Any tips for buying a relatively cheap bike for a sprint distance triathlon? I'm in it to have fun, not worried about coming in first or anything.
2007-10-01 02:05:36 · 5 answers · asked by mtb801 2 in Sports ➔ Cycling
If you're in this to have fun, I would not spend big dollars on a bike this time. If you enjoy it and think you may do more you can always invest more money down the road. I would purchase a pretty standard road bike. This type of bike will give you the ability to compete in a triathlon while still being versatile enough for regular road riding when you are not competing. Down the road if you enjoy this, you can purchase a time trial or triathlon bike which a specifically designed for going fast in a straight line.
2007-10-01 03:52:12 · answer #1 · answered by Jay P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greetings:
If you'd like to make whatever bike you choose a little more aero, Profile Design and other firms do make "clip on" aero bars that will give you a little more aero position usually for $100 (for the bars) or less. They also make a seat post (Fast Forward) designed to mimic a TT/Tri bike set up and make the transition from riding to running eaiser (Ugg, that first 1/4 mile of running after a ride is never fun, regardless of seat post or bike!).
These products give you some flexibility in using your roadbike for both road racing and TT/Tri by taking them on and off. Just read carefully how to install the poducts and make sure you have them on tight enough to avoid carnage while on the road.
It's not tough, but intially does require care until you know what you're doing. I leared by trial and error, and luckily no error that caused road rash.
Profile Design's site can be found here: http://www.profile-design.com/
You can spend a ton on TT/tri bikes. Someday I will!
Nate
http://porkchopwi.spaces.live.com/
2007-10-01 06:28:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, relatively cheap by definition is relative. So I don't know the price range you are at. To give a general answer buy a used road bike your size. Anything more would be a complete guess.
2007-10-01 02:31:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
all the areo stuff is great and all, but completely unimportant to finishing. i would go with a decent road bike. bikes direct . com has good prices. get one you can train and race on. then down the road if you want to get more serious, upgrade the wheels and clamp on a set of areo bars. i actually got into cycling from tri's, and in my early years i trained and raced on just one bike for everything.
2007-10-01 05:28:29 · answer #4 · answered by ohiojeff 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
plan on spending between 800 and 3000 bucks
Trek, Quintana Roo, Specialized, all make great tri bikes
2007-10-01 02:34:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