Triathlon - How much trouble am I in?

First time poster here; here some background.

I am a 14 year-old runner (Turning 15, will be a sophomore). During X-C (cross country), I ran a PB of 16:34 5k the last dual meet at a moderately hilly course. Recently I ran a road race in 16:00.80 FAT. I love running, but it's extremely competitive (not to say triathlons aren't). I just think I have a better shot of doing well, if I pursue the life of a triathlete rather than runner.


I did one tri last summer, and here is how I did:

400m swim: 5:24 (Could have gone a lot faster, way to clustered)
Bike: Averaged 17.7 mph, horrible, horrible, horrible
Run: 17:32 5k (This was when my best 5k was 17:19, so should be a lot faster now)

So yeah, the problem is I can't afford a bike. BUT, my friend works at COSTCO, and managed to get me a Shwinn Broadway, which is just a generic bike Shwinn makes for them, not sold anywhere else.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11472593

I realize it isn't the best bike, but I am running another tri before XC, and I just want your opinions on this bike. My old bike, litterally was the worst bike known to man. Buying a bike isn't an option, but do you think I'll be able to average at least 19ish mph for a 10 mile bike on this? Either way, an upgrade from my old bike.

I took off the back rack and adjusted the breaks, seems more smoothe now.

here is my goal
400m swim: <5:15
Bike: 20 mph
Run: 16:15

That would set me at a decent shot at winning, last year the person who won sucked, but he avaeraged 23.7 mph on the 10 mile bike ride, so he won, even though he couldn't run or swim. He had some Cervelo bike.

Well, this is hardly the ideal bike, but it's a bike. A used road bike might work better, but this one will suffice. If it has mt. bike tires on it, try to replace them with some slick tires instead (ie no knobbies).

Good luck. You've got the swim and run down cold, just get out there and ride.

hard to say what speed you can do on that but i would be training like hell on the bike, i agree your fast in the other 2 disceplines. also work on your transitions cause you can save some time there if your quick.

First (and easiest) thing you could do to that bike is to change or flip the stem.
Or rather have someone who knows how do it for you. Having the stem angle down instead of up will put you in a much more aerodynamic and powerful body position.
New skinny high presure tires will help as well.

But keep your eye out for an old road bike. Almost any one would do. The Schwinn was designed for comfort, not speed.

Is it possible to sell that bike, and buy a used one? I mean, would that be cool with your friend... or just majorly stomping toes?

A road specific bike will do you better. I have two road bikes, both from the early 80s... and they are perfectly capable of pacing with brand new bikes. Just saying, you don't have to look at new only.

I was in a very similar situation to yours, I ran xc for high school and wanted to get into triathlons but coulnt afford a nice bike. Check out the sticky about my budget tri bike. I have less than $200 into it and actually really like it a lot. Check your local craigslist you can easily get an older but decent road bike for less than $100. If you look hard enough you will find what you want.

I can't get over my blind hatred of anyone who can swim 400m in 5:24 long enough to answer your questions. :)

do you think I'll be able to average at least 19ish mph for a 10 mile bike on this? Either way, an upgrade from my old bike.

I took off the back rack and adjusted the breaks, seems more smoothe now.

here is my goal
400m swim: <5:15
Bike: 20 mph
Run: 16:15



Depends on the course. That said, 20mph average is going to be a push on most. Really depends on the course though. Technical course with a lot of turns favors a sprinter on the bike, versus a wide open road course favors a TT configuration.

As to winning, can't say. Depends on who shows. I know several people your age that can smoke those times - they're good but not earthshattering , so it's usually a question of who shows up that day.

Regardless, run what ya brung and make the best of it. Good luck!

I can't get over my blind hatred of anyone who can swim 400m in 5:24 long enough to answer your questions. :)

You'll really hate my son then. Sunday he did 425 in 5:21. 4th overall in a field of over 300.

You'll really hate my son then. Sunday he did 425 in 5:21.

