Recommend me a triathalon bike (please)

[Nobbylad]

I'm planning to do the Liverpool triathalon in June and thinking about what bike I should use if I manage to avoid drowning in Liverpool's docks.

I have a big old heavy MTB with nobbly (not nobby) tyres and was thinking about just putting some hybrid/road tyres on and using it as is.

That's certainly cheaper than shelling out on another bike, but then I got thinking that when I start training proper...I might benefit from a bike more suited to road than off-road.

So, do I look on fleabay for a cheapo road bike (Raleigh etc), get new rubber on my off road tank or just ride it as it is on the basis that I just need to get used to pedalling again and changing anything other than my fitness would be a waste of time/money?

It's a 20km bike ride

[yorkie_chris]

Depends how old and knackered yours is. The definite advantage to modern tech is spending less time graunching gears and swearing and more time peddling.

I'd rather have an old frame and modern kit than t'other way about.

[maviczap]

As a lot of people have said you can't go too wrong with a Boardman. The frame was designed by Terry Dolan, a well respected frame builder from your part of the world.

They are always well spec'd bikes and always seem to be plenty on the Bay, and relatively cheap.

When you fit slick tyres to your MTB you'll probrably find you are undergeared once you get fit

[Jayneflakes]

Have a look on E-Bay, some really nice bikes on there at the moment. A real road bike with give you a faster riding position, better gearing and a stiff neck!

Things I have seen in two mins of looking are these.

Cheap (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/giant-SCR-2-racing-road-bike-/170593937483?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item27b830e84b#ht_973wt_1139)

Nice Classic (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GIANT-PELOTON-7200-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-STI-RXS-GROUPSET-/170594203225?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item27b834f659#ht_500wt_1156)

Amazing (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GIANT-TCR-C1-CARBON-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-2007-/120675423972?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item1c18d0d6e4#ht_510wt_1139)

[Luckypants]

I did my first triathlon (many moons ago) on my MTB with slick tyres, including the training for it. As a cheap way into triathlon it makes sense, otherwise you can spend a lot of money to get set up. It was ok for me as the bike course was very hilly (Ampleforth for any tri-athletes on here), so the shorter gearing was fine. If going this route, see if you can borrow a set of clip on tri-bars and see how you get on with them, the more aero-dynamic position will help reduce the effort needed.

When you fit slick tyres to your MTB you'll probrably find you are undergeared once you get fit

Correct! :D But having said that, unless you are used to cycling on the road people tend to ride at a lower cadence (pedal RPM for OP) than is 'ideal' so a lower geared bike can help build up to a good cadence. I bought a second hand race bike to do the other triathlons I had planned for that year. It made a big difference on the flatter courses and my training was better. (my son still has it for commuting to work, so not a bad investment)

If you decide to buy a road bike and will only use the bike for triathlon, look at getting a time trial (aka TT) or dedicated triathlon bike. These have a different geometry to a road race bike, with a shorter rear triangle and more aerodynamic riding position, much more suited to tri bike leg. The bike leg is you against the clock, much like a time trial so a bike dedicated to that discipline will be faster overall.

For example (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Steve-Goff-Mega-Pro-Time-Trial-Triathlon-Bike-/160536250831?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2560b4c9cf)


Yes I know it's hard to fathom this rotund motocyclist racing triathlons, but I was young once!

[krhall]

You won't be allowed to use a MTB, if my memory serves me correctly.

[Luckypants]

You won't be allowed to use a MTB, Why? :confused:

EDIT: I just had a look at the event and BTF/ITU rules and can find nothing that prohibits the use of an MTB. There are rules about bike sizes, height of bottom bracket, seat position, disc wheels etc etc but I think a standard MTB would meet these. The only reference to an MTB specifically was that handle bar extensions (bar ends I assume) are positioned in such a way as not be dangerous to other competitors. HTH

[fizzwheel]

look at getting a time trial (aka TT)

Bear in mind this route, is more than likely going to be expensive and the strange riding position / aero bars etc, might end feeling very strange / unstable or twitchy, not good if you are used to an MTB.

Personally I'd go for a road bike, with some racey geometry and normal drop bars. Then when you are used to that retro fit some aero bars to get you into the tuck position.

If you are on a budget, then 2nd hand / ebay as discussed. Your other alternative is to get one of the cycling mags and then have a look in the classifieds section at the back. Normally loads of decent 2nd hand kit in there.

