Newbie Help Required - New Bike - Focus Izalco Tria?

rinko

Hi,

I've recently convinced my company (along with a few fellow employees) to take up the cycle to work scheme and I have be drooling over various bits of kit for several weeks now.

I want to buy a bike that I can use to commute a few miles to work on (mostly main roads), but I am also trying to do 2 triathlons this year and really wanted something that would work for both.

Looking at some reviews and trawling wiggle I'm rather taken by the Focus Izalco Tria 2008, especially at it's current price. Is this really feasible as a commuting bike, or will I just look like a prize tool tootling to work on it?

I've not biked for several years outside of a gym, but I am really keen to get back to it - and perhaps do some club cycling (my cousin is a fairly active club cyclist) - again is the Focus a realistic option for long distance rides or am I going to cripple myself with it?

Thanks in advance.

Paul.

il_principe

I'd go for a standard road bike, Focus Cayo perhaps. I would'nt want to commute on a tri bike or ride long hilly distances. Remember you can always by clip on aerobars for a road bike. MKy training buddies did the UK ironman last year, one of them used a giant roadbike with clip on bars, didn't slow him up at all he came 94 out of 1148 and he's not even semi pro...

Focus do make great bikes and offer fantastic VFM.

lost_in_thought

Agree with Jash here, much as the tri bike is great for triathlons, it's not ideal for much else.

A normal roadie will be much more versatile if you decide, for example, that you'd like to get into sportives or similar, for commuting or even for weekend pootles!

Much as I know naff all about this, I seem to recall someone telling me that you can't race on tri-specific bikes in some other disciplines...

rinko

Thanks for the info - I know my cousin has a set of tri-bars he has said I can have, so a normal road bike is certainly an option.

Sadly it looks like the only Cayo available in my size on Wiggle is the Focus Cayo 105 2009, which doesn't give me much room to buy accessories under the cycle to work scheme £1k limit. Also, it looks like the spec has dropped slightly between the 08 and 09 models.

I was looking at the Boardman range too, specifically the Team Carbon, but am a little wary after reading about various problems people have been having with them.

symo

Kiron Scandium - mine arrives tomorrow.

rinko

I did briefly look at the Kiron Scandium - but unfortunately Wiggle have discontinued it in the size I need.

Any other suggestions out there?

il_principe

Cube Streamer



Cube Attempt



Wilier Mortirolo



Pinarello FP1

Specialized Needs

Is that your bike collection

jashburnham wrote:

Cube Attempt

Who ever thought it was a good idea to name something an "Attempt"?

Surely the marketing boffs should have vetoed it and forced them to call it "Achieve" or "Victory" or something?

"Attempt"? <sigh>