General Cycling Discussion - Help! Road or Multi-Sport bike? Already searched!

Hey guys, I'm new and wasn't sure exactly where to post this, So I figured I'd start with the first "goal", but I'm getting ahead of myself...
I recently finished a long time goal of mine, to finish a marathon, and now I'm moving on to the next goal, to finish a Century Ride. So, I'm looking to buy a bike. Here lies the problem, after completing a 100 mile ride, my next goal is to finish a full Ironman. My question is this, should I buy a road bike for now, to finish the 100 miler and then buy a second multi-sport bike later? Should I just get a multi-sport bike now and do the century on that? Should I get a road bike and just get "clip on aero bars" for the Ironman later? I'm not the richest guy in the world, but I'll do what I have to do to finish these goals.
I also plan on doing a few shorter road races and some shorter triathlons, as well as riding the 3 miles to work every now and again. (Everything I need for work I can put in a backpack.)

So far, this is what I've been able to figure out that I want...

Brand New
Carbon Fiber Frame
Prefer Shimano group set on a road bike (love Dura-Ace)
Triple gear set (I live in a REALLY hilly area, some lesser cars can't even get up some of the hills)
Black with Red and White bike (I'm being "sponsored" in these goals of mine by my work, so I need a matching color scheme. :p)

If I'm buying a road bike now, and another bike later on, my budget for the road bike is anywhere between $2000-$3000 give or take, If I'm getting just one bike (either Road or Multi-Sport) my budget is about $4000, again, give or take.

Please help! I have no problem working hard and sweating it out on a bike, but after a couple of weeks of reading about gear sets and frames and test riding bikes at my LBS (Local Bike Shop, yes?) I'm no closer to figuring out what I need then when I started this quest. Help!

with a budget like this, why not buy one of each? :p

with a budget like this, why not buy one of each? :p

It's an option, but basically which would be better? One $4000 road bike with clip on aero bars for an eventual Ironman, or one $2000 road bike for the Century ride now and one $2000 "Multi-Sport" bike for the Ironman later?
Is trying to do a normal Century ride in hilly terrain on a multi-sport bike crazy or normal?

Get a Salsa Vaya. You're looking for a Swiss Army Bike of Bikes, right? That's the ticket to your dilemma! Now buy it and shut up and ride!

Get a Salsa Vaya. You're looking for a Swiss Army Bike of Bikes, right? That's the ticket to your dilemma! Now buy it and shut up and ride!

Umm, I don't mean to be rude, but I don't think that's the ticket.
1) "Black with Red and White bike" is kinda important or else my budget is only $300 :-P
2) "Carbon Fiber Frame" I've actually had some experience in building stuff (not bikes) with fiberglass and carbon fiber. I've never worked with "CroMoly". I'd like to stick to something I'm at least somewhat familiar with.
3) "Triple gear set" From what I've made out the Vaya is a compact double. The bike I'm riding now has a very cheep triple, but I love triple.

Also, I'm coasting around on a tuned up $25 eBay bike, so I'm already riding and loving it, but please don't' tell me to shut up when I've already done my due diligence and am now seeking out an answer.

I had to google 'multi-sport bike'.

Have you ever ridden a bike, do you ride now, what do you ride, what previous cycling experience do you have?

Blow a grand on a road bike, ride it, and figure out what you really need.

So far, this is what I've been able to figure out that I want...


Brand New
Carbon Fiber Frame
Prefer Shimano group set on a road bike (love Dura-Ace)
Triple gear set (I live in a REALLY hilly area, some lesser cars can't even get up some of the hills)
Black with Red and White bike (I'm being "sponsored" in these goals of mine by my work, so I need a matching color scheme. :p)

If I'm buying a road bike now, and another bike later on, my budget for the road bike is anywhere between $2000-$3000 give or take, If I'm getting just one bike (either Road or Multi-Sport) my budget is about $4000, again, give or take.


Based on your requirements take a look on line for a good value ... :thumb:
Shimano Dura Ace, Road Bike 2008 Kestrel RT800 Carbon $2699
Carbon Cranks, Ritchey WCS Bar, Stem, FSA Wheels

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/kestrel/rt800.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/kestrel/images/rt8_600.jpg

I had to google 'multi-sport bike'.

Have you ever ridden a bike, do you ride now, what do you ride, what previous cycling experience do you have?

