A little advice needed for a roadie novice

[Musketeer]

I have to start off by saying that the last time I put my ass on a road bike was when I was 12 years old, so I have had no desire to get on the road since then.

 

I have been avidly mountain biking for a number of years now and have ridden the ol big wheels permanently, doing some off-road triathlons etc.

 

However, me and a couple of mates have decided to do the IM in 2016, so the other debate (obviously around a braai and a couple of cold ones) is that I probably have to put my pride in my pocket and invest in a machine with thinner wheels.

 

So I'm clearly not in the market to become a road cyclist, but might do the odd road race and get more into the normal triathlons, so what is the better way to do it?

 

Buy an entry to mid range road bike?

Buy an entry to mid range Tri bike?

Buy a fong kong road or tri frame and build a machine?

 

I know all the ins and outs of mountain biking but when it comes to thin wheels I'm a complete novice.

 

Any advice, views opinions will greatly help as I'm one of those pedantic people who does an immense amount of research before doing an investment

 

 

[David Marshall]

Best value for money (opinion of course) is to buy a mid to upper level second hand bike complete. Number one criteria is that the frame is the right size for you. The rest can be sold, swapped or replaced when the need arises. As to the choice of road or tt you have a problem.  You will not be allowed to ride road races on a tt bike and a road bike is not ideal for tt.  Looks like a road - or try to get two bikes past the wife!

[Musketeer]

Thanks for the advice!

 

No wife yet... so my money is still my own.........  

[Mountain_Goat]

Get yourself an aero road bike and just clip on some tt bars for triathlons. Have a look at the Cervelo S3, S4 or S5

[Long Wheel Base]

What is our budget? That can change a lot of things. For all we know the dude is able to drop 100k then 2 bikes is the way to go. If hes only able to spend 20k then its a different story.

[Musketeer]

What is our budget? That can change a lot of things. For all we know the dude is able to drop 100k then 2 bikes is the way to go. If hes only able to spend 20k then its a different story.

 

... I would say more in the region of 20k (Maybe more) but definately not a 100k

[Long Wheel Base]

... I would say more in the region of 20k (Maybe more) but definately not a 100k

Then id suggest what immie001 said and get an aero road bike with 2 sets of wheels(deeeeep section up front and disk at the rear for triathlons and the standard wheels for road riding). You will probably have to spend a bit more than 20k though. Also look at the giant propel or merida reacto.

[Nibali]

Then id suggest what immie001 said and get an aero road bike with 2 sets of wheels(deeeeep section up front and disk at the rear for triathlons and the standard wheels for road riding). You will probably have to spend a bit more than 20k though. Also look at the giant propel or merida reacto.

 

Or the Specialized Venge

[Long Wheel Base]

Or the Specialized Venge

On my dream list!!!!!! I doubt even just the frame is within the 20k budget though.

[Tubehunter]

Nothing beats the value of the Fong Kong option dude.

 

You can build up an aero bike with lightweight carbon for a fraction of the cost of anything else and get someone who does vinyl to make some really custom graphics for you.

 

Check out this frame:

 

http://www.flyxii.com/en/products/flx-fr-317-matt.html

 

With this wheelset:

 

http://www.flyxii.com/en/products/flx-ws-cw08-p1.html

 

Road handlebars:

 

http://www.flyxii.com/en/products/flx-hb-016-matt.html

 

Stem:

 

http://www.flyxii.com/en/products/flx-st-001-matt.html

 

Waterbottle cages:

 

http://www.flyxii.com/en/products/water-bottle-cage.html

 

Pick a groupset from here:

 

http://www.cwcycles.co.za/catalog/parts/groupset-road

(If you're a shimano fan the 105 will be best value. If you prefer SRAM there's a Christmas special on the Force set. This is the equivalent of Ultegra in a shimano set)

 

You're left with getting a saddle, tyres and the clip on tri bars for when you do the triathlon.

 

Probably spend a little over 20K and you have more bike than you can imagine!

 

Happy hunting and riding skinny wheels. Road bikes have changed drastically since you were last on one. Try not to smile too much when you have you first hard ride on your thin wheel stead!

[Musketeer]

Thanks for all the advice!!

 

At least I have a starting point now.

 

 

 

 

. Try not to smile too much when you have you first hard ride on your thin wheel stead!

 

This is actually what I'm most scared of lol... might be frowned upon by some of my hard core MTB mates.

['Dale]

Definitely aero bike

Try to get used, but be sure of size, for great value

 

20 K is a bit low

30 K gives you more leeway

 

If you can, wait till after the 70.3 when many athletes often sell their machines :-)

[Bomberman]

Hi Musketeer, I know somebody who has a triathlon bike that he wants to sell, He is selling for 20k. It could be something to look at. Its the same as this one but has loads more on it.

 

aero water bottles 

special design tool holder and his rudy helmet.

 

[Eugene]

If your plan is the odd road race, then forget a time trial or tri bike. They are not allowed in road events. In fact, they are illegal in triathlons where drafting is allowed.

 

Your budget of R20000 will get you a carbon machine with 105 parts new. With some searching you may even pick up a new, last year model, with Ultegra for that price.

 

Good value bikes to look out for are Silverback, Merida and Giant

[Butterbean]

Man, if it was me, I would find an "aero" road frame. Scott foil maybe. 105 is more than fine. Buy a tt cockpit, and some Chinese deep sections.

 

Use it for road races and triathlons. You'll have to do some homework to get this all within your budget but shouldn't be too difficult.

 

Good luck man

[NotSoBigBen]

If your plan is the odd road race, then forget a time trial or tri bike. They are not allowed in road events. In fact, they are illegal in triathlons where drafting is allowed.

 

Your budget of R20000 will get you a carbon machine with 105 parts new. With some searching you may even pick up a new, last year model, with Ultegra for that price.

 

Good value bikes to look out for are Silverback, Merida and Giant

A pity that the no TT or triathlon bikes rule isn't really enforced in many road races ... They are quite dangerous when ridden in bunches but ja I guess it's like the cellphone rule in cars .......