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Bike advice for noob

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  • 29-07-2012 8:27pm
    #1
    PoleStar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 774 ✭✭✭


    Hi all

    Hoping to do a first triathlon next year after getting into running this year.

    Gonna buy a bike on the bike to work scheme so my budget is up to 1000.

    I see that try bikes are all well over that budget.

    Will a road bike suffice?

    Any recommendations? I have seen a GT series 4 and Giant Defy 2 in that range?

    Plus, any good starter training plans or sites out there?

    Wish me luck!


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    #2
    RacoonQueen
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 20,364 Mod ✭✭✭✭RacoonQueen


    A road bike will be fine, the majority of people race on road bikes. If you have extra €€ you can't get a bike for over €1000, the BTW scheme will just pay for the first 1000 then you've to pay the rest.


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    #3
    PoleStar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 774 ✭✭✭PoleStar


    Thanks a mill.

    I assume for a beginner there is not much of an advantage to be gained with a try bike anyway?


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    #4
    Briando
    Registered Users Posts: 691 ✭✭✭Briando


    There is a light and day difference between them.

    80% of the resistance you meet while cycling 30km/h+ is wind resistance from your body. Not the bike frame, wheels etc.

    Having a well fitted tri bike will allow you to get into a comfortable postion out of the wind and let you go faster for the same effort.

    I moved from a Scott S60 with clipon tri bars to a fitted Tri bike and the difference was astonishing. My training parter who spend the last 2 years giving me ****e for being slower than him, at the same time he bought a road bike. On our first training cycle together he started to complain of his legs burning while trying to stay with me, even while drafting off me.

    I cant stick with him while he is on tri bike and I am not, and visa-versa.

    If you main focus if triathlon then buy a tri bike. If it is just to cycle then get a road bike, as a lot of cycle clubs only allow people with road bikes to join there group cycles.

    Best of luck in your search for a bike.


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    #5
    Daz1214
    Registered Users Posts: 2,321 ✭✭✭Daz1214


    buy a road bike to start off with...a tt bike is only a race bike, they arent bikes for training on. I have the gt series 4 and have been riding one for 18 months and find it a very good bike. I rode my first year of triathlon on that bike with clip on bars. you can always invest in a tt bike down the line when you are sure triathlon is for you


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    #6
    nice_guy80
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,723 ✭✭✭nice_guy80


    What should you be looking for when looking at bikes?
    There are so many varing models

    frame? material, weight, size?
    forks?
    gears?
    brakes?

    anything else. Cheers


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    #7
    PoleStar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 774 ✭✭✭PoleStar


    Ok

    So I am gonna settle on a road bike, funds wont allow a tri bike.

    So where to go to get a good bike and good fitting?


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    #8
    PoleStar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 774 ✭✭✭PoleStar


    Ok so I settled on a Giant Defy. The reviews are too good to ignore for the price.

    I am getting it on the bike to work scheme and also the shop I am going to I can get the Defy 1 (and pay a tiny bit extra) or get the defy 2 and kit myself out with helmet and few accessories.

    Given I am new to triathlon I am thinking just get the Defy 2 with accessories unless everyone here says for for the defy 1. I am thinking that if I do decide to upgrade in a year or 2, I would probably still want to upgrade from a defy 1 anyway to not much advantage to it.


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