I'm newly interested in doing triathlons. I actually competed in my first one this weekend with a borrowed bike. The chain broke on mile 2 of the 13.4 mile ride.... I finished the race but not with good time (carrying a bike 10+ miles is not fun!!!). I think the race this weekend was a sign to take the plunge for a new bike. I will be using it to commute to work 3 times a week (approx. 26 miles one way), will be using it to train and to race in triathlons. I hope to start doing longer distance triathlons in the next few years. There are so many bicycles options out there I'm lost!! I'm looking to spend no more than 1500. Is that doable and what are some recommendations? I'm looking to purchase a new, not used, bike as I don't want to risk a repeat from this weekend. Thanks for the help. Take care and ride safe : )
2007-07-31 04:42:28 · 7 answers · asked by tana 1 in Sports ➔ Cycling
FYI- I'm a female. 5' 4" tall, longer legs with shorter torso.
2007-07-31 04:45:35 · update #1
That's a lot of riding to work and back!
There are tons of good bikes at your price range. Since you didn't mention your size, weight and fitness it hard to get a particular model.
Do get a road bike not a time trial setup. By time trial set up I mean with barend shifters and TT bars. You'll want STI shifters for road riding for sure. At 13 (or even 25)miles for a TT it wouldn't matter much anyway. A 105 equiped bike that weighs about or less than 20lbs with good semi-aero wheels will work great. You can buy clip-on aero bars for it for the race.
Don't fixate on brand as much as correct fit. Let me make this suggestion. Spend a little less on the bike and buy a second set of "race day" wheels and tires. Your race wheels: Xero xr-1 model (about $230 on Ebay new) they are aero, light and the best deal around. Buy another cassette and tubes and tires for racing only. Michelin Pro race 2 are light, with super traction. Buy extra light tubes too. If you Ebay you can get all this for less than $400. Again there are many wheels, tires and tubes that are very good. The wheels I mentioned however, are an outstanding deal for the $$$.
Riding that far to work will likely put a lot of wear and tear on the wheels and tires as it's a bet the road ain't smooth for the entire trip - light race wheels will maximize your performance too .
Check this site out they have incredable deals: bikesdirect.com
If I didn't have 3 bikes already I'd buy from them.
2007-07-31 06:19:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
you can argue the best all day. the bottom line is most name brands are roughly equal in quality. you almost never hear of an actual frame failure.
here is my two cents, buy a roadbike to begin. ideally in triathlons you would use a time trial bike, but you can't train and commute very well on those. you can however race on a roadbike, though you will lack the areo advantages possible.
right now nashbar and performance have 105 equipped, aluminum/carbon mix bikes for 1200. many racers are switching to 105's. lets face it, if you ride often enough, long enough, sooner or later odds are you are going to take a spill. it hurts a lot less to replace a $30 derailure than the higher line ones. the weight difference is small enough to not matter and the 105 group is very, very good.
as you progress you can get more specialized with things like lighter wheels for compitition, or even a time trial bike.
2007-07-31 05:07:19 · answer #2 · answered by ohiojeff 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unfonrtunately, I think you are describing more than one bike. A bike that you want to use for triathlons is very different from one that you want to use to commute. For training and triathlons, you are going to want something fairly agressive. Ideally, you would want a time trial bike for racing however, if you can only have one, I'd get a standard road bike and add aero bars. I TT bike is simply too uncomfortable and awkward to use as your everyday bike.
2007-07-31 04:57:40 · answer #3 · answered by Jay P 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Best Bike out there is the one that actually fits. Though you may have been searching for a brand or model for an answer, the best advice is to go to a couple of Tri-Specific bike shops that are F.I.S.T. certified. Their are non F.I.S.T. certified shops that do great fitting, if you are just collecting info right now, consider a shop that will recommend a bike for you after taking your fit measurements. Don't buy a guys bike, if a shop tells you "oh it will fit ya." Save your money and shop elsewhere if you hear this.
2007-07-31 09:29:38 · answer #4 · answered by jameslw3d 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Motobecane is making some aluminum physique motorcycles that have specifications and areas equivalent to a pair greater high priced motorcycles. i think of you will possibly quite appreciate driving some thing lighter in weight after driving a ok-Mart motorbike. There are some large bargains online in case you're able to do the assembly / adjustment. you ought to nonetheless come out forward in case you pay somebody for assembly. Fenders and racks can definitely be further to any motorbike. check out the large online shops. I have not any subject with the mountain motorbike sort V-Brakes on my motorbike. They artwork far greater ideal than classic factor or center-pulls. i've got self belief mine are the Tektro that come on very almost each and every motorbike on your fee-selection. in case you want disc brakes, they're greater uncomplicated on the front suspension (hardtail) mountain motorcycles. this sort of motorbike might serve you nicely. The tires that come on it would desire to be a splash knobbier than favourite for commuting. yet, the tires on some hybrid or convenience motorcycles could be a splash slender for stability on distinctive surfaces. i might look at hardtail mountain motorcycles, hybrid motorcycles and convenience motorcycles, all of which might serve your purposes fantastically plenty.
2016-10-01 02:37:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the best bike on the market is the one i ride, a 2005 bianchi eros.
never done a tri but i've done a TT, a double-century, and lots of commuting on my eros, and it hasn't failed me yet. just buy some TT-bars and slap 'em on there and you've got your TT/tri bike!
but if you're talking serious triathalon racing, you'll want a real time-trial bike, like a cervelo, and then another bike for commuting.
commuting on a TT bike probably wouldn't feel too good, and surely they don't have racks mounts!
2007-07-31 06:35:47 · answer #6 · answered by fixedinseattle 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Trek 5000. Can Lance Armstrong be wrong?
2007-08-01 06:09:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