Triathlon - How to build a tri bike on a super-tight budget: One member's example

(moderator note)

By request, I've made this thread a sticky. Too often people think that making a tri-specific bike has to be a huge investment, and not everyone has the means or the desire to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to get into the sport. This thread is an example of the fact that you can get a usable bike on a shoestring budget if you take the time to look for the good deals...

(end mod note)

I just recently got into triathalons and wanted to do it for as little money as possible. The bike is a 1991 fuji ace that I picked up at a yard sale for $20. After riding it completly stock for a while I picked up the aero bars at another yard sale for $5. Then I got the clipless pedals and a pair of LG carbon tri shoes for $40. Next I got the bull horn bars, stem, and stem adapter all off of craigslist for $20. And most recently I made the foward tilted seat post, and got a fizik saddle off of ebay for $10. So all in all I have about $100 into it, it isnt the prettyest, lightest (26lbs) or fastest bike but it definitly gets the job done for now. I did a sprint tri last weekend in 1:11. I am currently in the process of getting some reverse brake levers and bar tape. So my question for you guys is what do you think of it so far and what other upgrades should I do to it.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f87/szaffiri/DSC02619.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f87/szaffiri/DSC02616.jpg

That's awesome, way to go!
5 bucks for aero bars that's fantastic.

Bar end shifters.

How many rear gears does it have? Older bar ends for 6-7-8 speeds can be wicked cheap ;)

if it works.... ride the heck out of it.
great find on the $5 bars!!:thumb:

Awesome. Ride it like you stole it. I almost think this thread should be "sticky'd" so others can get ideas about getting a bike on a budget. Well done!!!

Bar end shifters.

How many rear gears does it have? Older bar ends for 6-7-8 speeds can be wicked cheap ;)

Yep. Bar ends. Awesome bike. All you need.

Great job.

As far as upgrades go, I found getting the shifters up on the aerobars made a big difference. Stopped me sticking my fingers in the spokes....

You might even be able to keep the DT shifters you have, and get those barend adaptors. Rivendell used to have them in stock. Otherwise an old set of GripShifts will do the job. I got mine free at the LBS, they´d been in the back of the shop for years.

I wouldn´t bother swapping the brake levers. Adds to the stealth look.

You might find an old rear disc wheel for 7 speed cassette (assuming that´s what you have) that someone has ´upgraded´from. Heck, you might come across an old disc front wheel too - whack that on, see what the marshalls say...

Maybe an old aero wheel....? something like a Mavic Cosmic Expert? From the late 90s. I have one and it´s super smooth, runs great and has proved robust.

Some race tyres and tubes too maybe.... Conti GP 4000, for example, but that´s not going to make a massive difference.

2 quick questions - how did you make the seatpost? Are you handy with a welding kit?
And is that a scooter powered by a car battery in the background of the first photo???

Awesome. Ride it like you stole it. I almost think this thread should be "sticky'd" so others can get ideas about getting a bike on a budget. Well done!!!

+1

Dr. Pete... can you make this happen?

Maybe we could label it like a "Craigslist/Ebay Finds" if you see something in your area or bike/tri related that you think others may find useful or need you could put a link to it...

They do it on the Dodge forum I belong to and was able to get some engine parts for my truck for about 80% less then what I would have paid retail/dealership

Thanks for all the positive comments. It has a seven speed cassete, and I will definitly keep an eye out for a different rim as well as some bar end shifters. The seat post I made out of an old steel seat post laying around. I cut it in half then ground an angle an each end and welded it up. And yes that is a scooter powerd off of a car battery in the background, it was a little project I did a while back.

http://funkyheart.com/images/stories/Borat/verynice.gif

I like it it a lot though I keep thinking I should see 1 gear only.

Your next investment should be one of those full aero-helmets. I'd love to see the looks of people as you pull up on that bike with an aerohelmet. Also the looks of people on nice road/tri bikes as you pass them. Don't forget the bell.

Nice low-low-budget ride! Looks alot like my bike.

I was able to move my downtube shifters up to become bar-ends but that was because I came across a set of bar-end shifters where one of the shifters was broken. Used the mounting parts and put on my downtube shifters - viola!

I'm looking for a seatpost like the one you have made. I've currently got the seat slid all the way forward. If you had a source for cheap, aluminum seatposts, you could probably fab them and sell them. I assume you were carfeul to make sure the saddle sits level and straight with your cuts/grinding/welding?

And yes, you will love passing people on that ride! Makes me so happy!

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_eXOBm4Rp86o/Sj6yfSlglxI/AAAAAAAAArw/FIk8De9aD5I/s720/P6211257.JPG

Nice low-low-budget ride! Looks alot like my bike.

