Triathlon - RT700 as a Tri Bike?

I'm considering getting into triathlons. I am looking at the group buy for the Kestrel RT700 framset and building it up.

What do you all think of this frameset for a Tri bike. In the 59 frame size the seat tube angle is 72.5 degrees, so i know it's pretty laid back.

as a tri specific bike? you COULD do it but its not ideal. you want something with aero tubing and a 76-78* seat tube angle.

it would be like taking any other road frame and trying to make a tri bike out of it.

It will work like any slack angled road bike... work yes, ideal no.

Also if buying specifically for a tri bike, look at buying one size down which will have a slightly shorter head tube and let you get a little further forward.

Or just look at something like the XDS-carbon.com X-B14 frameset which has a 76 degree seat tube angle available via many companies such as Pedal Force for ~$1,100 or even cheaper direct from Karbona.com - somewhere around US$680 plus post and customs costs.

Interesting thought about buying a size small - I'll do that, thanks.

It does have aero tubing though and an aero seatpost as well.

It is slack tough and I'll check out the frames you mentioned.

$808 for the Kestrel framset is a hard deal to pass by though.

Thanks.

Agreed on the Kestrel pricing! But getting a frame which isn't really as suitable isn't then such a great deal...

If I hadn't just bought a new frame to replace my current road bike (seat stay snapped) I'd be personally looking at the Evoke.

$808 for the Kestrel framset is a hard deal to pass by though.

i agree, which is why i want that as a road bike and it will just set me back a little until i save up for a tri bike.

its like saying that you need a race car, and Ford is having a sale on trucks, so youre going to buy a truck and try to build it into a race car. can it be done? sure. is it going to do what you want it to do? not very well. youde be better off saving up a little more to get a corvette which is designed with that purpose in mind. not a perfect analogy, but you get the idea.

$808 for the Kestrel framset is a hard deal to pass by though.
Thanks.

When you can get a Cervelo Dual frame for half that, yeah, its a deal I can pass up if I was looking to put together a tri-bike.

I would rather be in a great postion on a good frame than a bad position on a great frame.

Where can I get the Cervelo Dual frame?

Remember, I am a newbie at Tri, and a bit clueless on the issue. I have enough road bikes.

I saw the aero tubing on the Kestrel and it's similar frame geometry to the Talon, their Tri Bike (at least they claim that on their webpage), as a good sign that it would work. I guess I was wrong.

I'm a terrible saver, but a great spender.:p

I have the cash now, I won't later.

I have an Ultegra 9 speed build waiting for a frame. I have at least $850 to spend. I have wheels already.

What frame is my best bang for the buck?

Thanks again,

Brian

I have an Ultegra 9 speed build waiting for a frame. I have at least $850 to spend. I have wheels already.

What frame is my best bang for the buck?

Thanks again,

Brian

the Leader 735TT frameset and carbon fiber aero fork can be had for $570. a few people on here have them, most seem to be happy. if i read correctly in the road forum a highly ranked TT'er in the USA is on one of these frames. its also on the top of my list at the moment until a better deal comes around (if ever)

"real" aero tubing and a 78* seat tube angle. its a purpose built frame and would suit you much better in a tri than the RT700 would.

I would definitly recomend a tri specific frame if you are going to get into triathlons. I had read a lot about the advantages of aero tubing before I bought my tri bike but once I started ridding it the biggest advantage I have seen is how much fresher my legs where on the run. Dramatic difference for me it no longer takes me a mile into the run before my legs get loose and I can take my full strides. My avg speed for my last tri was almost 1.5 mph faster also but since it was not the same course I can't atribute the faster avg speed to the bike

Where can I get the Cervelo Dual frame?

I saw the aero tubing on the Kestrel and it's similar frame geometry to the Talon, their Tri Bike (at least they claim that on their webpage), as a good sign that it would work. I guess I was wrong.

What frame is my best bang for the buck?



I got my Dual, Ultegra 9 build, for $999 complete with low end wheels and bars, it was factory belm (bb size paint chip on the top tube, nobody has noticed it yet) from inside out sports, you can google them.

