Advice needed for buying bike for city/sprint triathlon

Davie_m

Hi all,

sorry if this topic has been done to death but just looking for a bit of advice,

i am currently working and living in Dublin
i have moved recently and so looking for a bike to commute through the city (which i am dreading :eek: ) and getting around at the weekends

I have also signed up to compete in the super sprint triathlon in Dublin at the end of august (its only 16k)

so was wondering if anyone can recommend what i should be looking at?
should i look for a city bike, hybrid...

my budget is in around 300 ish.. is that a weeh bit low?
should i expect to pay more?

thanks again

petethedrummer

Don't mean to be abrupt but have a gander at these:

http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Buying_a_bicycle

http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/BikeToWork

petethedrummer

http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Links

Chainreactions, worldwidecycles, cyclesuperstore and wiggle, have a decent selections and prices. If you narrow it down to a couple of bikes, I'm sure someone on here can point you in the right direction. There's not much for 300 unless you go second hand on adverts.ie.

As for the type of bike. It all depends. Road bike is better for triathlon and training. Alot of people here commute on them too.

Hybrids, more comfortable but slower.

I would lean towards a road bike. Once you complete a sporting event, you will want to do another and do better. A hybrid will limit you. After completing the Ring of Kerry on a borrowed road bike, a mate of mine is going to get one having previously not been that interested. He also immediately signed himself up to do a triathlon, which he has been meaning to do for years.

Keedowah

OP I am in the same boat as you, havn't cycled in Dublin yet (or anywhere besides the Aran island in years!) but I have signed up to do Gael Force and like the idea of cycling to work.

I was thinking of getting a Giant Defy 4:
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=23608

My workplace have just decided to start the cycle to work scheme so I'm delighted.

What do others think of the Defy 4 as a commuting / race bike?

petethedrummer

Keedowah wrote: »

What do others think of the Defy 4 as a commuting / race bike?

2 of my mates have Giant SCR4's which were the 08 version defy4's and they have both completed Triathlons on them.

The geometry on these Giants is quite relaxed so you won't be straining to reach the drops. Mine is a 1.5 and suits my old man back.

Davie_m

thanks for the information pete,
i realize now i was a little naive in my budget if i am to take using a bike seriously. hopefully my company will be doing the bike to work scheme also.
i will pop out to some of the bike shops in town tomorrow to get an idea of what will suit me