I was able to move my downtube shifters up to become bar-ends but that was because I came across a set of bar-end shifters where one of the shifters was broken. Used the mounting parts and put on my downtube shifters - viola!

I'm looking for a seatpost like the one you have made. I've currently got the seat slid all the way forward. If you had a source for cheap, aluminum seatposts, you could probably fab them and sell them. I assume you were carfeul to make sure the saddle sits level and straight with your cuts/grinding/welding?

And yes, you will love passing people on that ride! Makes me so happy!



The seat post definitly made a big difference, and I would definitly recamend it. Profile designs makes a nice aluminum and carbon one called the fast foward post. When I made it I didnt really have to be to percise because the clamp for the seat pivots up and down as well as to the side.

One sweeet deal way to go......now go hunt down a better set of wheels and save a few pounds...Once your hooked and beat a few people on$1K rigs then upgrade

Nice job:)

I kinda like the idea of making this a sticky. I think I'll do it, but I'll change the name of the thread to better reflect the message.

Just for anyone looking at this thread for the first time:

What the OP did with his seatpost was fabricate (very cleverly) a copy of a Profile Design Fast Forward seat post. These things look pretty ugly, but they´re effective at what they do, which is to change the seat post angle from the common road bike 73 degs to a steeper +/- 78 degs, as favoured by triathletes.

PD make two versions, the alu one is available in 27.0 and 27.2 mm sizes, the carbon just in 27.2. If you ride an older bike with a narrower gauge seat tube then you might have to make your own, otherwise flip your existing seatpost round (if you can) and slide the seat forward.

The second-hand market for these seatposts is very strong, so you should be able to pass it on in the future for what you paid for it, should you upgrade to a tri specific bike.

http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:vFJbdpcQfeYM0M:http://bp0.blogger.com/__m2kZSD9Tx0/SB8VcwFsJ7I/AAAAAAAAAKg/1GA0h9YBJ-k/s320/IMG_4170_low.jpg Alu version

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:K0y40bnXQN5rlM:http://www.wechselzone.de/pic/nitto66.jpg Nitto 66 seatpost - similar idea

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41G82ZQLIxL._SL500_AA280_.jpgValdora Ti seatpost - a pricier option.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=546708&highlight=triathlon

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=513847&highlight=praying+mantis


From the Classic and Vintage section, two discussions on making a ´vintage´ Triathlon bike. Lots of good advice there. The second thread shows various options for getting the shifters off the down tube and onto the aerobars.

Just for anyone looking at this thread for the first time:

What the OP did with his seatpost was fabricate (very cleverly) a copy of a Profile Design Fast Forward seat post. These things look pretty ugly, but they´re effective at what they do, which is to change the seat post angle from the common road bike 73 degs to a steeper +/- 78 degs, as favoured by triathletes.

PD make two versions, the alu one is available in 27.0 and 27.2 mm sizes, the carbon just in 27.2. If you ride an older bike with a narrower gauge seat tube then you might have to make your own, otherwise flip your existing seatpost round (if you can) and slide the seat forward.

The second-hand market for these seatposts is very strong, so you should be able to pass it on in the future for what you paid for it, should you upgrade to a tri specific bike.

http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:vFJbdpcQfeYM0M:http://bp0.blogger.com/__m2kZSD9Tx0/SB8VcwFsJ7I/AAAAAAAAAKg/1GA0h9YBJ-k/s320/IMG_4170_low.jpg Alu version

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:K0y40bnXQN5rlM:http://www.wechselzone.de/pic/nitto66.jpg Nitto 66 seatpost - similar idea

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41G82ZQLIxL._SL500_AA280_.jpgValdora Ti seatpost - a pricier option.


I have a Profile forward seat post for my workingman's TT. It's probably not UCI legal, since it brings the nose of the saddle almost directly over the bottom bracket. I believe the UCI requirement is 5 cm behind. Not sure about USAT regs. But I've never seen any official checking bikes at a tri before, except to make sure you have bar plugs.

those seat posts are on ebay all the time, new & used. I bought some of the tri parts for my old road bike that way, works great.

cool elec scooter & looks like you have some dirt bikes in there too--the sport of Kings & Nobility!

What chain rings do you have? 52/42? A possible upgrade, possibly inexpensive, possibly weight-saving, would be your crank. Look for a 53/39.

Next buy a 54 to replace the 53, and train, train, train until you can push that big gear 54x12. Then you'll pass people!