Your not wrong on the Kestrel, if you want a very shallow seat angle, I am big kid who needs to open up my hips, read steep ST angle, quite a bit to get into an aero position. You can read all about FIST fitting on slowtwitch, it gives you all the nuts and bolts of tri vs road fitting.

If I were in the market for a frame, I would hang out on Slowtwitch classifieds until I found a used Dual/P2k/Felt/QR etc. Or ebay.

But first I would find out if I wanted steep or shallow, and let that lead me to frames.

Thank me later. :D

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/nemesis06_SPECIALpre.htm

Pretty good bike, it's basically the Fuji Aloha from 04/05. For the price, you can't beat it. Find some nice aero wheels for under 1K, and you have a great race bike.

I am big kid who needs to open up my hips, read steep ST angle, quite a bit to get into an aero position.

Thank you. I to am a big guy and need the same. So, 78 degrees is now what I'm looking for. Thank you again for your advice.

Brian

You can also get away with a 75-76 and the seat moved up a bit. I was riding around 80 with a 76 degree bike.

Thank me later. :D

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/nemesis06_SPECIALpre.htm

Pretty good bike, it's basically the Fuji Aloha from 04/05. For the price, you can't beat it. Find some nice aero wheels for under 1K, and you have a great race bike.

I'll thank you now. I appreciate all the advice I can get. That particular bike has a 76 degree ST angle. I don't expect to qualify ever for a UCI event, so am looking for a 78 degree ST angle now for the reasons mentioned above.

I'll thank you now. I appreciate all the advice I can get. That particular bike has a 76 degree ST angle. I don't expect to qualify ever for a UCI event, so am looking for a 78 degree ST angle now for the reasons mentioned above.

I see that Inside Out Sports has the Dual frame for $599 alone now, freakin nice durace10 build for $1399, but since you got your own components, I would take the Cervelo over the Leader, cause I did : ) That and I trust Cervelo for doing it right. I believe their aero hype, I trust their Wolf Fork. That and I "think" the leader takes a standard seatpost which looks like shight with the aero seattube IMHO. I'm 6'2", 34 cycling inseam, 58 fits like a dream with moderate drop and I have the seat pretty much in the middle of its range right now.

And the DA10 build Dual is worlds above in value compared to the recycled Fuji tank.

I did it. I just purchased a 2006 Dual with full Dura-ace.

I cannot wait for my shipment to arrive.

I did it. I just purchased a 2006 Dual with full Dura-ace.

I cannot wait for my shipment to arrive.

Huzzah!

You'll be expected to post photos when it arrives. :)

I did it. I just purchased a 2006 Dual with full Dura-ace.

I cannot wait for my shipment to arrive.

If you want some affirmation, read what they say about it on Slowtwich or on bikesportmichigan, both Demerly and Empfield rave about this bike and its value, and that is at $1,700 which is what it went for orginally.

It won't be the bike holding you back.

Congrats, is it the Silver, Red, or Yellow? I have no idea what color matches to what year?

I have the silver, if you do as well, you need to get the Tacx Tao silver bottle cage, it was specifically designed for this bike, ok, maybe not, but it looks like it, and its only around $14.

Huzzah!

You'll be expected to post photos when it arrives. :)

Well, I don't have it yet, but I do have a picture of it. Here it is:


Lovely, isn't it?

I agree, the silver cages will look far sweeter.

If it wasn't 15 degrees and snowing out I would run out and ride mine, maybe I will just slip out to the garage and stare at it a little.

Looks great, the Easton wheels look a lot better than the Mavic Cosmic Elite yellow stickered up wheels I have thrown on mine.


Next step: Wheelbulder.com for a wheel cover for that thing, <$100 for all of the arodynamics of a $1,400 Zipp Disk.

Then there's the aero helmet, etc etc etc..........

Congrats!

Next step: Wheelbulder.com for a wheel cover for that thing, <$100 for all of the arodynamics of a $1,400 Zipp Disk.


Do those really work? Interesting concept.