Road bike for beginner

mandysmithers

I'm training for my first triathlon, and I need to get a bike, as I've just been borrowing one for the past few weeks. I'm a bit skint at the moment, but have to give the other bike back soon, so I gotta get one! Any advice on how much a fairly basic, but good, road bike would cost?

I also need to get a wetsuit, so it'll be an expensive week. I saw one for around €100. Would that be ok for a beginner's wetsuit?

Thanks.

tagoona

Hi OP,
You won't get much of a bike, even second hand for less than 450.
On saying that, I bought my first road bike on chain reactions for 350, new. It's not a great bike though, and I'm now looking at upgrading it, less than a year later.
You will be able to sell on a decent second hand bike later, if you upgrade/quit.
The cycling forum will have more information, if you have a search around.

As for a wetsuit, it all depends what you want.
It might be easier to rent a proper tri-wetsuit(the shoulders have better flexibility for swimming).

It all depends, how much you want to spend, whether you're going to stick with the sport, etc.

too_sleepy

Hi
I find myself in a similar situation.
As confused as I am about what bike to get the triathlon starter packs look great value.
The Giant Defy 4 has been well reviewed recently so have considered this bike. My thinking is that if I love triathlon racing and decide to go for a specific Tri bike later on I'll always make good use of this decent road bike for training. The Giant retails in Ireland for 550 Euros.
This is where the starer packs start to look really good, triuk.com offer this Giant bike, plus wetsuit, trisuit, cycle shoes helmet and peddles and goggles for, £575, about 650 Euros.
Now that's value. I've convinced myself, just have to convince the other half how much I'm saving.

kerinsp

Hi,
I bought my first road bike in the local bike shop in january for 400. It seems grand to me, hurt my back until I moved the brake hoods (which also incorporate gears) way back up the handlebars.

I am still amazed at the multitude of gear you can get for triathlon and how expensive bike stuff is.

Good luck with the tri. I've my first one coming up at the weekend but its on a pool so at least I dont have to shell out for a wetsuit just yet.

violator13

Great starter bikes

Giant defy4
Trek 1.2
Felf f95

The Giant is the cheapest and really great value. As for the other two-go north. I have just come back from a visit across the border and there are great savings with a big of haggling.

Make sure you get the right size though.


Looking to do some cross training and duathlons myself.

catweazle

If you are patient, keep your eyes on the bikes for sale on ebay.co.uk, most of them who offer postage wont have a problem if you ask for a price to deliver to ireland, I usually got quoted 50 euro for the postage. ebay.ie has very little to be honest as a lot of the UK sellers wont have thought about putting in a price for the republic so it wont show on ebay.ie.

Got an as new Giant TCR for 500 euros last week, went down to Local Bike Shop for assembly and he was laughing that the bike cost less than the 550 he was looking for the defy. Said the retail value in Ireland for that bike would have been well over a grand.You need to be patient though, bidding is extremely competitive on decent bikes, I eventually tried logging in late at night and purchased the first "buy it now" that I wanted (I let the guy sort out the delivery to Ireland the following day, he wasnt impressed but said after it was easy enough to sort)

I think you should not go cheap on the bike if you think you will stick at it, you will be looking to upgrade almost straight away otherwise and have the problem of getting rid of the other bike at the same time