newtotheroad

Can I build a tri specific bike for $1000 with used parts bought online? I have been looking for something near me on craigslist but I have not found anything tri specific for that price. I am on a budget since I have never done a triathlon before. I have been running and swimming but I do not have a bike. And none of my friends have a bike I can borrow. I do not feel like buying a road bike and making it work for a bit and then turning around and buying another bike for triathlons. Any information will help. I am new to triathlons and do not know where to start. I went to a few bike shops but feel guilty asking questions knowing I cannot afford and of the bikes they are showing me. Thanks in advance for any wisdom you may post.

Barchettaman

No need.
You can get the Motobecane Nemisis for $1000 brand new, and have some fun putting it all together.
https://tinyurl.com/6zwyj3

ljholland

I'm also a newbie.....I bought a 2001 Qunitano Roo Tequilo with all Ultegra off craigslist for about $400. I've seen similar ones from 400-800. It'll be plenty of bike for a couple of years. You don't need to spend so much on that first bike! This is especially important as there's SOOOOOO many other gizmos and goodies and race fees you'll need to pay for.

Here's a global craigslist search:
https://www.clsearchengine.com/result...=&sa=Search#19
Many folks will ship if you're willing to pay.

I've seen a number of less expensive tri bikes on Ebay also....

thehammerdog

Several new bikes canbe had for $1,000....you will be happier that way.

Enthusiast

A quality lightly-used bike off ebay is a great bike for a beginning triathlon. There is no need to spend extra for new shininess when you it will take some trial and error for you to figure out what kind of bike setup you want.

I would recommend buying a complete bike and not piecing one together out of parts unless you enjoy spending extra so you can put everything together yourself.

Calminian

If you don't mind riding at 76 degrees, the Motobecane option is a nice one. They ship free and are tax free and assembly is supposed to be ridiculously easy. I picked up an old Aegis carbon fiber (2000) for $850 on craigslist. It's also at 76 degrees, as you'll find most old and used tribikes are. It's a great bike, though.

I'm not sure, but I think you'll have an easier time getting under $1000 buying the whole bike. But if you can get a better deal buying it in pieces, go for it. Keep us updated.

agarose2000

BikesDirect!

NYmtnbkr

Calminian,

Help some of us newbies understand the difference of a 76 degree bike vs. a newer 71-72 degree bike. IE give me a reason to convince the wife I need a new bike.

bikesdirect_com

My wife did the Florida Ironman on a Motobecane Nemesis
and she did rather well
her blog is here: https://sprtymama.blogspot.com/2008/0...3-mission.html

There were many riders who did the full Ironman that day on Nemesis
and that is a bike we sell complete for $999

That is a Tri bike we sell very well that can be a 'starter' Tri bike or good enough for a Full Ironman

E-Bell

I built a bike exactly like the OP wants to do, and it came in a little over $900 (not including the cost of tools). I bought used parts from eBay, the Slowtwitch classifieds and at a bike swap meet.

Everyone else here is absolutely right. You can get a good deal buying a whole bike. If you really want to learn the basics of putting a bike together, go for it, but you're not going to save any money.

If this is your first foray into triathlons - or cycling in general - have some patience. A good quality used bike can be had for less, and you won't have to buy tools or hassle with putting it together.

71-72 degrees? That's really slack. What kind of bike are you referring to?

Most road bikes are 72-74 degrees. Tri-specific bikes tend to be a little steeper, usually 76-78 degrees.

Here's a good article about seat-tube angles. The bottom line is that a steeper bike will put you in a more "forward" position, making you more aerodynamic and giving you fresher legs for the run.

As for convincing the wife, you're on your own.

bikinpolitico

I'd avoid the bikes on BikesDirect. I don't think the brands are quality brands, certainly not brands who've put any thought into what makes good tri bike design. The other thing is BikesDirect bikes come bike shop ready, not ride ready. If you are not comfortable building up your own bike, you'll have to take it to your LBS and that would negate much of the savings.

I'd look at used bikes over in the classifieds at SlowTwitch. There are always very nice bikes people are trading out so they can get the latest model.

bikesdirect_com

You have no idea what the heck you are talking about!
Can I be any more straight forward than that?

If you care to find out about the Nemesis - how it is designed and which factory produces it; that info is all over the web.

I normally am not so blunt - but your statement is so far off base it can result in no other response.

If you think you know of a better brand new $1000 Tri Bike - please post that.

flip18436572

Can you be specific about the Nemisis on what factory makes it and what quality standards they meet for bikesdirect.com?

I am not normally so blunt, but I am new and I am also broke, so I will either have to get lucky on finding a used TRI bike for a 6'3" guy with a 33" inseam. There are not many people that size around from what I have seen.

bikesdirect_com

The Nemesis is built by Ideal; who builds bikes for Trek, Specialized, Fuji, Krestal, Cannondale, Windsor, SE, and dozens of other high grade brands. The quality is the same as any high grade Tri bike made in Taiwan; which includes most brands.

I think a 61cm would be a good fit. {we do sell a lot of real small bikes and real large bikes; due to the fact that extreme sizes are hard to find in many areas}

Happy Holidays
mike

flip18436572

Not to be difficult, but is it a copy of one of the above, or is it a completely different frame than all the others? Just curious.

bikesdirect_com

Copy is a strong word
All geo and designs are public knowledge and there are no patents on rigid frames
So anyone can build any design that exists

Fuji Aloha and Motobecane Nemesis have been very close in design for years.
But there are other brands with that same general design

Kinesis and Sunrise make almost all the full aluminum Tri Frames you see
and so quality from brand to brand is no difference

We now have Nemesis in both 76 and 78 degree frames.

Either way, I have never seen a Tri bike that is anywhere close to a Nemesis is value and performance around $1000

I have seen some competitive deals on SS/FG, CX, ATB HT & FS, and on assorted road racing. However, to date I have not seen any other super deals on Tri bikes at the $1000 price range. Although the 2008 Scattante T-560 at performance seems like a good deal; however the aero bars and wheels are not up to the Nemesis.

jrobe

Just bought a new 2007 Cervelo P2SL for $1250 at my LBS (Penn Cycle in Mpls). They had about 6 more in stock and probably would have dealt more if I would have pushed harder.

flip18436572

My use of COPY was meant like that, because I have heard of different brands using the exact same frame, but I don't know that, just forum reading.

I like the way you put it and I can't believe that they don't have patents or some other way to have some sort of copywrite(whatever for bike frame) problems.

So my next question is warranty work? What happens when a bottom bracket fails? Who pays for it and how do you get it repaired? What about brifters that fail? Frames that fail?

I like my LBS, in Council Bluffs, but I can't afford a $3000 Jamis. I never will.

bikesdirect_com

Good questions:

The defect rate on high grade bikes is about one in 5,000
That includes all parts and all brands
So you chance of a defect is about that {1/5000}

If a BB fails - very rare to say the least -- if it appears it is a defect - we just mail out a new one

If a shifter fails - insanely rare - we mail a new one and request the old one is mailed back so we can return it to Shimano

If a frame fails; we like to see the whole bike; that is the only way to know if it was a defect in most cases; {we saw a few Nemesis with broken frtont der braze-ons - each was replaced for free} Otherwise; I have never seen a Nemesis frame fail. Most Aluminum frame failures [defect or not] occur on Mountain Bikes - especailly if the frame is under 3 lbs
Of course, Road and Tri frames do not have the same stresses as ATB and AL Tri frames are over 3 lbs - closer to 4 -- so I have never seen a defect except the aformention braze-on

We are putting the Kestrel Talon Tri on sale for $1495
That is about a $3500 full carbon fiber Tri Pro bike
INSANE DEAL


There is no way to patent rigid frames; it would be like patenting the pencil
Some special ATB FS designs have patents; most other bike tech is so old and tested that nothing could be even applied for.

There are deals out there; ours are great; some others are too
No reason to pay more than about 40% off list
and in most cases you can save 50% off list
and get a very race ready bike for $1000 to $1500 - no reason to spend $2500, $3000, or $5000
Like I said - my wife did an Ironman just fine on a Moto Nemesis
and no way she would have had a faster time on a $6000 Tri bike

CCrew

It's not about the bike, it's about the engine :-)

My son's taken podium (overall, not age group) on a Trek Pilot with aero bars. To an extent the "need" for a dedicated tri-bike is mental, not physical. He totally dropped guys on P3C's and better.

He now has a dedicated bike, but he had enough races in to know what he wanted first.

-Roger

flip18436572

So what is the big difference between say a less than $1000 compared to the $2000 bike.

Is the aerodynamics that much better (NOT!), or is it just more expensive components. I know there is no way that I would see a difference in the bikes for my speed, I just am wondering why people would spend that much more money, unless they were a pro rider.

Is it components, or is the the hidden brakes in the frame, and etc...???

CCrew

Makes their boys feel bigger? There's a LOT of hype in the bike business. You have to have the latest and greatest or the boys will shrivel, the wife will leave you for someone with Rival Red gruppo and the dog won't even look at you. People may even call you "Fred"

flip18436572

That was my thought also, but you put it sooooo much better than I.

TechJunkie

A lot of bikes feel the same in the first few miles, but not so much at the end of the stage. You should figure out what works for you before you drop a lot of cash on a new bike.

That said, there are still some stock of NOS 2008 Cervelo P2Ks out there, and in your price range. I see them here and there from time to time. They really do fit a broad range of body types well.

Ryon

I posted this in another thread already, but I guess it's pretty relevant to this thread as well. I spent about 5 months getting the parts together, and I recently built it up. WHen it came down to it, everything cost me about $1100.



Frame: Leader 720TT 63cm Aluminum
Fork: Off-brand Scott Carbon
Wheels: Mavick Aksium
Cranks: SRAM Rival 180mm 53/39
Front derailleur: Shimano 105 FD 5600
Rear derailleur: Shimano Ultegra 6600
Aerobars: Profile T1
Shifters: Shimano Dura-ace 10 spd
Casette: Shimano 105 10spd 12-23
Break calipers Shimano 105
Pedals: Cheap shimano
Saddle: Fizik

I got some of the parts through a deal with a local cycling club, and some of the parts I got through Ebay. I bought the wheelset new for $250. If I had waited I probably could have gotten a cheaper set somewhere. If I really wanted to save money I should have just bought someone's used mid to low level road bike for cheap and just stripped everything and put it onto the TT frame.