|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
newbie needs advice selecting an expensive bike for sprint triathlons
I am new to cycling and intend on doing some sprint triathlons in the near
future. I've been doing spinning classes but it's time to purchase a bike. Here are my goals and likely usage: train 2 - 3 times/week race 4 - 5 times/year sprint triathlon before this November perhaps as much as a half ironman next year I went to a cycling store the other day and looked at the Trek 1000 and was told the 1500 is so much more of a long-term investment due to higher quality componants, along with a $400 price difference. Since I don't know if I will stay with triathlons or not, I'd like to spend less than $1000 on the bike and accessories with the understanding that I might want to upgrade in a couple of years if I am really into it. $1000 is a lot of money to me, especially without knowing whether I will even like the sport of not. What should I look for in a good beginner bike? Is there an OVERWHELMING argument for the extra $400 to get a better bike? Where can I get good deals online? What about buying a used bike? Many thanks for your help!! |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
newbie needs advice selecting an expensive bike for sprint triathlons
"Notgiven" schreef in bericht ... Q: What should I look for in a good beginner bike? A: Don't care about the brand of the bike, most of them come from Taiwan anyhow, care about components. It like to suggest Shimano 105 or Campa Veloce as an entry level. Q: Is there an OVERWHELMING argument for the extra $400 to get a better bike? A: No, there isn't: you're the master of your own destiny and your own wallet Q: Where can I get good deals online? A: What hemisphere, continent, country? try www.roseversand.de. Where does the TLD 'invalid' reside? Q: What about buying a used bike? A: Hmm, since you're if tri is the thing for you: very wise. Your piggybank will like it Many thanks for your help!! Anytime -- Posted by news://news.nb.nu |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
newbie needs advice selecting an expensive bike for sprint triathlons
Notgiven wrote: I am new to cycling and intend on doing some sprint triathlons in the near future. I've been doing spinning classes but it's time to purchase a bike. Here are my goals and likely usage: train 2 - 3 times/week race 4 - 5 times/year sprint triathlon before this November perhaps as much as a half ironman next year [snip] What about buying a used bike? Many thanks for your help!! Around here, Nashville, there's a slow but steady trickle of used tri bikes to be found on Craigslist. Usually astounding deals with low mileage, as it's often runners that gave the sport a whack and didn't agree with it. A lot of bike shops sell used trade ins, which is an even better place, as they can size you up. Wherein lies the rub. You can get a two season old great bike for half price used, but you won't get a fitting or follow up unless you buy from somebody truly gracious. If you're new to riding, buying online can be a really bad gamble. If you can find out exactly what you need and have a hand to hold, it can certainly save some cabbage. But let's say you got a boxed bike from bikesdirect.com, and let's say there was something majorly wrong with it upon assembly, not just a scratch from shipping--do you want to wait a couple weeks to have the problem sorted? |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
newbie needs advice selecting an expensive bike for sprint triathlons
"Bert L.am" wrote in message ... "Notgiven" schreef in bericht ... Q: What should I look for in a good beginner bike? A: Don't care about the brand of the bike, most of them come from Taiwan anyhow, care about components. It like to suggest Shimano 105 or Campa Veloce as an entry level. I totally disagree. Get the best frame possible that fits you. Don't worry about components, thinking that 105 is entry level racing is pure marketing BS. As components wear out you can step up in quality but if you go the other way you will be stuck with a poor quaility/heavy frame. Q: Is there an OVERWHELMING argument for the extra $400 to get a better bike? A: No, there isn't: you're the master of your own destiny and your own wallet Q: Where can I get good deals online? A: What hemisphere, continent, country? try www.roseversand.de. Where does the TLD 'invalid' reside? Q: What about buying a used bike? A: Hmm, since you're if tri is the thing for you: very wise. Your piggybank will like it This is the best idea. I would try to purchase locally if possible so that you can test ride. Save buying on Ebay until you know your size and other requirements better. Many thanks for your help!! Anytime -- Posted by news://news.nb.nu |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
newbie needs advice selecting an expensive bike for sprint triathlons
