I am very interested in the responses.


TOP

For a proper FIT, you'll need to already have your bike. Bike geometry between Tri and Road bikes are different, so it won't be a one size fits all.

I strongly disagree, at least with the first part. Any good shop will but you on a fitting machine and get your numbers. They will then pick the bike (with teh right stem, bars, etc) to fit you. The second part is true however... geometry between the 2 bikes is very different.

Your budget is going to limit you if you want to go with something new. If I were in your shoes, I'd look for something used that is a little better rather than something new that is a little lower end. You can get a solid tri bike for that money if you're patient, but going new will get you all entry level stuff, which I'd avoid if I were in your shoes (wheels and shifters esp).

As for tri vs road, it's up to you. This may sound like an odd question, but are you a good rider? Tri bikes are SO stiff and your weight is SO far forward and the head angle is SO steep that they can be really twitchy. I'm a pretty experienced rider and it took me a few long rides to really get comfortable on the bike.

IMO, it really comes down to this... a road bike will likely have a significant (i.e. noticeable) advantage in comfort. The tri bike will be slightly faster (i.e. probably not noticeable in shorter races, minor at best in medium races).

If it were me with your budget, I'd buy the best bike I could for the money... be it a road bike or a tri bike.

Good luck!


.

Unless you plan on being super competitive, a tri bike is overkill and like Jackson said, it takes getting use to. I have both a road and tri bike, and right now, the difference in speed is not even noticeable. But in time as I train more and get more efficient with the tri bike, that's when I'll see the difference.

I plan on being competitive (not just a participant) in the local sprint series in 2012.

There has been some great solid advice given!

I will offer my point of view from personal experience which may or may not help you. I was similar to you several years ago. The bike was my weakest link and I was only interested in Tri's. However, when choosing a bike, I went for a road bike. For me, it was more important to learn bike handling skills and riding etiquette before jumping on a tri bike. Tri bikes are a bit tricky and I can't imagine the difficulty I personally would have experienced by starting out on a tri bike.

About a year later I upgraded to a high end tri bike and I have very happy with my decision. I am thankful I bought mt road bike first because I would not have know what I was looking for in a tri bike.

Best of luck in your decision!

nice choice! glad you love it, now grab a trainer and get some indoor spinning done to a Spinervals dvd if the weather is nasty

I love my areobars! I have a road bike with them added on. It makes for a comfortable ride.

For a proper FIT, you'll need to already have your bike. Bike geometry between Tri and Road bikes are different, so it won't be a one size fits all.

I strongly disagree, at least with the first part. Any good shop will but you on a fitting machine and get your numbers. They will then pick the bike (with teh right stem, bars, etc) to fit you. The second part is true however... geometry between the 2 bikes is very different.

Yes and No.... You need to get a preliminary fit to determine what size/characteristics to buy and then fit again to dial in your purchase. Does that make sense?

One more thing...I promise you there will be people that will be on road bikes in a HIM.

Matter of fact, you see them in the full Ironman as well... Just not that often. It can be done.

Questions about tri bikes... How much difference does a carbon frame make in terms of speed and comfort? Is it worth the additional cost and risk of cracks? Are there sources for summary information about various tri bike manufacturers and their relative aggressiveness in frame geometries? reviews of components? What are some things I should pay attention to when on a test ride? I'm reading "Zinn and the Art of Triathlon Bikes" and it's a bit overwhelming. Cheers and happy swimming, biking, and running, -Kathy

Carbon won't be any faster. All other things equal, it can be a bit lighter, which can affect your time over a long (or hilly) course, but that's more a factor of the weight of the bike than the frame material. Comfort will vary bike to bike depending on geometry, fit, and the individual frames. An AL bike that fits you well will be far more comfortable than a carbon bike that doesn't. If both fit well, you'll likely notice the carbon being more comfortable the longer you ride (i.e. you might not notice a difference over 5 miles, but probably will over 50 miles).

