What Triathlon bike?
CyclingObsession
Posts: 314
I have started swimming and want to get into triathlons so that means buying a Tri bike, I have a mid range road bike currently, I have been browsing for tri bikes and found that I want a felt brand, I have an eye on two bikes, this is the cheaper one http://eurocycles.com/ie/product/felt/b ... white-blue
it weighs 21lbs I am also looking at this one http://eurocycles.com/ie/product/felt/da4 which weighs 19lbs, my question is, is it worth spending the extra grand r two for 2-3lbs weight difference or is their more two it than that? My goals are to complete a half Iron man in above average time. My strengths in order are cycling running and swimming. Advice is badly needed. Cheers
it weighs 21lbs I am also looking at this one http://eurocycles.com/ie/product/felt/da4 which weighs 19lbs, my question is, is it worth spending the extra grand r two for 2-3lbs weight difference or is their more two it than that? My goals are to complete a half Iron man in above average time. My strengths in order are cycling running and swimming. Advice is badly needed. Cheers
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Ok, you don't need a tri bike. It sounds like you haven't even done any form of.tri as yet, and they hurt. A lot. The tri bike will gain you a marginal time difference, the bulk of which is in position changes. Some people are more aero on a road bike than a tri bike as they can get into a better position for them.
Personally, I'd suggest getting some aerobars for your current bike as a start, and if you do want to spend, some aero wheels too. And just get out there and train and race. If you enjoy it, great, buy a specific bike for next season.
For what its worth, I have pretty much that set up and am usually in the top 5% of the bike split times. Sadly I'm also a piss poor runner!
They're probably talking about the more open hip angle you can get on a tri bike as the seattube angle is steeper, hence you're more directly over the chainset. It's supposed to help, but training some bricks relatively often and also backing off the power in the last couple of minutes of the bike leg and upping the cadence also helps with the run.
It's horses for courses, if you've got the cash, go for it, but maybe get an Olympic or two under your belt ahead of buying. I know a fair few people who loved the sound of tri, but the physical reality of it was too much!
My best placed tri was achieved on my regular drop bar road bike. Lots of climbing and negotiating fast roundabouts and bends was easier as I could stay on the drops but still access my brakes and gears. A tad harder on a full on Tri bike.
The caveat to this is longer distance races IME. If you can get into an efficient and fairly 'comfortable' position over longer distances then you will use less energy, giving you something in the bank for a strong run split. For undulating, shorter courses where you be constantly shifting around, a regular road bike can be just as fast.
Theres no shortcut as your training across three disciplines you just need to put the hours in and be consistent. My advice would be to spend the cash on a coach and hone your swim skills and have an achievable, managable and productive training program that will make you stronger on the bike and run. This will save you more time than a negligible aero advantage.
I suffer from calf strains and do find the additional 'support' quite useful - injury free at the moment though and looking forward to riding my Felt B2Pro in the Outlaw.
Not in this lifetime
This is true. The first time I broke an hour for the cycling leg, it was on a flat barred road bike with tri-bars. I've always used a road bike with the right geometry (long TT) and bars. Tri bikes look nice but I'd need to be competing at a very serious level before I considered any 'aero advantage' they might give
Principia Ellipse SX
Kinesis Racelight 4S
Kinesis Crosslight Pro Disc
I started racing in 2010 and though I needed to raise cash to get a TT specific rig. I was wrong with some good planned training you will find even with a basic bike and some clip on bars you will be fast. You don't need to spend a lot on training with a coach if you can't afford it. Go join a local club and beg, borrow & steal ideas plus you get to train with other racers. If the club is any good it will should also have some coaching sessions or a coach of their own. You might also find that racers have kit for sale too so is a good way to find some deals.
I managed my first season on my road bike and was never out of the top 1/3 on the bike or run & managed about mid pack on the swim.
If after a year you have the bug and want to buy a new bike then go ahead and spend your money then.
Good luck & if you let us know where you are based I'm sure that someone will let you know which clubs are good.
Long toptube is the opposite of what you should be looking for...
Most people I see at triathlons dont even use their tribars most of the time.
I'd stick with what youve got and do a tri and see if you liked it. Sure a TT style bike will cut a few minutes off the ride - but in the scheme of things - thats nothing. Decent training for the swim will take 15 mins off your time there.
A new bike to save a few minutes from a 5 hour plus race ?