Frank Drackman wrote: "Bert L.am" wrote in message ... "Notgiven" schreef in bericht ... Q: What should I look for in a good beginner bike? A: Don't care about the brand of the bike, most of them come from Taiwan anyhow, care about components. It like to suggest Shimano 105 or Campa Veloce as an entry level. I totally disagree. Get the best frame possible that fits you. Don't worry about components, thinking that 105 is entry level racing is pure marketing BS. As components wear out you can step up in quality but if you go the other way you will be stuck with a poor quaility/heavy frame. But what's the "best" frame? For tri-use, it seems that any number of Taiwanese welded aluminum frames might be just dandy. Set-up is much more important. Frames have become a commodity. You want something decent, but the price points have come way down. A frame that works with your style of riding will get you the best time, whether or not it's got this or that decals under the clear coat. Explain also, when frames at a certain price point vary by 2-300g grams, and that's easily saved elsewhere on the bike, explain why frame weight matters, when the differences are so small. It doesn' t really mean jack. I'd blow my nut on some really nice hand built wheels, if I was to go fancy anywhere. Spoke count would depent on rider weight, but it's rather easy to build something with less rotating mass than the usual pre-built stuff, and it's easier to repair in the field, and often cheaper. Saving 200g on a wheelset will make a far greater difference than 1/3 of a waterbottle of powerade on the frame. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
newbie needs advice selecting an expensive bike for sprint triathlons
Bert L.am wrote: "Notgiven" schreef in bericht ... Q: What should I look for in a good beginner bike? A: Don't care about the brand of the bike, most of them come from Taiwan anyhow, care about components. It like to suggest Shimano 105 or Campa Veloce as an entry level. Balderdash-what has happened to bike selling?? Invest in the frame that fits, components are secondary at most...if the two frames this gent is looking at are the same, get the less expensive bike. Components are consumables. frames are not. Q: Is there an OVERWHELMING argument for the extra $400 to get a better bike? A: No, there isn't: you're the master of your own destiny and your own wallet Q: Where can I get good deals online? A: What hemisphere, continent, country? try www.roseversand.de. Where does the TLD 'invalid' reside? Q: What about buying a used bike? A: Hmm, since you're if tri is the thing for you: very wise. Your piggybank will like it Many thanks for your help!! Anytime -- Posted by news://news.nb.nu |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
newbie needs advice selecting an expensive bike for sprint triathlons
Notgiven wrote: I am new to cycling and intend on doing some sprint triathlons in the near future. I've been doing spinning classes but it's time to purchase a bike. Here are my goals and likely usage: Many thanks for your help!! My 2 cents: My case was very much like yours to start (goals, training, spinning experience). I bought a decent road bike in ebay. Mistake! Even though I thought I was buying the right stuff, it was all wrong. Anyway, with the wrong bike, I'm still making it to the top 3 to 10 in my age group (40-44 male) in the local races. Lessons learned... You can buy a decent used road bike for less than 500u$d and do a very good job at the races, specially if its sprint triathlons. But buy the bike at your local "good" bike shop. This is where you will frequently go for service, spares, tech stuff. If you buy it there, you will have some sort of warranty, and they will service your bike, because they like happy customers. They'll fit the bike for you, and they'll try to sell you the bike that better fits you (if they are honest). High tech stuff is expensive. You'll want it, and if you like the sport, you will probably end up buying, but you don't need to start spending today. A good road bike with aerobars will do the job to start, and you can keep your budget low. Good luck. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
newbie needs advice selecting an expensive bike for sprint triathlons
wrote in message oups.com... Notgiven wrote: I am new to cycling and intend on doing some sprint triathlons in the near future. I've been doing spinning classes but it's time to purchase a bike. Here are my goals and likely usage: Many thanks for your help!! My 2 cents: My case was very much like yours to start (goals, training, spinning experience). I bought a decent road bike in ebay. Mistake! Even though I thought I was buying the right stuff, it was all wrong. Anyway, with the wrong bike, I'm still making it to the top 3 to 10 in my age group (40-44 male) in the local races. Well done on the races. It is hard to convince someone that the extra you may pay at a good shop is worth it until after that eBay purchase. You really do get what you pay for at the end of the day. Lessons learned... You can buy a decent used road bike for less than 500u$d and do a very good job at the races, specially if its sprint triathlons. But buy the bike at your local "good" bike shop. This is where you will frequently go for service, spares, tech stuff. If you buy it there, you will have some sort of warranty, and they will service your bike, because they like happy customers. They'll fit the bike for you, and they'll try to sell you the bike that better fits you (if they are honest). Absolutely. A good shop is honest. It makes for happy customers. Happy customers come back and often make recommendations. [edit] Skippy E&OE |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
newbie needs advice selecting an expensive bike for sprint triathlons
