mooch

I am just beginning to train for my first triathlon. it will be a sprint distance. I have to get a new road bike since my old one is shot. I was looking at a cannondale 1000 or 5000. would this be ok to race on? I cant buy a triathlon bike as well right now. what are the advantages to a tri bike? do you guys train on them as well or just race?

thanks

jrennie

I just got into doing tri's and IMO I would go with a regular road bike and try a couple to see if it's something you are really going to like(answer:yes you will) and then decide if you need to upgrade to a tri-specific bike or aero clip ons or just ride the road bike(this is what I do)

jennings780

A Cannondale R1000 or R5000 are both great bikes.
I race on a Specialized Allez Elite which is not as nice as either of those Cannondales and I do fine.
You can always add clip on aero bars and change the seat post so its more forward and basically replicate a tri bike without the cost of buying a second bike.

psycofish

I was looking at the Specialized Allez Elite How do you like yours? Can you get into for under $1500 with some aeros?

jennings780

I love my Allez Elite. But, I haven't ridden much else. I did rent a Trek 1500 a few months ago and ride it about 100 miles. I was really glad that I preferred the Allez.
Mine is an '04. Got it for $900 in January. I think list is about $1100 - $1200 so you should be able to pick one up for about $1000.
Pedals were add'l.
I don't think aeros are very expensive.

miater

cervelo soloist

jrennie

I have an 04 allez elite I picked up from a lbs as a demo for $650 and love it. Also it works just fine for sprint tri's.

cacyclingfan

My buddy has an allez and he likes it. I have a Giant TCR and really like it. Both were about $1200.

Commenting on the second part of your question. Advantages to a tri bike are aerodynamics and body postion. A tri bike will cut through the wind a little better than a road bike and put your body in a more areo and forward position that uses your hamstring muscles a little more than a road bike to save your quads for the run. Because your body position is different and you do recruit more hamstring muscles on tri bikes you do want to train on them. Most people I know that have both bikes train on both and vary their time on each one depending on their focus.

IMHO - I wouldn't worry too much about a tri specific bike for a first race. You will probably find at your event that less than 20% of the people in the race have tri bikes and maybe only another 20 to 30 percent have clip-on aero bars for their road bikes.

If you enjoy the race you won't be able to wait to sign up for your next race and will have plenty of time to browse forums, websites, and magazines reading about all the latest equiment you can buy to help you shave valuable minutes off your next race.

psycofish

What is the price range of the cannondale 1000 or 5000?

Triguy

Mooch, I might suggest checking out the soloist. If you're looking at the 1000 and 5000 then your pockets must not be shallow. The soloist is designed around 73-74 seat angle geometry and so it works well there. However, I just read a review of a person who put one up around 77 degree seat angle and got a little longer stem to ride it in a tri specific position and Loved it. Either way for $2000 you get a great road bike with all the things that make biking great even if you're not into triathlons( such as drop bars and integrated shifters). Plus, once a week you can flip your seat angle(to forward) and stem(to lower) and train like you're going to race, to me it is probably what I would consider if I could start from scratch with bikes, but I'm comfortable doing stuff like adjust stuff on my bike regularly.

Either way, don't go strait tri bike without doing a few first.

caloso

I've got a Trek 5200. I put on Syntace aerobars and scoot the saddle forward for tri racing and training. Works great for tris and it's an awesome road bike for the other 97%.

racergirl

A road bike with aerobars is certainly sufficient. Not only that, its better for hilly races like wildflower. I remember my coach telling me that that even some of the top pros at Kona raced on road bikes with aerobars last year. Its not that difficult to adjust your position for tris.

Plus, in the offseason, your bike can be UCI legal.

mooch

thanks for the replies. I just picked up a Klein quantum race from my lbs, it was a left over and I got a great deal ( alot less than a cannondale r1000). Now I just need to ride it more.

Triguy

Way to go Mooch. Sometimes it's best to find a bike at a good price and just ride it. Congratulations on the new bike. Keep the same mental attitude and as always, we love pictures of bikes.