I have a 30 year old, Italian, steel bike, which I bought new. Back then I could only afford Ofmega components. I keep it for nostalgia, and I ride it once in a while, just for fun. It has agressive, criterium geometry - very squirrely. I keep the bar height and seat height the same as it was fit for me by the little old Italian guy in the little bike shop in Italy where I bought it (he called me "Lemond"), back when I was flexible and could hunch over that far. Now when I get on it, for the first time in a while, I feel like I'm doing a handstand. It was my first "racing" bike, and yet it fit so perfectly that within the first few rides I learned to handle it's super responsive steering and for years it was the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. As I said, it's nostalgic. Anyway, over the years I have gently upgraded it to full Campagnolo, to build it into my 80's dream bike. I got my Campy crank, "NOS", on ebay for $25.

You're wise not to get caught in the marketing induced mindset that you have to spend a lot of money to have fun in triathlon. It aint so.

that's awesome! you stole that saddle. and the bars for that matter. 5 bucks for solid, working bars regardless of the weight or brand is a deal. nice job.

for upgrades you may want to try to score some lighter wheels. some of the early alum aero wheels are still around in good shape for practically nothing. also bar end shifters like everybody said. it's not too difficult to relocate them to the bars, esp for you i'd imagine. maybe throw a new chain on there and some new shift and brake cables. after that you pretty much are there - awesome budget tri bike.

Here are a few updated pics. I added new reverse style brake levers as well as bar tape. I also picked up an older zipp 404 tubular wheel off of craigslist for $70 and the aero bottle for $5. I am still looking for bar end shifters but just cant find a good deal on them. If I look around long enough I'm sure I will find some for cheap.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f87/szaffiri/102_2435.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f87/szaffiri/102_2436.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f87/szaffiri/102_2437.jpg

Here is mine that I just finished last night:

Bike: 1986 Centurion Accordo RS $15
Aero Bars: Forte T2 $45
Thumb Shifters: Sunrace $10

I was worried that the rear derailleur would not work with the index shifter, because it was originally friction only, but it seems to work fine after a little adjusting.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu214/big_heineken/P8022282.jpg?t=1249324673

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu214/big_heineken/P8022283.jpg?t=1249324707

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu214/big_heineken/P8022285.jpg?t=1249324721

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu214/big_heineken/P8022286.jpg?t=1249324733

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu214/big_heineken/P8022287.jpg?t=1249324745

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu214/big_heineken/P8022288.jpg?t=1249324759

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu214/big_heineken/P8022290.jpg?t=1249324774

http://s649.photobucket.com/albums/uu214/big_heineken/?albumview=grid

nice.

dude, you are the king of finding deals.

Wow - memories. I had a 91 Fuji Ace in college.

To the OP, you could get thumbshifters like these (or other types) and mount them to the aerobars near the ends. $1 each.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Product_10053_10052_217490_-1___

http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashbar/products/large/YS-135-NCL-TOP.jpg

These shifters were the subject of a thread over on Classic and Vintage:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?405978-modifying-cheap-falcon-thumb-shifters

156135

My budget tri build.
My old leader road bike frame too small as a road bike $170
Fork from my Giant OCR 3 roadbike ? price
Used Alex 260 a-class rims with shimano 9sp cassette $50
Derailleurs from old giant roadbike (sora) est $30
53/38 square taper Vuelta crank $35 new
bullhorns $20 ebay
Aerobars profile design century comps $50 new (I had these on the giant) I cut them into two pieces and put the bar ends on them
Used Suntour friction bar end shifters $20
Brake levers tekro inline brake levers off the Giant est cost $15
Sette zero setback seatpost $20 I would like to modify this like the OP and make it like the profile design. I don't have the welding skills

Most of the parts I had laying around. The only new parts I had to buy were the bullhorns, crank and BB, and bar end shifters.

I am glad that I am using the frame instead of having it collect dust in my garage.

how much smaller frame sizes are you guys going with making TT bikes? I ride a 61, and my dad wants to sell his old specialized (i think it has 57.5 TT, i ride a 590). I was thinking of getting it off of him and throwing bull horns and aero bars on it to ride in TT's next year. I was also thinking that possibly with the smaller size, i may not have to get a reverse seat post because the seat to BB is more forward than i am used to riding to begin with.

Is the forward seat post merely for the increase in breathing efficiency? or is there a mechanical advantage as well?