Risk of cracks aren't all that great on road bikes as they see far less stress than a mountain bike. IMO, stress damage on a road bike isn't a concern. That said, if you crash the bike and it takes a serious hit, carbon has much less resiliency than does AL or steel. Entry level carbon frames are much cheaper than they used to be, and assuming a reputable manufacturer, they are also much higher quality than they used to be, so I wouldn't worry about carbon reliability/durability on a road/tri bike.

Generally the geometry from bike to bike is going to be pretty similar. What really matters is the reach and stack, which are things you'll have to be fitted for. Once you know those, you can go to the manufacturer's website and look at the geometry on different bikes and find the ones that should (on paper) fit you best. I don't know of any sites that compare geometry across several bikes/brands.

Test rides are hard because they are generally so short. I'd pay attention to saddle comfort (which to a large extent is something you'll have to grow into), and weight/fatigue in your arms/shoulders when you're down on the aero bars. Aside from those things, all you can do is trust the shop to fit you to the right bike. IMO, this is where having a good relationship with a quality bike shop is most beneficial.


.

Questions about tri bikes... How much difference does a carbon frame make in terms of speed and comfort? Is it worth the additional cost and risk of cracks? Are there sources for summary information about various tri bike manufacturers and their relative aggressiveness in frame geometries? reviews of components? What are some things I should pay attention to when on a test ride? I'm reading "Zinn and the Art of Triathlon Bikes" and it's a bit overwhelming. Cheers and happy swimming, biking, and running, -Kathy

Carbon won't be any faster. All other things equal, it can be a bit lighter, which can affect your time over a long (or hilly) course, but that's more a factor of the weight of the bike than the frame material. Comfort will vary bike to bike depending on geometry, fit, and the individual frames. An AL bike that fits you well will be far more comfortable than a carbon bike that doesn't. If both fit well, you'll likely notice the carbon being more comfortable the longer you ride (i.e. you might not notice a difference over 5 miles, but probably will over 50 miles).

Risk of cracks aren't all that great on road bikes as they see far less stress than a mountain bike. IMO, stress damage on a road bike isn't a concern. That said, if you crash the bike and it takes a serious hit, carbon has much less resiliency than does AL or steel. Entry level carbon frames are much cheaper than they used to be, and assuming a reputable manufacturer, they are also much higher quality than they used to be, so I wouldn't worry about carbon reliability/durability on a road/tri bike.

Generally the geometry from bike to bike is going to be pretty similar. What really matters is the reach and stack, which are things you'll have to be fitted for. Once you know those, you can go to the manufacturer's website and look at the geometry on different bikes and find the ones that should (on paper) fit you best. I don't know of any sites that compare geometry across several bikes/brands.

Test rides are hard because they are generally so short. I'd pay attention to saddle comfort (which to a large extent is something you'll have to grow into), and weight/fatigue in your arms/shoulders when you're down on the aero bars. Aside from those things, all you can do is trust the shop to fit you to the right bike. IMO, this is where having a good relationship with a quality bike shop is most beneficial.


.

I will say that as far as carbon vs. aluminum having just switched I find the carbon lessens any vibration much more effectively than aluminum. If you ride chip seal/rough roads I'd highly recommend carbon for comfort.

Thanks for the suggestions and the reminder of the importance of fit. Even for a woman, my legs and arms are long relative to my torso. At 5' 7", my legs are only an inch or so shorter than my brother's and he's 6' 2". Along with all the other improvements in bike technology over the past 20 years, I'm hoping I'll be able to find a bike that accommodates my proportions. Getting a taller seat post may be part of the solution, but this also makes the reach longer. Ahh... a puzzle :-)

You seem to be the tall and narrow frame set then. Speed Concepts would be good options. Specialized Shivs are highly adjustable. Cervelos, Felts, QRs fit more long torso type folk.

Good to know. As the bike becomes more compact, does it also get twitchier especially in the aero position? As far as tri-bike shops go, there are several in the area. I also have a friend who competes in time trials semi-professionally and he has offered to take me bike shopping. However, he's a total gear-head and my concern is that he would talk me into more bike than I really need.