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| Your next tri bike? |
Another week flies past and with every one of them gone we get closer to next year's triathlon racing, so don't put your training too far on the back burner.
All of our swim and bike classes are the "happening places" to be and for staying in the game there is nothing like seeing your triathlon friends and meeting new ones to workout with at a time when we are not able to train outside.
Yahoo!
I've had many conversations lately about racing bikes and whether new triathletes and or seasoned road bike riders should purchase a triathlon specific bike or select a better quality road bike than the one they presently ride.
Well like most things in life it all about the money! : )
I have some triathletes who have three bikes, more that have two and most have one. Disposable income and time in the sport may have a great deal to do with the number of bikes you might own.
Some bikes as they age will find their way to being a full time trainer only bike, many good road bikes will be replaced by a fancy new triathlon specific bike as the blossoming triathlete sets their sights on higher racing goals but regardless of your ownerships, if the bike doesn't work it's just "nice junk"!
In most cases (99%) the higher the component package costs the more efficient and reliable they will work and because the components are whats keeping you moving (and stopping) you must pay attention to what you are spending your hard earned money on.
Some of the biggest manufactures are famous for cutting out certain more expensive components and replacing them with their own brands so that the over all bike can be sold below a certain price point. So it falls to the prospective purchaser to look closely at the spec sheets or better yet look at each component on the bike and check the names so you know what you are getting.
I have been around these bikes for a long time now and rarely will a proven frame worry me but when shopping my eyes fall to a bike's component package immediately on that too hard to believe sweet deal, just to see if it's really real or they are just teasing me!
So if you have the money and are going right into triathlon to make it your sport for the long term future I'd say go for the triathlon specific bike for sure.
If you have a middle of the road road bike that is giving you some guff and you have a bit of triathlon racing under your belt I think you know you are ready to move up.
You have two choices, one a better quality road bike or two a good triathlon bike that is designed for your sport. If you choose the better road style bike and later on you decide to switch to cycling only you will have a suitable machine.
Most cycle only groups view the different looking triathlon bikes as not suitable to road riding in close quarters because of the aero bar sifter controls but for me that's really an individual skill issue.
Personally I believe triathlon bikes are your best choice of purchase if you are going to be training and racing as a triathlete, it only makes sense but here is my general observation on the subject.
At a Try-A-Tri you will see every known bike ever made (some with streamers), at a sprint race some mountain bikes, lots of road bikes and lots of (these days) tri bikes. At an Olympic race very few if any mountain bikes, lots of road bikes and lots and lots of tri bikes. At a 70.3 the tri bikes are way ahead and the road bikes are still there but not nearly as many. At the big show (Ironman) it will be just about all triathlon bikes and many of them will be the very best of the best. Road bikes at the big show are still used and providing the bike is a good one and works properly there should be no reason why not to use one.
I say buy the most expensive bike you can afford!
Really, set your limit and go shopping with a number in mind and stick to it because you don't want to feel overwhelmed by that bigger than life purchase sitting in the living room, even if it is beautiful!
That awesome new bike has to work, you will be hard on it and you can't be afraid to race your baby because of it's price tag.
One last thing, if the bike is the wrong size it isn't a good deal even if you get it for free!
Seriously!
Have yourself a wonderful day even in the coolness because the weekend is supposed to be wonderful!
Cheers!