[davepreston]

seriously people where are we, who are you, has the world gone mad


SUZUKI SV650 that will make it quick and easy

[Nobbylad]

Lol @ davepreston...that thought had crossed my mind!

Thanks for all the response people, especially those with links...they're really heplful to understand wtf you're referring to when advising on stuff!

I can't justify spending more than say £100 on something that might not see the light of day after June...so I'll probably try and sort the tyres on my MTB, unless I flog it and put the money towards a different bike.

[Bluefish]

A reserve of £850, for a push bike, lol, some people have too much money ;)

[fizzwheel]

A reserve of £850, for a push bike

Thats cheap...

[Nobbylad]

Not for a push bike it ain't!

(You can get a good 2nd hand motorsickle for that much!) ;)

[maviczap]

A reserve of £850, for a push bike, lol, some people have too much money ;)

Not sure I've got the exact model of the wheels on that bike but how does £1260 for just the wheels sound ;)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mavic-cosmic-carbone-sr-clincher-wheelset/

[fizzwheel]

and I thought my Kysrium SL's were expensive...

[maviczap]

Ha Ha

10% off them at the mo

[fizzwheel]

But I like the blingy red spoke !

Thats the thing, I bet you'd get more benefit over 20K ride, but putting in some decent training rather than spending money on aero bits... I guess it depends what level you are competing at though.

[maviczap]

I was always a sucker for bling, gizmos or gadgets, but I have to say my handbuilt Pete Matthews wheels were something else, even if it was only physcological.

But even over a 25TT an aero helmet was meant to give a distinct advantage over a non aero helmet, as was a disc wheel, in the right conditions, combined was worth quite a bit of time

[fizzwheel]

Didnt they work out that Lemonds Aero helmet gave him 2 seconds per mile of Fignon that year he beat him in the final TT ?

I get that it does give benefit, but the blingy stuff is awful expensive when you are starting out, I've passed people on sportives on 4 or 5K carbon bikes and left them for dust on climbs. I think when starting out, you get more return from training than you do by spending out on expensive kit.

[mattSV]

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/imgs/products/440x380_constWH/CBPXEXSE_P1.jpg

SCHWEEEEEET

[maviczap]

Yep about that, plus Larry was riding with a front disc wheel, which didn't help.

Yes, spend more time training that buying blingy bits, when you start out.

Makes me laugh, at our local midweek 10TT you get all the posuers turning up on their full carbon, disc wheeled TT machines. The same guys never enter any open events. WTF :confused:

Me I just want to go back to one night in 1995, with a disc wheel, deep aero front wheel, an aero helmet and a 54 or 55T chainring, just to see how fast I would have gone with these bits.

[Bluefish]

Not sure I've got the exact model of the wheels on that bike but how does £1260 for just the wheels sound ;)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mavic-cosmic-carbone-sr-clincher-wheelset/

link no workee for me, but i take it that's for two bicycle wheels, they made out of uranium or something?

[fizzwheel]

they made out of uranium or something?

Carbon Fibre...

[maviczap]

link no workee for me, but i take it that's for two bicycle wheels, they made out of uranium or something?

Unobtainium :D

Full carbon rims, aero spokes, special sealed bearing hubs, handmade by a ladies in the Mavic factory in France, not by a machine.

Ladies are used because they have a better 'feel' for the correct spoke tension than blokes :D

[Bluefish]

if the wheels cost that much, how much is the whole bike, im guessing this is a money no object, so what 20-30k?

[fizzwheel]

if the wheels cost that much, how much is the whole bike, im guessing this is a money no object, so what 20-30k?

How much do you want to spend. Budget is pretty much unlimnited.

I think a pro peleton bike is probably around the 10K mark but not 100% sure...

[yorkie_chris]

Unobtainium :D

Full carbon rims, aero spokes, special sealed bearing hubs, handmade by a ladies in the Mavic factory in France, not by a machine.

Ladies are used because they have a better 'feel' for the correct spoke tension than blokes :D

Special sealed bearings :smt082
You can get full complement ceramic bearings for jet engines made specially in small quantities which are good for something like 200,000rpm for 50 hours. £50 a pair, bargain!

Can you actually tell any difference? Light rims fair enough, good quality bearings fair enough, wheel built properly important... but you're paying for the shiny shiny.

The irony gets me that you do these things to get fit then spend thousands to make it easier... thus covering more miles with less fitness.