The forward seat post effectively increases the seat tube angle (78 degs is the angle favoured by triathletes) so the whole body 'pivots' round the bottom bracket.
This is also supposed to make running off the bike easier as the leg muscles are used in a slightly different way.
I would suggest going with the frame from your dad, as a) it's always fun to build up a bike, b) it's sitting there not doing much anyway so it will be a cheap buil, and c) it might well work! Plus even if it isn't perfect you will most likely be able to sell it on to a tri newbie as there are so mnay people coming into the sport.
Best of luck - just my $0.02:thumb:

You are probably pretty close. I think Competitive Cyclist has an option for tri bike fit if I remember correctly

One more addition to this thread.

The 'original' tri bike, the Quintana Roo Superform, is often seen for sale on eBay and other internet sites. It's now fairly unloved as it needs 26"/650 wheels and tyres and has an relatively unfashionable steel frame. However it offers the kind of geometry (a steep seat-tube angle) of any modern tri bike, and is specifically designed that way, so handles better (and safer) and fits better than a road bike frame with a FF seat post.

Well worth looking out for if you are on a tight budget.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTU3gsCrQFF8smTHLfgvSP_jFq_IfvXgS7Zksj9xo0qHRyBD1Y&t=1&usg=__vO_K4t-T3tKwsCYLPnHVzx2UWbE=

I posted this on the road bike thread but I think it's better suited here. It's a 2000 Cannondale Multisport 2000 w/ Ultegra. It has pretty odd 650c spinergy spox wheels and its a small frame (52cm) but I'm pretty short and it fits me well. Currently saving up for cleats for the speedplay pedals it came with. Got the whole bike for $85 :)

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/3563/dsc0067m.jpg

$85? Deal of the century.

Hmm...$85. What decrepit, crippled, former TT rider did you rob-then-leave-dinner-money for that? A story worth telling I think.

Hmm...$85. What decrepit, crippled, former TT rider did you rob-then-leave-dinner-money for that? A story worth telling I think.

Haha, it's not that interesting but here's the story:
The night before I bought this I was in a pretty depressed mood. I pulled up to my house and saw my brother fumbling with his car on the driveway and i knew something was up. He had my '07 CAAD8 Optimo1 on his roof rack (i bought it 3 days prior) and decided to hit the garage with the top tube..

So I hopped on Craigslist when I got inside the house and I saw this thing for $85, but I was too late, someone had already claimed it for the next day. I was pissed again.. But for some reason that someone never showed up to get it so the guy called me and I was there quick.

The seller was the neighbor of a Triathlon rider who just gave it to him. It was for his wife to ride but she ended up not riding it cus it was too "stiff" so he put it up on CL. He even gave me extra Michelin Ironman tires in case I needed em. Cool guy. Also.. I just found out that the Thomson Elite Seatpost that came with the bike is worth as much as I paid for it! wow.

Haha, it's not that interesting but here's the story:
The night before I bought this I was in a pretty depressed mood. I pulled up to my house and saw my brother fumbling with his car on the driveway and i knew something was up. He had my '07 CAAD8 Optimo1 on his roof rack (i bought it 3 days prior) and decided to hit the garage with the top tube..

So I hopped on Craigslist when I got inside the house and I saw this thing for $85, but I was too late, someone had already claimed it for the next day. I was pissed again.. But for some reason that someone never showed up to get it so the guy called me and I was there quick.

The seller was the neighbor of a Triathlon rider who just gave it to him. It was for his wife to ride but she ended up not riding it cus it was too "stiff" so he put it up on CL. He even gave me extra Michelin Ironman tires in case I needed em. Cool guy. Also.. I just found out that the Thomson Elite Seatpost that came with the bike is worth as much as I paid for it! wow.

I maintain my righteous level of jealousy.

I got this...

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/deadprez012/vehicles/1993%20Diamondback%20Interval%20-%202010%20July%2013/IMG00065.jpg

...for $100.

$217 later, I have this...

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/deadprez012/vehicles/1993%20Diamondback%20Interval%20-%202010%20July%2013/diamondback93_100921.jpg

...and as much as I love it, $85 < $317! Good find friend

Even though I own a race bike that converts pretty readily to a TT bike (Cervelo Soloist Team), I haven't done enough time trialing to bother. So when I did an omnium a couple of weeks ago, instead of messing with my saddle position, I just set up my old Trek 660 as a fixed gear TT machine.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/Bikes/fgtt.jpg

I can't believe that I started this thread almost 2 years ago. I have pretty much forgotten about it until now. It is cool to look back and see how far I have come. I have included a pic of the bike that I am currently racing on. And just like before I still know how to get good deals, I built up the entire bike as seen with all sram red and the zipp vukas for under a $1000, not including the wheels.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f87/szaffiri/DSCN1660.jpg

Wow amazing szaffiri, i love those wheels! You must have gotten some sweet ass deals, can you break down the parts/price/story? I'd love to hear about it.

