In the sales - best £1k first TT/Triathlon bike

slickster81
slickster81 Posts: 17
edited August 2011 in Road buying advice
Hello there, looking for some suggestions!

A little history - I've been a runner for about 5 years, but got a road bike in March to do a solo coast to coast ride in August, which I successfully did (on a day when it rained all the way!) Ride time of 6 and a half hours to get across the country. The Giant Defy 3.5, which I got for approx £400 did a great job and the 1500 miles of training were a real pleasure.

I'm now keen to have a go at some triathlons (only up to say Olympic distance) and some (short) time trials (up to 25 miles?). Though it is the end of the season, I'm going to squeeze in a triathlon in a few weeks time.

I've noted that with the season ending there are some offers on bikes and so am casting my eye as to getting one now. I will only be looking to have a £1000 budget though, so I understand it will be 'bottom end'. However, I'd expect a much lighter, better specced bike compared to the Defy 3.5.

Given I'll keep the Defy for traiing rides I'm really tempted to go for an all out TT bike, unless I can get much better 'standard' road bike that I could add the TT bars too.

So far I'm liking the look of the Giant Trinity reduced to £979 from £1500. Though this is an aluminium frame.

Alternatively there are a few Planet X models, which are full carbon. TT or 'standard' bike, both reduced to under £1000.

So if anyone has any suggestions they would be greatly received :)

Comments

  • J55TTC
    J55TTC Posts: 224
    I prefer the giant out of those to be honest.

    My opinion is to do the triathlon on your current bike, youre comfortable on it and used to how it performs. I guarantee you there will be people doing the tri on mountain bikes so you wont be the slowest. Also this gives you a chance to see if you like tri's before you splash £1k

    Once the tri season is over (not long now) I reckon there will be some cracking deals to be had but another £1k bike is the fuji aloha 1.0

    £ for £ I dont think you will get a lighter TT bike when compared to a road bike. Take for instance my £1900 BMC SL01 thats 7.7kg compared to my £1900 Fuji D6 3.0 that is 9.4kg

    I started tri's with the BMC and put on some tri bars and it was not ideal, I just could not get comfortable in the aero position despite thousands of adjustments over the course of months. I tried some tri bikes and the difference was astonishing!

    If you love the tri and want to do more - get a TT bike, if not upgrade to a lighter roadie. Go with a frame design that you like (and thats comfortable) rather than spec as you can upgrade the components over time.
  • Cornish-J
    Cornish-J Posts: 978
    i have the giant trinity - great bike!
  • I'd wait until the new year. In fact, I am waiting until the new year. New bike/groupsets etc. will be out in the new year so you may actually get a better deal on a 2011 bike. You've not got much chance to use the TT bike right now anyway as the season is almost over.
  • rafletcher
    rafletcher Posts: 1,235
    This

    http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/bikes/q ... pro-carbon

    There were loads at the London Traithlon recently.
  • brettjmcc
    brettjmcc Posts: 1,361
    Buy 2nd hand and get more bike for your money?
    BMC GF01
    Quintana Roo Cd01
    Project High End Hack
    Cannondale Synapse SL (gone)
    I like Carbon
  • incog24
    incog24 Posts: 549
    +1 on 2nd hand

    TT bikes hardly ever get hammered (especially if you buy from a tester rather than triathlete) and lose a fair amount of value. Just make sure you get one that fits.

    Could always go Chinese too.
    Racing for Fluid Fin Race Team in 2012 - www.fluidfin.co.uk
  • brettjmcc
    brettjmcc Posts: 1,361
    incog24 wrote:
    Could always go Chinese too.

    I started down that route, but in the end have recently picked up a 2010 QR CD01 for only £150 more than it woudl have cost to get a Carbonzone frame... Lets just say I am a very happy bunny at the moment; its more of a shame that I won't be able to do the frame justice for a very long time/if ever.

    Offers are to be had, especially as the season is ending IMO
    BMC GF01
    Quintana Roo Cd01
    Project High End Hack
    Cannondale Synapse SL (gone)
    I like Carbon
  • Thanks for all the replies to date.

    I would be happy to go down the second hand route, but I need to know what I'm looking for, so the suggestions (and anymore you have) are helpful.

    Although I'm certainly keeping an eye out in the sales, but there are so many places to buy from that it's really difficult to keep track and to find the bargains!
  • rafletcher
    rafletcher Posts: 1,235
    Thanks for all the replies to date.

    I would be happy to go down the second hand route, but I need to know what I'm looking for, so the suggestions (and anymore you have) are helpful.

    Although I'm certainly keeping an eye out in the sales, but there are so many places to buy from that it's really difficult to keep track and to find the bargains!

    Well Planet X do a DuraAce equipped version for £1500 new, a cracking secong hand buy, and better than the £3500 Spesh my stepson bought....
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    I went secondhand, loads of bargains out there. You have to be careful over size(buy a size smaller than your road bike) and be very careful to get a good accurate description. It's nearly the end of the season and a lot of testers will be selling up soon so bargains to be had.
    I got an Orbea Ora in a state of build that made it worth £2k new for £780
  • If I don't take a liking to triathlons I'd expect it would be because of the swimming, which I've generally seen as a form of relaxation, rather than as a 'competitive' sport, which requires dedicated training...

    If i were still looking to do some TTs, then I guess I'd be best served to get an improved road bike and just add some bars? This means I could make more use of the bike for general riding too?!?
  • doesnt matter if you don't like Tri's! TT's are the way to go ;) buy a proper bike. you wont regret it!

    it shocks me your thinking of buying a roadbike with clip ons! but thats your decision :)
    Coveryourcar.co.uk RT Tester
    north west of england.