Yup, hate him too. :)

Yup, hate him too. :)

Trust me...I can't hold a candle to him. Oh to be 17 again... Varsity swimmer, varsity XC, (team captain) and does 26min 10k's and sub 1hr 40k TT's on the bike.

He's been doing all sprints, wants to do an Olympic distance which I hope will reset his idea that he can podium at least in his age group at every race :rolleyes:.

I wave as he goes by :P

Trust me...I can't hold a candle to him. Oh to be 17 again... Varsity swimmer, varsity XC, (team captain) and does 26min 10k's and sub 1hr 40k TT's on the bike.

He's been doing all sprints, wants to do an Olympic distance which I hope will reset his idea that he can podium at least in his age group at every race :rolleyes:.

I wave as he goes by :P

That's really cool. I certainly will never have the genetics to pull something like that off, but I wish I had parents that would've encouraged me to do stuff like that much earlier in life than what I did... Oh well, without guys like me there would be no MOP, so someone's got to do it. :)

I can't get over my blind hatred of anyone who can swim 400m in 5:24 long enough to answer your questions. :)

:roflmao:

There's probably someone in your neighborhood with an old road bike sitting in his/her garage. Ask around and see if you can borrow it.

Trust me...I can't hold a candle to him. Oh to be 17 again... Varsity swimmer, varsity XC, (team captain) and does 26min 10k's and sub 1hr 40k TT's on the bike.


Hate to break it to you but your son doesn't run 26 minute 10ks, do you mean 8ks? Because there is no chance in hell he could run 26 minutes. If he ran the National High school 5k record TWICE he still wouldn't have broken 27.

And I have run in the 26's in a 8k as well. And I can probably go 5:05ish in a 400m swim (I wasn't even in 9th grade when i did the 5:24, with 0 training in competitive swimming).

Hate to break it to you but your son doesn't run 26 minute 10ks, do you mean 8ks? Because there is no chance in hell he could run 26 minutes. If he ran the National High school 5k record TWICE he still wouldn't have broken 27.

And I have run in the 26's in a 8k as well. And I can probably go 5:05ish in a 400m swim (I wasn't even in 9th grade when i did the 5:24, with 0 training in competitive swimming).

Bike... Thus the reference to TT (Time Trial) But it's 20k, rather than 10k on that time.

I just asked him..PR in a 5k run is 17:03. 10k he doesn't remember, said it's been 2 years and it was around 35 which he says is slow...

Yeah, 35min 10K, that's slow! Wait till he's 40!

FYI--good times at the Olympic distance (1.5k/40k/10k) for PROFESSIONAL MEN are in the neighborhood of 18:00/58:00/31:00.

The bad news is that you have some work to do on the bike to get to this point. The good news is that you have the two hard sports down. With the aerobic engine you have, you can easily be up to speed (literally) on the bike in a season or two, given the right equipment.

With proper guidance, you could absolutely become an elite level junior or U23 athlete if you wanted to. Keep up the hard work and get yourself a bike!

(To answer your initial question, yes you should get a better bike. Look for at least a road bike with skinny tires and drop handlebars. Try to find some "clip-on aerobars" to make you even more aerodynamic while riding.)

Hate to break it to you but your son doesn't run 26 minute 10ks, do you mean 8ks? Because there is no chance in hell he could run 26 minutes. If he ran the National High school 5k record TWICE he still wouldn't have broken 27.

And I have run in the 26's in a 8k as well. And I can probably go 5:05ish in a 400m swim (I wasn't even in 9th grade when i did the 5:24, with 0 training in competitive swimming).

lesson 1... dont piss off people you are asking for help.......and dont act so arrogant newbie. :thumb:

Recently I ran a road race in 16:00.80 FAT.

here is my goal
Run: 16:15




And I hate to break it to you, but you won't run a 16:15 5K off the bike if you can only manage a 16:01 in an open road race.