tri wannabe

[todddavis2000]

Brand new to this and have a couple of questions. I recently purchased a mid 90's Schwinn Prologe with Shimano 600 compnenets ( I'm on a tight budget ). It is only a 12 speed. I'm interested in running a couple of sprint Tris this summer. Does this put me at a major disadvantage or is more gears a waste?
Also, I'm getting conflicting advice on clip-on aerobars / shifter combos. My shifters are currently on the frame and interested in bar end shifters. Good idea or bad? Thanks in advance.

[LBonney]

You may have trouble finding any shifters or a 6 speed cluster, unless you remount your existing ones. Most newer systems are 9 & 10 speeds on the back.
Also, the spacing on the rear end may limit your ability to squeeze a larger cassette in. Also, keep in mind, if you change the cassette, you will likely be changing the front chainrings since the newer chain will be narrower.

You are only at a disadvantage if you are not in good shape. ! get out & ride. Typically you will only use maybe 4 different gears, depending on how hilly the course is. If you have the right ones, you'll be OK.

Reply a post with with how many teeth are on the two front chainrings, and the cassette in back, & we'll be able to tell you if you are in trouble.

[cjbruin]

For bar end shifters...check out this thread as I think it will be pretty useful http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=78916

Don't worry about running an older bike...unless the course is very hilly and the bike is 30 lbs. Heck, I did my first tri on a beach cruiser and nearly won my age group (OK...it was 20+ years ago and I was 16). H20Chick did one this summer with a borrowed bike that was older than her...and had a headlight on it.

Keep us posted on your progress.

[Triguy]

Just ride. 12 gears is plenty. Most likely the most you could have in the rear of that bike is a 7 speed cassette, which 14 compared to 12 isn't a huge difference.

[Do You TRI?]

You should be fine ..... you will likely see many people on MTB's .... since a Sprint is where most people get their feet wet and start out. I did 6 sprints last year and saw MTB in everyone of them..... so even on your 12 spd you should have no problems blowing past these people. Depending on how hilly it is ... this bike should get you through it no problem ... honestly if you are in good shape you won't be using more that 4-5 gears anyway .... I never drop mine off the big chain ring in the front... So just get out there and get in decent riding shape and your 12 gears should do you fine, especially for your first race. ....

*on a side note* I would worry more about the swim ... it is by far the most difficult leg ... especially for begineers. For my first race i only swam like 2 times in a pool before the race, then i started off going way to fast in the water, and after about 200 meters i had to hang on to the lifegaurd cayak, b/c i thought i was going to drowned. All my buddies got a good laugh out of that one!!! HA