is the size of your checkbook.
I’m not sure where here is so I can’t help you with a local shop. Check online to look at some of the tri bikes. www.nytro.com is a good place to start looking, and they have a very cool fly and buy deal.
Have fun, I love bike shopping!
2006-12-20 01:28:23 · answer #1 · answered by Merrily 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say buy a Cervelo (I'm biased) P2C or P3C (if you have the $$), they are a great company and make quality bikes. But, in reality you really need to find one that fits you properly. Each manufacturer makes their bikes a little different. Some have you in a more aggressive riding position than others. You need to determine if this is right for you. With Cervelo they have a two position seat post and you can start off in the non-aggressive position and after you get more comfortable you can move it forward (this is what I did).
It takes time to adapt to a tri bike; you're using different muscles. My hamstrings were sore for a while until my muscles adapted to the new position. Another thing to consider is how you're planning on training with it. Tri bikes aren't as comfortable as road bikes (sore crotch). So I do my tempo and interval training during the week on my tri bike (max 2 hr ride) and do my long weekend rides (2.5 - 5 hrs) on my road bike. Some people do all of their training on their tri bike, but it just isn't comfortable for long periods of time.
I would suggest finding a quality bike shop that carries a variety of tri bikes and plan a trip to take them for a ride. Even if you have to travel a few hours away, make a weekend of it, it'll be beneficial finding the proper bike fit for you.
2006-12-21 03:37:44 · answer #2 · answered by Rob 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are many other fitting systems besides the Serotta system, so don't let that be a problem. In fact there are some good tri-specific fitting articles at slowtwitch.com. With a friend and a tape measure you could do a decent job yourself if you know how to follow instructions.
But one thing you really need an experienced fitter for is to customize the generic fit to your body - muscle mass, flexibility are not factored into many of the fitting systems.
As far as brands, only advice I would have is make sure you understand the differences between a "UCI legal" TT bike, and a "Tri-specific" bike. They have significant fit differences based on their different geometry.
2006-12-20 04:54:27 · answer #3 · answered by scott.braden 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a lot of good tri bikes out there. Ride as many as you can to get the a feel for flexability, steering, braking etc. Take the one after several rides that you like best and get a custumized one built or one you like fitted to your body. Until the bike is fit to your body you wont know how good the ride really is. Dont be afraid to ask to ride bikes at shops. Make sure the shop you get your bike from takes the time to fit the bike properly. Remember you are spending a lot of your hard earned money so make sure the shop is willing to really help you find the right bike Ask lots of questions. Its fun .I love bike shopping.
2006-12-21 12:08:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The major manufacturers all have a triathlon bike available. Check out their web sites (trekbikes.com, jamisbicycles.com. giant-bikes.com, cannondale.com). They also have a dealer locator feature you can use to see what's available in your area. Check out the sites, see what you might want to start with, then visit your local bike shop. Even if there isn't a local one, you might be able to get something shipped to you for a small service charge.
2006-12-19 21:58:07 · answer #5 · answered by crazydave 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Zih----go to Bicycling magazine's website ( www.bicycling.com )---you can read about brands to buy, sizes that can assist you in your personal choice.
2006-12-22 13:10:07 · answer #6 · answered by hummerhead2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