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| *Vultures Knob>>>Road Bike |
I am looking to buy a road bike for ironman. What are the imporant things to look out for? |
Things like for example, frames, gears, pendals etc what brands to look out for? I am working on a tight budget! Thanks guys dude, if youre contemplating an ironman at this point, youre probably familiar with bikes enough to have ridden some, so youve formulated some ideas in your head on what is good and not so good. I'm not going to try and make your mind up about what brand names to buy, but instead offer some advice on the age old quest for the right machine. In looking at a new bike: Comfort. your body should feel comfortable on the bike. this is definitely rule # 1. if youre not feeling comfortable and its nothing short of raising the seat post, handlebars, then don't buy the bike. If a person is comfortable on a bike, the better they perform and can concentrate on the task at hand. material. its true that some material/composition offer resistance to road vibration, and biking 112 miles is going to wear down your body. Carbon forks and seat posts sometimes offer enough dampening from vibration to exclude buying an entirely carbon bike. Thats not to say that it hasn't been done an an aluminum bike. Heck, I've done 3 IMs on an aluminum Klein frame, but thats because its the bike I felt most comfortable on, it fit me like a glove. Wheelset: Improving your wheelset is the #1 improvement that you can make to your bike. Find something that has a very low rolling resistance, possibly a deep dish or another aero advantage. spinergy and mavic make some stong but also great wheelsets. If you have a lot of dough to spare, go out and buy yourself a pair of racing wheels. components. A lot of people spend a lot of time thinking about their components on their race bikes. if youre doing an IM, there really isn't a heavy demand for gear switching as you ride (most IMs are pretty flat) so you can pass without getting the top of the line gruppo. if youre looking for names, shimano ultegra should be buttery enough the enjoy the total ride. Pedals: you will find that using some sort of pedal system is very advantageous. I currently use Look pedals, because for me I enjoy the large standing platform and float. you may be a smaller person than I or can get by with an SPD system or another. Accessories: aero bars and water bottle cages are accessories. you don't need to strap them on in order to complete the ride. If you do, make sure you read point # 1 above. I added this last part in because I think its totally related to all new bike shoppers: training. Its the engine thats going to make you go. In other words, you could go buy a seriously expensive (or inexpensive) bike, but training and discipline are the only way you'll make it across the finish line. it doesn't matter at that point about the bike and how flashy it is. log the miles. One of the best parts of riding that Klein was passing all the dorks wheezing on the hills with their new carbon bikes and the aero bars. But then again I guess they sure did look stylish while they were rolling backwards. :) new vs. used. I've found some great bikes on craigslist for cheap. I'm not offering this up until you have at least read whats above this, because all rules still apply. if you buy a used bike and have to upgrade things, you might end up spending just as much as a new bike- or much worse, it may not fit you once youre done putting trading on all your new parts. have fun! gee dude ...how much are you willing to spend?? If you want a good bike you are looking into $1500 to $2000 dollars I highly reccomend Trek "Ironman" is a brand name - so I'm guessing you mean the beginner's triathlon series that they promote? For that type of event, people can and do finish successfully on almost any kind of bike - even basic beach cruisers. But, if you want to go fast and have a competitive time, you want a real road bike. If you're really serious and hard-core you'll want a real time trial bike or triathlon bike. Ideas: - you can get a decent road bike, used, from lots of places - ebay, craigslist, (buyer beware). Also your local bike shop is a good place to stop in and get an idea of what's available at what price. They may have used bikes to sell. You could get a good starter road bike for $300-$500, depending on specifics. - A lot of people use "clip-on" handlebars for triathlons. Ask the bike shop guy to show you some. Good luck Scott If you are doing an ironman distance event, the most important thing to do is get a proper fitting bike. This means taking whatever bike you purchase to get professionally fitted to your body. Look for someone who is F.I.S.T. certified. Also, triathlon bikes aren't cheap, but a couple of the less expensive ones would be http://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_320_... http://www.fujibikes.com/2007/bikes.asp?... If you're doing shorter distance events a road bike would be fine, especially if you're just starting out. Look for something sturdy, light weight, and most of all, powerful. Try a 20 gear bike. Pedals that have good grip, maybe one with those little strapes on them. Find a comfortable seat. And try a brand of bike like a "Schwinn" or a bike between the price range of 100-400 dollars. 400 is still pushing it though... I've been looking around... |
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