[Bluefish]

How much do you want to spend. Budget is pretty much unlimnited.

I think a pro peleton bike is probably around the 10K mark but not 100% sure...

Ah, well if that's all they cost i'll nip down the local halfords at the weekend and pick one up :D

[maviczap]

Here's a £9k Felt road bike at Evans

You can add another £3 for a pair of 'Lightweight' brand wheels.

Not sure that a Proffesional spec bike is going to be much more, because they trash quite a few during a season. Gets kinda expensive

[fizzwheel]

Can you actually tell any difference?

Yes, but its like all things. You have to spend an awful lot of money to get any difference you can feel through you bum.

I went from a £100 wheelset to a £600 wheel set. Bikes more responsive, its climbs easier and it keeps its momentum / speed when moving.

Might not sound much but over a large distance its definately noticeable.

Like I said above, when starting out general fitness is more important than shiney bling bits, but you get up to a certain level and then what kit you use makes a difference, if you are talking cm's difference at the end of stage can make a difference between winining and loosing in a pro race.

I think for the average rider, no it doesnt, but then as alluded to above, you get the psycological boost by riding around on something that looks smart and thats just as important in some circumstances.

Some people put pointless carbon bling on their motorbike, my pushbike frame is made of pointless carbon bling !!! its not really any different IMHO.

[maviczap]

Can you actually tell any difference? Light rims fair enough, good quality bearings fair enough, wheel built properly important... but you're paying for the shiny shiny.

In a word YES and aero does matter

[Nobbylad]

Wtf?!?!?!?

Stop derailleuring my thread!

;)

[maviczap]

Sorry :D:D:D:D:D:D:D

We'll go back to our cycling thread now ;)

[punyXpress]

. . . and there's me thinking it was a misprint for biathlon trike ( think Bibio had one of them on his avatar a while back ) ;)

[Nobbylad]

Current thinking is I should 'borrow' on of the .orger's bikes...that way, I get to use a spangly fast carbon wotsit bike thingy AND it'd be free!

win/win

[speedplay]

I used to snap carbon frames :(

One went on the top tube and the other came unbonded or delaminated....

Best advice is if its your first tri, Borrow a bike or get some slicks for your MTB.
If you like it and want to do more, then think about the new bike.
Buy the best frame you can afford and slowly start upgrading the components.


And if were Wh0ring...

Heres one of my old ones :)

http://www.retrobike.net/forum/files/my_road_bike2_148.jpg

[fizzwheel]

Speedplay - that is nice :cool:

He's right buy the best frame you can afford and dont worry to much about the components, you can upgrade / replace those as you use the bike more and they start to wear out.

[maviczap]

I used to snap carbon frames :(

One went on the top tube and the other came unbonded or delaminated....

Best advice is if its your first tri, Borrow a bike or get some slicks for your MTB.
If you like it and want to do more, then think about the new bike.
Buy the best frame you can afford and slowly start upgrading the components.


And if were Wh0ring...

Heres one of my old ones :)

http://www.retrobike.net/forum/files/my_road_bike2_148.jpg

Me likey the colour of this one Rob, plus its got one of those fancy Sugino disc wheels. Its very similar to my old Colnago

http://forums.sv650.org/picture.php?albumid=501&pictureid=5222

This is just after I'd sold it :(

Nobbylad, yes borrowing a bike from an Orger is a great idea, another sound idea is to 'Road test' one from Wiggle. Getting the timing right for your Triathlon might be tricky.

[Nobbylad]

Wiggle?

[MR UKI (1)]

Wiggle?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/

[speedplay]

why on earth did I have to look....?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/focus-izalco-chrono-sram-2010-ex-demo/

[yorkie_chris]

TBH if you're not used to cycling at all then how hard will it be going from nowt to the fast cadence, wierd position road bikes?

[speedplay]

And this looks good for the money too...

http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/focus-culebrotria09-zoom.jpg

£741.95

[speedplay]

TBH if you're not used to cycling at all then how hard will it be going from nowt to the fast cadence, wierd position road bikes?


Will be ok as long as you dont mind the feeling of your balls, thighs and lungs exploding...

[speedplay]

Think I may need some help soon...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/quintana-roo-seduzalucero-2010-ex-demo/

[Luckypants]

Think I may need some help soon...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/quintana-roo-seduzalucero-2010-ex-demo/

Did you buy it then? :smt077