Blow a grand on a road bike, ride it, and figure out what you really need.

Haha, sorry. Yeah, just to give you an idea then, "Multi-Sport bike" was what the guys at my LBS were calling it. They weren't much help, I guess they stay in business selling bikes to kids, so whatever.
To answer your questions, Yes, I do ride now, I'm riding a "Yokota Catalina" that a friend of mine got off eBay for $25 and I used to ride all the time, though never in races or over long distances.

I'd like to research and then get the first (or only) bike, because if I spend a grand just getting a bike to figure out what I like (when I do already kinda have a vague idea from test riding) that's still $1000 out of a $4000 dollar budget (and if I tell my boss I'd like $1000 of that sponsorship money now just to play around on a bike to decide what I like, I might get shot... or at least fired. :p )

Also, thank you FlatSix911 (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?168181-FlatSix911), I'd actually already seen that Kestrel but I've been told to look for a bike around the 53-54cm range, and both the 53cm and 55cm were sold out. :(

Also, thank you FlatSix911 (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?168181-FlatSix911), I'd actually already seen that Kestrel but I've been told to look for a bike around the 53-54cm range, and both the 53cm and 55cm were sold out. :(

Good point regarding the available sizes ... try this :thumb:

Shimano Dura Ace/FSA, 30 speed Road 2010 Century Team $1799.99
Full Carbon Frame, FSA Carbon Cranks, Mavic Aksium Wheels, Ritchey Bar, Stem, FSA Carbon Post
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/centuryteam_08_carbon.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/images/ctm9_600.jpg

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=45822&eid=4951&menuItemId=9257

seems to fit the bill for what you're looking for... and fits well into your budget. No need to spend the whole 4k if you dont need to...

How come no one has mentioned the Cervelo S2? It has the color requirements the OP is looking for if you count black saddle and bar tape as having the colors you need and comes with an adjustable seat post so you can go from road position to a more steep tri position if you add aero bars.

Cervelo P2?

If you are talking riding a Tri then the multi sport bike is nothing more than a TT bike. TT bikes aren't all that expensive nor are they as light as a good road bike. They get their speed from being aero. You don't need a real expensive road bike for a century any of the plush performance CF road bikes will do just fine. So you could get a better road bike and add aero bars and you should do fine.

Good point regarding the available sizes ... try this :thumb:

Shimano Dura Ace/FSA, 30 speed Road 2010 Century Team $1799.99
Full Carbon Frame, FSA Carbon Cranks, Mavic Aksium Wheels, Ritchey Bar, Stem, FSA Carbon Post

I like the Motobecane, I just wish a plain black bike would work. I could care less what the bike looks like, but the guy who's paying for my bike does. :-P


http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=45822&eid=4951&menuItemId=9257

seems to fit the bill for what you're looking for... and fits well into your budget. No need to spend the whole 4k if you dont need to...

I've actually test ridden the Roubaix. It was alright, but I felt like I was sitting far to upright on the bike. Maybe it wasn't fit well to me to test ride or that's just how the bike is. Either way it felt lacking.


If you are talking riding a Tri then the multi sport bike is nothing more than a TT bike. TT bikes aren't all that expensive nor are they as light as a good road bike. They get their speed from being aero. You don't need a real expensive road bike for a century any of the plush performance CF road bikes will do just fine. So you could get a better road bike and add aero bars and you should do fine.

So I've been getting. But I've also been reading that a good tri bike has a steeper seat angle so you can stay in a more aero position while keeping your hips more open to help save your quads for the long run ahead...? Would that kind of positioning make trying to train for a Century slower?


I'm going to try to drive out to another bike store a little further away to try to test ride those Cervélo's and see if they can give me any advice that's better then the store I went to last.

So I've been getting. But I've also been reading that a good tri bike has a steeper seat angle so you can stay in a more aero position while keeping your hips more open to help save your quads for the long run ahead...? Would that kind of positioning make trying to train for a Century slower?

If you have any chance of winning the Ironman or have lots of money, get a TT bike. If you want to complete it reasonably, then pick an appropriate road bike and get "clip on" aerobars.

If you have any chance of winning the Ironman or have lots of money, get a TT bike. If you want to complete it reasonably, then pick an appropriate road bike and get "clip on" aerobars.
+1 This.

