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Breaking into the tri world
RoyalMoose11
Posts: 211 Member
Any suggestions for those on a budget breaking into the tri world? I'm without a bike and assume at some point I'll need to pick up a wet suit if I want to complete a tri. I'm interested in breaking into the sprint ones first since I'm an avid runner and I swim three days a week doing laps in my gym's pool. I'm also 6'5 and presume I'll need a special bike rather than a run-of-the-mill bike since I'm above average height. I've also seen that you can rent these items for races but I'm not sure how effective that is in terms of cost/benefit (will buying a wetsuit pay itself off after two races). There's a seemingly manageable sprint tri in my area in August I think I can prep for in time.
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You can easily do without a wetsuit. Do they help? Yep. Are they required? Absolutely not. So that's an easy way to save some money while you are getting started.
As for the bike - I would think that renting (assuming you could rent something size-appropriate) would get costly in the long run, but there's no reason you couldn't rent a few times until you decide how serious you want to get. Most bikes come in various frame sizes - I can't say for certain as I'm only 5'8", but I'm guessing you could find something that would work without having to get a custom frame or something crazy like that. Is there a local tri club you could join? Make some connections and maybe someone will have a bike you could borrow.
You're an avid runner, so I assume you're set there.
All you really need is something to swim in (and for ~$20, I'd say goggles are basically a requirement), a bike and helmet, and running shoes.0 -
Don't know where you are located but try these guys....they put together a complete package covering just what you want.
http://www.nytro.com. Just look at the tabs on the right for the Tri starter package.
I think there are several other shops that mimic this type of package.0 -
In regards to a wetsuit it really depends where you live. Live in a colder climate and it becomes more essential. Live in a place like me, Houston, and there isn't a need for one unless you're doing early season half irons. I would recommend a tri kit, or tri shorts and a compression top, plus a decent pair of goggles.
Bike wise I'd start looking right now at your local bike shops. Most are looking to move out 2013 models, heck I just got an email that 2 of my local shops are clearing out 2013s at 50% off. Being so tall actually will come in handy here. Most shops have trouble moving bikes on the large and short ends of the spectrum. If you want to buy then get fit so you know what brands best fit your body and then go shopping. An entry level road bike will be cheaper than an entry level tri bike too. So keep that in mind.
Oh and August is plenty of time to be ready for a sprint. Hell you could probably be ready for a half iron in that time.0 -
That's great. I'm in a big city in the New England area with lots of shops so maybe it's a good time to start looking into sales in the area. I recently finished a half marathon and I'm at a spot where I can swim about a half mile in the pool without stopping. Now it's a matter of doing them together. I feel like I'd just need to read some reviews of a bike shop since I don't know anything about them and don't want to get taken advantage of cost wise.
And good looking out on the wet suits. I'd really only ever use it in competition as my swimming is done in a pool and not like a pong/lake nearby.0 -
I bought my wetsuit for $100 on Craig's list. My friend who is 6'5" bought an old Trek road bike off Craig's list for $100. Works good enough that he put thousands of miles on it in the last year.
A wetsuit may or may not be needed depending on where and when the race takes place. I did a tri last July where the race day water temp was 65 for a very choppy 1.2 mile swim. You'd want a wet suit. I did one a month later and the water was 75 and very few people wore one.0 -
There's a *lot* of esoteric stuff about bike fit, and type of bike, and that's really going to be above and beyond your level. If you're just starting out, it's really not a major issue - just find a bike that's comfortable for you. You're probably going to be looking for a x-large frame, or 60cm frame. Bikes are generally measured by the stand-over height - that is, how high the top tube is from the ground. I'm simplifying a lot, but don't worry too much - when standing straight up, there should be an 1" or 2" of clearance between yourself and the bike - and that's between yourself and the bike, not between your pants and the bike.
Personally, I'm 6'2" and my tri-bike is a 58cm; my road bike is a 60cm, and my cyclocross bike is a 56cm. The 60cm is probably a little big for me, but it was a great deal and I didn't know enough at the time. I still ride it. The cross bike is a little small, but that translates to better handling in off-road and trail situations, to some extent.
Buying a bike is such a potential nightmare for the unititiated - buying used is problematic because you don't have the knowledge and experience to spot big problems or to properly price - and there's a lot of ripoffs out there. Buying new is problematic because, if you stick with it, you'll kick yourself for not spending more initially, and if you don't stick with it, you'll kick yourself for spending anything at all.
You can buy a good-quality new bike for around $800 if you watch sales and know what to look for - but jumping to $1,500 or $2,000 buys a much better value. That being said, you can spend $100 on craigslist and get some really solid stuff too - but with detriments like down-tube shifters, heavy frames, low gear counts . . . there are tradeoffs everywhere.
Good luck - and be careful - the sport is addictive and an absolute blast.0 -
I'd also ask yourself why you want to do tri. Are you looking to be competitive? That's a different story than if you're looking to just participate and do well. If you're in the upper portion of finishers and want to go faster, fancy bikes, wetsuits, etc. may give you that push. On the other hand, if you enjoy it and don't need those extra few seconds you can do well for several hundred dollars less. I was thinking about getting a fancy roadbike to replace my solid craigslist find and then realized that the extra $1500-2000 wasn't going to propel me to first place since I'm pretty slow anyway. I'm happy that I kept my money in my pocket!0
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Welcome to the world of triathlons. August is plenty of time (perhaps too much - maybe find an early season "practice" race) and don't worry too much about gear. I've seen people on mountain bikes and beach cruisers for a sprint. A tri kit is nice to have, but plenty of folks do the swim in a swimsuit and then pull on a cycling jersey at T1. Your main goal for your first race should be to figure out how the basic process works and enjoy the experience. Once you're sure you want to do another, start investing in gear. Appropriate gear not only improves performance, it keeps you far more comfortable too.0
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BTW www.swimoutlet.com has deals going on for tri shorts right now. You can get really nice shorts for $40-500
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I agree with everyone above - if its that late in the season and the water is warm, a wetsuit can wait until you know you are committed to the sport and want to shell out the cash - I'm a decent swimmer and actually prefer when its warm enough to do without the wetsuit because I breathe better and have better range of motion. I also got my wetsuit off Kijiji (which is like Craig's list).
