When to justify a tri bike

[jim wallace]

I know this is an impossible question to answer but I just wanted to get some opinions. I generally am in the top 25% in sprint triathlons and think that I should be able to improve on that a fair amount next year. This summer was interupted by several surgeries and I am planning to get a swim coach this winter. I was just wondering at what point a tri bike would make sense. Would I need to finish in the top 15%, 10%, or is it never needed in a sprint tri. In 2 years I will be 40 and thought that it might be fun to get one then and see how competitive I could be in my age group. What do you think?

[Carelli]

For a sprint distance I think a tri-specific bike is not absolutely necessary. Usually sprint bicycle distances are not more than 12-15 miles, and I've seen all kinds of bikes in sprint distance races - including mountain bikes. What kind of bike are you riding now?
If you think it will make you train more and you can afford it, why not? Maybe you can move up to the longer Olympic and 1/2 distances.
It's not the cost of the car that makes it go, it's the power of the engine. In othr words, it doesn't matter how expensive or sleek your bike is, you need to have the legs to power it.
The only problem with a tri-specific bike is that you cannot do any road races or crits, but you could to time trials. Riding in a group is out of the question. But if you are not interested in road racing, then a tri bike is alright.
The swim coach idea is a great one. It brought my game to a whole new level. Good luck.

[cjbruin]

It sounds like you are going to stick with the Tri thing so my advice is go get a tri bike and also keep your road bike. It will make you a bit faster...probably somewhere around 1 mph which will save you 30-40 sec in the bike leg of a sprint...it will also help your run times because the riding position allows you to save the muscles that are needed for the run.

Go for it. You deserve it.

[p9morbid]

just curious about one thing (i'm a beginner). Are you not allowed to use tri-bikes in road races? Or is it just more difficult to ride in big groups with a tri-bike?

[cjbruin]

Yes, you are not allowed to use tri bikes in road races due to the aero bars. They are viewed as dangerous for a few reasons...one, when you are riding in close proximity to many other riders it's possible for them to get caught on someone...2nd, if you're riding on the aero bars your hands are nowhere near the brakes...and they need to be.

Most big groups prefer that you ride a roadie.

[p9morbid]

that's excellent information thanks man.

[StanSeven]

...it will also help your run times because the riding position allows you to save the muscles that are needed for the run.



That was my exact experience. I use a road bike with aero bars. I borrowed a friends ti and he and I are ralmost identical in size. I don't believe my bike leg was noticably faster (purely subjective statement) with the tri specific bike but my run was smoother, and quicker. I tried to replcate everything with a forward seatpost and different stems but couldn't for some reason.

If you are into tri's, it's a worthwhile investment. Plus just making the financial investment is another reason to train harder.

[jennings780]

JimWallace: I am in the same situation as you - I have done one sprint, one tri that is slightly shorter than an Olympic and I have an Olympic distance in 5 days. I finished top 1/3 in both and have recently begun using a swim coach. I have a Specialized Allez Elite road bike with aerobars. It works great for tri's. I do plan on dropping $2500 on a tri bike this winter. I spend hours and hours a week training and am somewhat obsessed with the whole tri thing - so why not? I feel like a deserve it. I will still ride my road bike on group rides and will probably do most of my training on the road bike.

I don't think you need to reach the point where you are placing in your age group to justify a tri bike. Recently in a tri magazine I read an article by a pro that said that amateurs should never feel guilty about dropping a lot of money on equipment - that age groupers deserve every advantage that pros get and that you should feel no guilt about buying a nice bike. That's how I feel and will buy a nice tri bike this winter for the fun of it.

[newadam]

Hi, you've posted a fun question. I asked it before, and finally bought a P3 because I at least thought I'd LOOK fast. My previous bike was a Panasonic 10 speed with reflectors on it--it was almost 8 pounds heavier than my P3. There was nothing aero about it--I was the laughing stock of the pre-race transition zone equipment stare down contest. I averaged 22mph for a 40k on it. Now 2 years into owning the P3, I am STILL only matching that speed with a bike that costs me $2,500 more than the other one. And, worse, now everyone expects me to be fast; before, I had the luxury of a no-lose situation. All this talk of "aero" comes from wind-tunnel testing, and I have yet to race in a wind-tunnel. With the bike, all the high-end arguments about aero-wheels, aero-helmets, lighter components, etc. are made a little foolish because most races will have a wide-variety of inclines, wind-conditions, etc. that constantly alter the most-desireable equipment to have. For instance, if you're only on a flat, windless road, get a rear-disc...if you're climbing lots of hills or are in a lot of wind, get rid of the disc and put on lighter wheels. The best way to be ready for all terrains is to become an all-purpose rider. :-)

To put it in better perspective, in an Olympic Distance Tri, if you're missing your place goal by (say you want to be in the top 20) only 1 minute, the tri bike might do that for you.