Are you trying to actually get a good result on the Ironman? Or just complete it in a time that isn't too embarrassing? I mean, a century is 100 miles, an Ironman involves 112miles of cycling. I think some things acceptable on a triathlon bike are not accepted by the cycling federation? Or whoever rules races like the tour? Please correct me those who know better. But a century, does that have such rules? What I'm getting at, one bike can do both, the difference is in how much of a compromise that would be, how much does it matter to you?

"But I've also been reading that a good tri bike has a steeper seat angle so you can stay in a more aero position while keeping your hips more open to help save your quads "

Well yes, but this just means the bike is particularly suited to Triathlon, doesn't mean you can't do it on a road bike, or the century on the triathlon bike, or the Yokota for that matter. The different styles simply make it easier/faster.

+1 This.

Are you trying to actually get a good result on the Ironman? Or just complete it in a time that isn't too embarrassing? I mean, a century is 100 miles, an Ironman involves 112miles of cycling. I think some things acceptable on a triathlon bike are not accepted by the cycling federation? Or whoever rules races like the tour? Please correct me those who know better. But a century, does that have such rules? What I'm getting at, one bike can do both, the difference is in how much of a compromise that would be, how much does it matter to you?

"But I've also been reading that a good tri bike has a steeper seat angle so you can stay in a more aero position while keeping your hips more open to help save your quads "

Well yes, but this just means the bike is particularly suited to Triathlon, doesn't mean you can't do it on a road bike, or the century on the triathlon bike, or the Yokota for that matter. The different styles simply make it easier/faster.


Haha, just finish it. There's no way I'll put up a "good" time. :p As for rules between federations I haven't the slightest idea.

That being said, just how much "easier/faster" would the different "styles" make it? Because to "just finish it" I'd still like every edge I can reasonably get.

I like the Motobecane, I just wish a plain black bike would work. I could care less what the bike looks like, but the guy who's paying for my bike does. :-P

So I've been getting. But I've also been reading that a good tri bike has a steeper seat angle so you can stay in a more aero position while keeping your hips more open to help save your quads for the long run ahead...? Would that kind of positioning make trying to train for a Century slower?

Here is another suggestion ... a Tri bike with Shimano Ultegra/DA and the right colors :thumb:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/kestrel/talon_tri_sale.htm
Shimano Ultegra, 20 Speed Tri Bike Kestrel Talon Carbon $1399
55cm frame, Ultegra Derailleurs, Dura Ace Shifters, Truvativ Cranks, Ritchey Bar, Stem, Ritchey PRO Wheels

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/kestrel/images/kest_tri_red_600.jpg

Haha, just finish it. There's no way I'll put up a "good" time. :p As for rules between federations I haven't the slightest idea.

That being said, just how much "easier/faster" would the different "styles" make it? Because to "just finish it" I'd still like every edge I can reasonably get.Well, i haven't done either, best i've done is a 125 kilometers, in a day, or 110 km in very mountainous terrain. My instinct is to say that the difference isn't that great, important if you're looking to shave seconds, or maybe minutes, in order to win, but to just get there? If you can run a marathon, i'd think a century would be very do-able, if your bike skills are any good. An ironman? that requires careful managing of energy levels, food intake, hydration, and a good mindset.

I'm thinking that you should be leaning towards the Tri bike, and aim to make the century a fast one, and practice for the Ironman. But... but, the tri bike / TT bike format is very radical for someone not used to it, it's very much about getting the best time. Can you handle it? If you have doubts about being in that position for 5+ hours? Get a road bike and put aeros on it after the century.

Haha, just finish it. There's no way I'll put up a "good" time. :p As for rules between federations I haven't the slightest idea.

That being said, just how much "easier/faster" would the different "styles" make it? Because to "just finish it" I'd still like every edge I can reasonably get.

The simple rule is that equipment, by itself, is responsible for rather small improvements in performance. These small improvements are important for the race leaders because races are often won by small amounts.

If you are a good cyclist, a decent road bike will be good enough. If you aren't, nothing will help!

Keep in mind that TT bikes (with just aerobars) are often frowned upon on certain kinds of rides, in particular, ones where they are riding in a pace line.

A road bike will be more versatile and useful and will be good enough for your tris. (Especially, keeping in mind that you have a budget.)

I'd recommend looking at a Cervelo S1 (http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/frame/2010-cervelo-s1-ultegra-sl-complete-bike-5412.html).