Triathlon - Well, I cheaped Out...I must share my thoughts

OK, fellas. I was truly ponering the new cheap tri bike thing, I soon realized that a inexpensive tri bike can be had for around a grand. The issue being is that it is an internet deal which means I cannot ride it first..most likely I will hate it and need to do upgrades and the like, costing me additional $$$. I decided to simply get a new shorter stem and priced out a set of Bar end shifters for an 8speed and make my old school CAD 3 C-dale all 105 my dedicated Tri bike until I an afford to go to a shop and dump $1,500-2K on what I want. I have been using my wonderful Ti-Eddy Merckx for tri's but wow the thing is so laid back that aero & speed do not compute....So I will go from my 56cc Ti laid back road frame into my old school 54 cc C-dale all for about $200.
Not bad I hope.
I'll popst the finished product when I finish it and figure out just how to do so..
See yaall
Merry Christmas

Hey, it could be worse. I am using my Veloz road bike with some aero bars bolted on and 105 components to do my first triathlon in a few months. Been training regularly with it and while I am sure having a TT/Tri bike would make a huge difference, I have not had any problems so far.

or worse still - you could have made my mistake and not researched before you went to the bike shop as a complete trusting newbie. I was sold an expensive bike that it turns out is not appropriate to be set up for tri at all! I blame myself, of course, but I surely don't have the money to replace it so I'll be doing tri's for a few years on a hybrid road bike.

btw - we're not all fellas here! LOL
-- Joolie ;)

:)An expensive hybride???what is that. I guess in the end as long as we ride life is good.

Have a look at those Profile Design bent seatposts (http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/details.asp?D=&Cat=&Section=&GenCode=PROFSPIN0200) to steepen the effective seat tube angle.

Thanks for the info However I already got a nice bent Thompson Post a tad nicer...I hope that it works..I am still debating going full aero with Bar end shifters and stay with drops and STI?

Peace out and Me:eek::)rry Christmas

Well if you're slowly accumulating proper TT kit like bar ends and such, eventually you'll get to the point where it's not that big of a jump to buy yourself a new TT frame and just move all the parts over.

Which Thompson post do you have? I've been intending to get one of the profile bent posts... But I'm open to other suggestions.

I got the laid back Thompson seat post you just spin it around and workd great plus it is a far nicer post than a profile which I bet weighs more, here is the link


http://www.blueskycycling.com/product648_47_-Thomson-Layback-Seatpost.htm

What ??? A grand only gets you a low end "inexpensive" bike? You're obviously not shopping on eBay !!!

My sis got a NOS Litespeed with complete new Campy Record 10 spd carbon for a grand. I scored a like-new IF CJ with a mix of Campy for less than a grand; by the time I added a stem and bars it came to around $1,100 total.

Go to eBay and score a great deal. Be patient - it may take a few weeks but you'll score !!!

OK, fellas. I was truly ponering the new cheap tri bike thing, I soon realized that a inexpensive tri bike can be had for around a grand.

I saw several seemingly decent deals on ebay I am just afraid to get ripped off. I would luv an old school Litespeed. Thanks, but I'll spend just under $200 to make my old c-dale a tri bike..it is a size smaller than mey road bike shorter top tube by almost 1.5 cen...54cm Vs. 56.5 cm on my roady...
Rolph Vector pros for wheels, old school 8 speed Ultegra....shoiuld be ok.

I am itching to ride it, my new 90cen stem is in the mail.
peace out:D