Technicalities aside, however, the number one reason to get the tri bike is because it makes you feel good about the goals you set. I'm a doctor, and I spend my day listening to 40 year old guys without dreams. Youth is about anticipation...when you stop doing that, you're old. If that tri bike keeps you thinking about how much faster you'll be next year, get it. I can hear the MasterCard ad: Tri bike: $3,000 dollars. Dreaming about tomorrow: priceless.

Good luck.

David

[surfsail50]

You could spend around $1500 on a great Tri bike like a QR Kilo (I have one) and it's substantially more suited to the aero position and continually shifting (the secret to maintaining higher cadence and thus better effeciency and less muscle load) which you just cannot get from a road bike. I cannot get my OCR2 (with forward seatpost and aero bars) to come even close to how great my QR feels, rides and makes me feel. I'm totally convinced that if you do more than 1 tri a year you need a tri specific bike, otherwise you are not gonna have as great of a time. Sure you can get it done on a road bike and I've even done a couple of sprints on my rusty old $295 Giant Yukon MTB (and had fun, but been pretty slow!!!) but until you get the tri bike out and dialed in you won't really realize how big of a difference they really make. Most of the people who advocate road bikes are just trying to encourage people to get into or continue with the sport but the difference tri bikes make is huge, make no mistake about it... being in the aero position the whole ride is imperative and a tri specific bike is the only bike designed to be ridden that way... higher cadence=higher speed with less load on the muscles you will need later for running.
Get a Felt, QR or something similar in the $1500-$1800 range or a deal on eBay, you won't regret it. You can always get the Cervelo or Litespeed later and probably sell the $1500 bike for close to what you paid if you only use it for a year or so.
p.s. I have a 2005 OCR2 with 350 miles (and one sprint) on it going cheap, any takers? LOL...

[jennings780]

Technicalities aside, however, the number one reason to get the tri bike is because it makes you feel good about the goals you set. I'm a doctor, and I spend my day listening to 40 year old guys without dreams. Youth is about anticipation...when you stop doing that, you're old. If that tri bike keeps you thinking about how much faster you'll be next year, get it. I can hear the MasterCard ad: Tri bike: $3,000 dollars. Dreaming about tomorrow: priceless.

Great point. The equipment is fun. The training is fun. Its about have goals and taking charge of your life. I'm 35 now. I feel like I wasted from 25 - 33 just focusing on career and doing what my wife told me to. I "woke up" one day when I was 33 and took charge of my life. Triathlons are part of that.

[psycofish]

Isn't it funny if you look at what age group has the most participants it is the 35-40 year old (at least with the 4 races I have done). It must be a mid life crises thing. I like jennings wounder why i wated so long to get into it (i am 36).

[psycofish]

dang sorry about the spelling my 5 year old is repelling off my back

[p9morbid]

it could be that 35-40 year olds can AFFORD to take off work, buy a bike, and spend hours training. :)

[ht001]

Doesn't the "justification" come from just wanting the thing? You don't need us to tell you whether or not "you're worth it". If you want it, go get it. Heck, you don't even really have to have the money for it. Thanks to the ability to finance the bike, you can just make minimum payments on it, and ride off (presumably faster) happily. How great is that!?

[Jimmy_Thing]

Moto Tri-bike (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/nemesis.htm)

I am just getting into triathlons and this is what I am planning on getting this winter. I currently have a Motobene Vent Noir and absolutely love it. I think for what you get this is an absolute steal.

[goldfish]

what are the average distances for each leg of a sprint triathlon?

[cjbruin]

fish--the swim is typically 1/4 or 1/2 mi, the bike ranges from 10-15 mi...typically around 12, and the run is usually 3 mi or 5K. YMMV

[goldfish]

wow, thanks, that sounds like somthing i might actually be able to do :)

[sweetharriet]

mmk so i may have had a mid-20s crisis, and spent only $700 (of which $400 came from my parents in collaboration on a birthday present) on my bike.

still young, so there's NO WAY i can justify getting another bike. and by "justify", i mean "afford", thanks to little things like rent.

a year and a half later, i finished my first 1/2 IM this year on the same bike. i just threw aero bars on it, and fiddled with the seat position. i figure i'll save more weight if i lose 5 lbs or something, and so as long as i can keep up on the bike, i'm concentrating on the run.

i have trouble with the idea that $1500+ is the buy-in to actually win a race, but i'll have *no* problem with spending that on a bike when i actually have that much disposable income. deserve schmeserve, i've seen people who suck on the most ridiculous of speedy bikes. go for it, and good luck!

[sweetharriet]

Moto Tri-bike (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/nemesis.htm)



SUPER AERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111!eleventyone!

i'm sold! :D