Bike for first-time triathlete

ellencr

I'm looking for a bike that I can use for triathlons and road riding. I'm really not sure where to start looking, and don't have a clue about brands, styles, gearing and anything else I need to know.

any tips, hints or suggestions about a good entry level bike - I'm looking to spend £1,000 - would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

blackhands

Something like this would suit:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus ... 360032369/

and give enough out of your budget to get shoes, pedals, helmet and some clip on tri bars such as Profile T2:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Profi ... 360020749/

FSR_XC

As you are a 'first time triathlete', find a road bike that you are comfortable with. Don't be pursuaded by Tri specific or TT bikes.

Unless you are entering Olympic distance events (or longer), tri bars will make very little difference to your performance. You can add these at a later date if you wish, but your fitness and comfort over the distance you ride are what will matter the most.

If you watch a triathlon, you'll see there are a massive array of bikes, from £300 entry level road bikes to £3000 Tri specific ones. You'll see this even at 'sprint' events. However a £3k bike won't make you faster if you aren't fit enough.

There is too much out there to suggest something. Get ting out and test ing a few bikes is the best way.

hammerite

This is a bit of a bargain - http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/SL_Pro_Carbon_-_Dura_Ace_Build_Unbuilt.html

but if you aren't used to road bikes it is probably worth trying a few out before you buy to get the right fit.

Have fun triathlon is fab!

Mister W

Most of us triathletes start with an entry level bike that we think is about the right size and will do the job. Then after 12-18 months we realise that it's actually too big and doesn't do exactly what we want (wrong gears/brakes/wheels etc). So we go to a decent bike shop and talk to someone who knows about bikes. We then buy our second bike that is the right size, is fitted properly by someone who knows about bike fit and has the gears/brakes/wheels etc. that we want.

Of course you can bypass some of this by going to a proper bike shop first time round and getting a bike that fits. If the shop tries to sell you a bike without putting it on a static trainer and setting it up properly for you before you even test ride it then walk out and find another shop. My recommendation is Epic Cycles in Tenbury Wells....... and yes it is worth driving several hundred miles to get there.

hammerite

Mister W wrote:

Most of us triathletes start with an entry level bike that we think is about the right size and will do the job. Then after 12-18 months we realise that it's actually too big and doesn't do exactly what we want (wrong gears/brakes/wheels etc). So we go to a decent bike shop and talk to someone who knows about bikes. We then buy our second bike that is the right size, is fitted properly by someone who knows about bike fit and has the gears/brakes/wheels etc. that we want.
.

I got fitted up for my first bike properly by my LBS, and i'ts a decent bike that does the job, just at the budget end of the range. 18 months down the line I wish I'd upped my budget and am now looking at all sorts of lovely bikes trying to see if I can justify another :oops: