Bike for a Triathlon

Genghis

I am doing my first triathlon this year. At the moment I have an old mountain bike which I am going to get fixed up for the event. It'll do me fine for now, but in a couple of months I am going to consider investing in a better bike.

My training partner has no bike at all at the moment, and though it is his first triathlon also, is considering buying something reasonably appropriate for the occassion. Between us, we would love your advice on:

1. Who are good stockists for this sort of bike?

2. What could you expect to pay (I realise that they can cost up to €6k, so if you can give me an idea of what you should get for different price points - €300, €500, €1,000, €3,000, €6,000.

3. What would be your major concerns when looking to buy such a bike?

4. Is there a second-hand market for specialist bikes? Do you just go through shops for secon-hands?

5. Is there any advantage / gain in buying in the North, or online?


All / any replies appreciated!

uberwolf

pop this into teh cycling forum as well... you might get a better idea

where you based.
shops prob better bet new or 2nd hand, for back up reasons.

excahnge rate wold kill you going north.
ur prob better of lloking up triathlon stores online, figuring our what you want on a bike and approaching the shops, otherwise they'll fob you off with something they have in stock to make it easier for themselves. However a the lower price range I doubt there's much difference in spec.
E

Genghis

Didn't realise there was a cyling forum! Thanks. We're about 40 miles from Dublin, no problem travelling anywhere to get the right bike, etc. Just starting to do a little research on net as well, but still trying to work out where to begin - biggest fear is as you say - you're fobbed off with an inappropriate in-stock bike when you might be better going elsewhere to get the better option.

seamus

I'd say if you intend getting serious about it to pay anywhere up to €1000. If you're only giving it a go, maybe only spend up to €500. With the exception of semi-pro, sponsored or well seasoned riders, there are very few people who would spend €3k+ on a new bike.

tunney

You have two basic choices - go for a road bike or a tri bike.

Road bike:
*Cheaper
*Higher resale value
*Easier to get
*Better pack handling(if you want to do normal races)

Tri bike
*More comfortable
*More aerodynamic, generally
*Run section of a Tri will be faster and more comfortable, this is the big one

A good tri bike is alot more expensive than e1000, expect to pay that as the very minimum for a road bike, a tri bike will set you back a fair whack more. Mine was 1600 reduced from e2100 (2003 model)

you should get for different price points - €300, €500, €1,000, €3,000, €6,000.

e300 - pile of crap
e500 - lighter pile of crap
e1000 - nice light strong road bike, entry level tri bike
e1500 - nice light strong tri bike
e2000 - a bike that will do you for years

My concerns would be size, shop, frame and groupset. I wouldn't worry about the wheels just yet as you'll be changing them after a few months. (A nice set of wheels can cost well over a grand) Make sure the bike fits yuo well, that the shop has a good reputation, that the frame is a good qualioty one, its the thing
you want to hold onto the longest, and that the groupset isn't a pile of sh&t.

Some good shops are cycleways in parnell street and cyclesuperstore in tallaght, I
prefer cycleways.


For second hand bike try http://3dtri.proboards24.com/index.cgi and see will anyone sell

All this being said a half decent road bike for 500 will probably do you.

Next expense for ya, wetsuit e300 for a brand new orca one

che

The most important thing to get when your getting a bike is to spend the money on the frame. Everything else can and will need to be repalced. So get the best frame that you can afford, and as you get better or more into your bike you can upgrade all the parts. As im from Dublin i usually get my bike parts in Cycleways on Parnell St, there a sound lot who really know what there talking about, They may not be the cheapest but there honest.

tunney

Thats the main thing isn't che? Honesty. They are very expensive but they'll never try to fob you off with stuff you don't need. When yuo're pay that amount of money you want/need honesty and trust. I bought my old bike from a place in Templeogue, thought I could trust them. I've never been so badly stung in my life. But since then I've spent e3000 on bikes and gear and not a penny(cent?) in hollingsworth.

Genghis

Jeez, and that place had a reputation for many years, people used come from miles around to buy their bikes there, but I suppose they were more for kids bikes.

I notice that in 220 triathlon magazine, there is a profile of a new frenbch bike, and though the magazine is completely UK-centric, the stockist listed for contact is the place in Tallaght - a measure of the guys reputation, I guess. I remember talking to him as a teenager about the sort of bike I could never hope to afford, an aussie if I am not mistaken.

tunney

Where in Tallaght? Cyclesuperstore?

As for Hollingsworth, I've bought a few bikes off them and had been happy enough with them up until being completely ripped off. And their repairs suck

Genghis are you doing Tsunami tris "get set for tri"? The introductory training day for tri newbies? its free First one is on tomorrow, and there is another one in a bit.

seamus

Originally posted by Genghis
the stockist listed for contact is the place in Tallaght - a measure of the guys reputation, I guess. I remember talking to him as a teenager about the sort of bike I could never hope to afford, an aussie if I am not mistaken.

Yah, Cycle Inn in Tallaght Village. Probably has the best reputation, at least in South Dublin anyway. Forget the Aussie guy's name now. Nice bloke.

tunney

Cycle inn? never been in there. I'll pop in over the weekend and have a look.

Genghis

Might be interested in that, tunney, though not tomorrow (still resting the ole ITB). Is there a website / link or anything, I might go along to their next day.

tunney

Ahhh tomorrow was booked up long ago, http://www.tsunamitri.com/ will tell yuo all about the next day. Get yuor name down soon as it will fill up quickly.

uberwolf

Originally posted by seamus
Yah, Cycle Inn in Tallaght Village. Probably has the best reputation, at least in South Dublin anyway. Forget the Aussie guy's name now. Nice bloke.

Mike Jordan. not messing. At least I'm pretty sure thats him. Dead sound guy, races himself (MTB) and will look after you. Not to be confused with cycle superstore. also in tala