"Notgiven" wrote in message ... I am new to cycling and intend on doing some sprint triathlons in the near future. I've been doing spinning classes but it's time to purchase a bike. Here are my goals and likely usage: train 2 - 3 times/week race 4 - 5 times/year sprint triathlon before this November perhaps as much as a half ironman next year I went to a cycling store the other day and looked at the Trek 1000 and was told the 1500 is so much more of a long-term investment due to higher quality componants, along with a $400 price difference. Since I don't know if I will stay with triathlons or not, I'd like to spend less than $1000 on the bike and accessories with the understanding that I might want to upgrade in a couple of years if I am really into it. $1000 is a lot of money to me, especially without knowing whether I will even like the sport of not. What should I look for in a good beginner bike? Is there an OVERWHELMING argument for the extra $400 to get a better bike? No. As others have noted, the most important thing is the frame and fork. Then it's wheels, then components. One thing I lean towards, is 9 speed over 8 speed, mainly because the component makers better stuff is intended for 9 or 10 speed. Shimano's Tiagra 9 speed is pretty good stuff for the money. If you can still get Trek 1200s, that's what they had. As this is your first bike, you might want to see if you can get something that takes fenders / mudguards, if it rains where you are! I think the 1000 will. Not sure about the 1500. Where can I get good deals online? Especially for your first bike, I'd avoid online shopping. A good shop will fit the bike to you for free instead of having to go and buy new stem, pedals, saddles... Ask nicely and you might be able to get a bit of a deal if you're buying a package. Amongst other things, if you're getting a first bike you'll want some or all of: helmet*, shoes/pedals, gloves, shorts, jersey, pump, tubes, tools, oil. *As far as I know all triathlon bodies require helmets to be worn for the bike phase or races What about buying a used bike? Shops may have suitable second-hand bikes. Bikes in your price range have a tendency to end up as bad-weather bikes. You're in a bit of a hurry so you might be out of luck on that. You can always ask shops to call you if they get something suitable in of course. Often they only take bikes as part-exchange. They're not making huge margins, so they have an incentive to call. Many thanks for your help!! Good luck and enjoy! Skippy E&OE |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
newbie needs advice selecting an expensive bike for sprint triathlons
On Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:46:30 +0100, "Skippy" wrote:
"Notgiven" wrote in message ... I am new to cycling and intend on doing some sprint triathlons in the near future. I've been doing spinning classes but it's time to purchase a bike. Here are my goals and likely usage: train 2 - 3 times/week race 4 - 5 times/year sprint triathlon before this November perhaps as much as a half ironman next year I went to a cycling store the other day and looked at the Trek 1000 and was told the 1500 is so much more of a long-term investment due to higher quality componants, along with a $400 price difference. Since I don't know if I will stay with triathlons or not, I'd like to spend less than $1000 on the bike and accessories with the understanding that I might want to upgrade in a couple of years if I am really into it. $1000 is a lot of money to me, especially without knowing whether I will even like the sport of not. What should I look for in a good beginner bike? Is there an OVERWHELMING argument for the extra $400 to get a better bike? No. As others have noted, the most important thing is the frame and fork. Then it's wheels, then components. One thing I lean towards, is 9 speed over 8 speed, mainly because the component makers better stuff is intended for 9 or 10 speed. Shimano's Tiagra 9 speed is pretty good stuff for the money. If you can still get Trek 1200s, that's what they had. As this is your first bike, you might want to see if you can get something that takes fenders / mudguards, if it rains where you are! I think the 1000 will. Not sure about the 1500. Where can I get good deals online? Especially for your first bike, I'd avoid online shopping. A good shop will fit the bike to you for free instead of having to go and buy new stem, pedals, saddles... Ask nicely and you might be able to get a bit of a deal if you're buying a package. Amongst other things, if you're getting a first bike you'll want some or all of: helmet*, shoes/pedals, gloves, shorts, jersey, pump, tubes, tools, oil. *As far as I know all triathlon bodies require helmets to be worn for the bike phase or races Though the greatest risk of cranial injury during a triathlon is getting kicked in the head during the swim. Ron |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Bike Bus + Thousands of newbie cyclists | cfsmtb | Australia | 1 | July 16th 06 09:32 AM |
Control petrol prices | [email protected] | Australia | 9 | April 20th 06 09:11 PM |
Good bike advice for newbie | Pavlov. | Mountain Biking | 9 | October 6th 04 06:24 PM |
aus.bicycle FAQ (Monthly(ish) Posting) | kingsley | Australia | 3 | February 24th 04 09:44 PM |
FAQ | Just zis Guy, you know? | UK | 27 | September 5th 03 10:58 PM |