Same with the bike - I started off with Try-a-Tri's and did my first 2 races on a mountain bike before I upgraded to a road bike (a previous season sale). A tri bike might be nice in the future but I like to just ride my bike too and a basic road bike fitted with some aero bars recently does the trick for me since I won't be winning any races anyways.
As long as you have the basics that others noted above, do a couple of races to see how much you love the sport. Then each year, I pick something new that I want and save up. Now I have a collection of items that easily get me through any race.
Also look to see if your area has a "bike/cycling" show. We have one in Toronto in March and October which usually has a lot of good deals and last seasons models if you know what you are looking for.
Welcome to Triathlon!0 -
hmmmmm big city in the New England Area
Ok, so first, you might want to seriously consider checking out the Boston TriMania Summit at the end of March. Lots of good info and seminars, and I'm pretty sure most of it is free.
A bike is pretty much a necessity. If you seriously think this is something you will stick with, it would be worth your while to just put up the money to buy a bike. You don't need top of the line, but you definitely want a decent road bike. You could also check out craigslist for cheaper used options, but I would really only recommend this if you are on the fence. Otherwise you may find yourself wanting to buy a new one next year anyways.
Wetsuits are not necessarily a necessity. Consider when and where is your triathlon, and what is your cold tolerance. Ocean swims are colder than lake swims; May and June are much colder than July and August. For an August triathlon in New England, you could most likely do without.
Other necessities - helmet and goggles. And running shoes, but you sound like you've got that covered. You might also want to consider a pair of tri shorts, but it's not necessary and to be perfectly honest I don't know how much of a help that is for the guys.0 -
I did a couple of duathlons on my road bike, as someone else here said if you are not in it to win it, but more just for the experience of doing it then don't go mad on fancy gear - yet.
There is another one coming up in a few wks I am going to get tri bars for my bike and maybe change the tyres...I am a complete novice so yes definately good to get advice from more experienced members here.0 -
That's great. I'm in a big city in the New England area with lots of shops so maybe it's a good time to start looking into sales in the area. I recently finished a half marathon and I'm at a spot where I can swim about a half mile in the pool without stopping. Now it's a matter of doing them together. I feel like I'd just need to read some reviews of a bike shop since I don't know anything about them and don't want to get taken advantage of cost wise.
And good looking out on the wet suits. I'd really only ever use it in competition as my swimming is done in a pool and not like a pong/lake nearby.
check out my old bike shop, It's over in Somerville/Cambridge line in between porter and davis on the red line.
Ace Wheelworks on Elm. They'll treat you well.0 -
I love the Tri's but know I will never place. I ride a used road bike of of CL, with tri bars added on. A good pair of trishorts, shoes and goggles should be all you need. Be careful, they are addictive!
J0 -
I love the Tri's but know I will never place. I ride a used road bike of of CL, with tri bars added on. A good pair of trishorts, shoes and goggles should be all you need. Be careful, they are addictive!
J
He's eluding to a very good point here...
There's always a benefit to better equipment. How much benefit varies, both on the person and the individual piece of equipment. I'm a gear nut AND a bike nut, so I'm always interested in more/better bike gear. I bought a set of aero wheels for my bike even though they probably didn't gain me much more than a few seconds on longer courses... and I certainly can't justify the cost of them based on the benefit (perceived or actual).
The point here is that, unless you have hugely deep pockets, you'll probably want to grow into the sport a bit and find your sweet spot. Start off with the basics (which you're working on with this post), then figure out what you want/need based on your preferences, ability, competitiveness, etc. The average person is just fine with a decent pair of goggles, some tri shorts, a road bike and helmet, and some decent sneakers.0 -
I love the Tri's but know I will never place. I ride a used road bike of of CL, with tri bars added on. A good pair of trishorts, shoes and goggles should be all you need. Be careful, they are addictive!
J
He's eluding to a very good point here...
There's always a benefit to better equipment. How much benefit varies, both on the person and the individual piece of equipment. I'm a gear nut AND a bike nut, so I'm always interested in more/better bike gear. I bought a set of aero wheels for my bike even though they probably didn't gain me much more than a few seconds on longer courses... and I certainly can't justify the cost of them based on the benefit (perceived or actual).
The point here is that, unless you have hugely deep pockets, you'll probably want to grow into the sport a bit and find your sweet spot. Start off with the basics (which you're working on with this post), then figure out what you want/need based on your preferences, ability, competitiveness, etc. The average person is just fine with a decent pair of goggles, some tri shorts, a road bike and helmet, and some decent sneakers.
I third what these two both said. My bike is actually one I inherited from my hubby. It's a great road bike with aero bars and I borrowed it to first start training. I bought a decent pair of shoes but all the other gear I didn't get until I had gotten into triathlons and realized I loved them. Then I slowly have bought the other extras...like special bike bottles, gps, Tri suit, no tie laces, etc.0 -
What big city in New England? I'm in NH and just signed up to do my first triathlon in Sept. I'm not even close to being ready but I've always wanted to do one so I just signed up.0
This discussion has been closed.