1st "propper" bike

pauly_valentine

Hi People,

I am doing an ironman in 2 and half months and time to get a good bike. Been told I am better to get a tri bike and add clip ons?

Tough part is what to buy. More I research, the harder it is. I have looked from ebay to local shops, local shops are not really good for advice. My boss has bought a couple of bikes, his cheapest is œ3k...not my budget and he is not really technically minded. He said that now he has spend some money œ1500 will get a fine bike and above that, the bikes do get better, but after that you pay alot small improvements. I found this carbon bike on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PROF-28-Carbon-Ro ... dZViewItem

but on a forum someone else posted and asked for feed back, it got slated for being ugly (I think it looks cool) and people made comments about being suspect. The seller had good reviews find. My budget is œ1500 ish, but would like to pay less (who wouldn't). I am not trying to market it, so honest advice please. I have spoken with Planet X bikes, I like them, but it is either buying online blind or traveling a good distance, also looked at a Scott CR1 bike for œ1549, i liked this one, but the help was not very good.

Thanks in advance.

Paul

dakidcp

FWIW, I'd really not recommend buying a bike anywhere you can't test-ride it. Wiggle's a possibility, as they've introduced a 7-day no-quibble test ride (so I guess that'd put the Focus Cayo Expert into the equation??), but otherwise you really wanna get yourself to a good LBS? Must be one in the vicinity ... maybe create a new thread asking for a good racing-bike-focussed LBS in your area?

<hr noshade size="1">"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live."
<i>Mark Twain</i>

Fab Foodie

Hi Pauly

œ1500 buys a lot of good road-bikes that am sure will be fine with tri-bars. Rider position tends to be the major difference with Tri-bikes being a bit more like TT bikes in that the rider is pitched a bit more forward and is flatter-backed than on a road-racing set-up.
There are the major manufacturers to look at, Giant, Specialized, Bianchi, Trek, Condor, Enigma plus Planet-X have a very good reputation and would be worth a visit (Where are you BTW?).
The Focus range are also getting rave reviews at the mo too.

Where are you based? Maybe somebody here can advise where you will get good product and fitting advice.

Good luck.

BTW, the ebay bike is ugly as sin (and I'm not familiar with the brand), but it's only my opinion, you have absolutely gotta try before you buy.

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The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
Fab's TCR1

pauly_valentine

Cheers for the advice. I like the idea of a 7 day try from wiggle.
I live in Dartord, Kent. But cycle to London every day, so there are a few big bike shops to choose from.