Heres my new one as well, $355 w/ wheels:) but I'd rather have yours haha
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1328/dsc0254xw.jpg

1988 Cannondale $62.50 at a garage sale. (I paid $125 for two similar vintage aluminum framed bikes) Added the aerobars ($20) and nitto 66 forward seat post ($15) and new tires and have been doing triathlons on it for 5 years now. I have continued to upgrade and add speed components bit by bit, such as an aero drink bottle and an aero helmet. I just added an Adamo seat and the wireless computer system with cadence and HR recently. There are more upgrades in the works for this season to keep this vintage beauty in service for a while yet. These may toss me out of the "budget build" category, but are also great steals (Carbon fork $63 on sale at Nashbar, "New" 9 speed cassette wheelset to get higher gearing $78, I also invested in an older set of Zipp 404's for competition $630 w/shipping from Ebay) My oldest son just started riding the other bike this year and wants to do a Tri.
BTW - How do you place the big pictures in your posts? I just get these thumnails.

192708192709192710192711http://www.bikeforums.net/images/misc/pencil.png

Lovely bike, Cederbat.
What do you mean buy getting a 9-speed wheelset for 'higher gearing? Surely you could just swap out the 7-speed cassette for one with a low 12 or 11 sprocket if you find yourself regularly spinning out on descents. By the look of your crankset it's a 52/42 Biopace so a 12 on the back should give you plenty of top end, assumin you're not Spartacus.

Wow amazing szaffiri, i love those wheels! You must have gotten some sweet ass deals, can you break down the parts/price/story? I'd love to hear about it.

Heres my new one as well, $355 w/ wheels:) but I'd rather have yours haha
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1328/dsc0254xw.jpg

I'm forced to chime in here... i've got a good one too.
I bought a 2008 p2c w/7800 dura ace on CL for $1950 (shipped). Was in much better condition than i had anticipated (only one minor mark!). sold the wheelset (renn disc, 808 front) for $1050 (already had race wheels). sold rotor rings for $150 (had spare DA rings to replace), sold stock calipers for $50 (had others lying around). sold the pedals that came with it for $50. bought a set of trainer wheels (7700 / open pro) from CL for $100.

Yup, that's a full dura ace p2c for $750. oh, and it came with an aerobottle/carbon cage ($50) + a pretty much new giro aerohelmet ($100) + computer ($40). if you subtract those items... well, i think you've got the idea already.

now i just need to figure how how to upgrade the cockpit on the cheap to the level you guys have (hed or zipp... would be nice).

Dude, great job.....are they 36 spoked wheels, a ton of weight you can loose when you have the cash
enjoy...beat a few others with higher end stuff and enjoy

Lovely bike, Cederbat.
What do you mean buy getting a 9-speed wheelset for 'higher gearing? Surely you could just swap out the 7-speed cassette for one with a low 12 or 11 sprocket if you find yourself regularly spinning out on descents. By the look of your crankset it's a 52/42 Biopace so a 12 on the back should give you plenty of top end, assumin you're not Spartacus.

Hi Barchettaman,

Thanks for the comments. The wheelset my Cannondale came with had a 6 speed freewheel system with a 13 tooth small sprocket. My rear wheel also had a flat spot on the rim that I could not get out with truing. This wheelset has served me well for almost 10 years. By upgrading to a 9 speed cassette system I am gaining easier maintenance, flexibility with gearing, an 11 tooth small sprocket, and compatibility with the Zipp wheels I found for races. Every year I do a 90 mile bike race called Race the Lake and it is a draft legal race. In the pack, with the wind, we were hitting sustained speeds of 30+ miles per hour and I averaged 21mph for the event last year. I was spinning pretty good at that pace and hoping to continue to increase my pace in the years to come. This year I hope to keep up with a couple of my riding buddies who averaged 25mph for the event. I am no Spartacus, but I "Tri". :D
194453

To anyone who has a car more expansive than your tri bikes, you have it all wrong.

'87 Ironman, came to me as a frame. Got the bars in trades, 9-sp Sunrace shifters for $23
Wheels in a trade, had to have the rim trued, was given the cloth disc cover. Had most of it on hand.
Saddle was $40 and the seatpost, used, was $40 at a bike shop. I may switch to a whopping $60 CF crankset.
Not as good a deal as some of you guys, but not bad, around $325, I figure.

I'm looking at a P2K recently, though, and may end up with that, move this back to "real bike" status.

:D



http://velospace.org/files/P1020875[2].jpg