New triathlon choice bike help.

[amr63]

Good discussion.

There are no perfect/wrong answers as we each have a different circumstance, expectation & perspective.

 

@grafou, if you have not bought a bike in time for your next tri race consider hiring a road bike from your local bike shop instead of toughing it out on your MTB. In my experience they cost between R350 & R500 for the event, and a road bike will make a BIG difference to how much you enjoy the ride.

[grafou]

Good discussion.

There are no perfect/wrong answers as we each have a different circumstance, expectation & perspective.

 

@grafou, if you have not bought a bike in time for your next tri race consider hiring a road bike from your local bike shop instead of toughing it out on your MTB. In my experience they cost between R350 & R500 for the event, and a road bike will make a BIG difference to how much you enjoy the ride.

The bike rental is a brilliant idea, thanks.

[Amberdrake]

Finished IM on a Road Bike, Only reason to want a TT bike for me is it looks cool!

[grafou]

Finished IM on a Road Bike, Only reason to want a TT bike for me is it looks cool!

They do look cool I admit. So, having done an IM and presuming you will do more, if your road bike got stolen and you were to replace (only worrying about tri’s) would you replace with another road bike or a tt bike?

 

 

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[Amberdrake]

Money says road bike as I do some road races and cant afford both.

But I would be tempted by TT so badly. One day ill likely splurge and just buy one second hand.

[Ispeed_V]

Cube Aerium - just because I have one  

[Zeffer]

Was looking for a TT bike for prov and SA champs. Also did not want to buy one. Ended up sending 20 PMs to advertisements on the hub asking if I could rent their bike for R2k/month and I would insure it. Got 2 replies saying no thanks.

 

Then bought a Kestrel TT bike which was the cheapest on at that moment. Still need to sell it though.... and think it would still cost me R2k.

 

TT bike rental will work imo.

[amr63]

Back to OP’s question; having established that:

i) grafou has sampled tri’s and a TT bike is definitely what he/she needs (wants);

ii) R45k is serious commitment in anyone’s language;

Here’s what I would do:

i) read up on slowtwitch.com on how to choose a bike for triathlon http://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/Looking_for_a_Tri_Bike__4917.html

ii) read up on slowtwitch.com on what to expect from a bike fit http://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/Road_Bike_Fit/Reasonable_bike_fit_expectations_3595.html

iii) find a bike fitter within reasonable traveling distance who will give you the output data you need to evaluate suitable bikes for your body dimensions and flexibility, then get a bike fitting;

iv) armed with the data from the fitting, research which bikes are suitable based on geometry, and which of those are available & within your budget;

v) test as many of those as possible (edit: in as close a setup as you can get to your fit. This is to get a feel for how it handles. Not being able to test should not be a dealbreaker)

vi) buy the one that ticks as many boxes as possible. Hopefully all, but if not all then at least the high priority ones (you will have to decide which ones they are).

Remember to check the classified for available bikes. (edit: note that most tri bikes have moved on in design over the years, some more than others. Get the ‘best’ frame you can, the rest can be upgraded over time). Also read the Chinese Carbon thread; there are a lot of satisfied customers there, but it’s not for everyone.

Hope this helps.