Starting Tris on a budget

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tuscaloosarunner

728 posts since
Apr 7, 2006

Sep 22, 2007 9:03 AM

Starting Tris on a budget

I'm a new dad and decent runner looking to make a transition to tris next Spring and Summer. This Fall, I'm taking swim lessons and getting my old, cheap hybrid bike fixed.

However, when I start training for tris, can I get away with using ostensibly a **** bike? I know why one needs a tri bike for racing, but it's just so freaking expensive and money is an issue.

What would you guys recommend for getting solid training in with a budget? I'm hoping to participate in some Olympic distances and would like to compete decently in them...

Thanks, in advance...

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Tuscaloosarunner[/URL" target="_blank">

pcsronbo006

1,584 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

1. Sep 22, 2007 9:07 AM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

tri is all about spending money

That's half the fun (NEW DAD! CONGRATS!)

use whatever you got, whatever you can. don't worry about it. There is not much snobbery, although there IS a fashion show of the newest cool gear, don't let it bother you.

I had a nice midrange bike, not too shabby, and got smoked by some 60yr old dude on this rusted out cruiser thing (my first season). It really put things in perspective.

You'll be fine with whatever you got, as long as it's safe.

When ready to "move up" find some other triathletes and buy some used gear off them. There's always people looking to unload some good gear, cheap.

jroden

1,683 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

2. Sep 22, 2007 9:16 AM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

Triathlon is an expensive sport, the entry fees along are often in excess of $100. Lots of people use real garbage bikes, there is a higher chance that is will beak and you will have wasted your $100 because you have to drop out of the race, so it's a judgement call. If you have a reliable bike, you can enjoy the sport just fine, assuming the bike has rudimentary safty features like bar end plugs and working brakes.

4boysmom

1,307 posts since
Dec 10, 2007

3. Sep 22, 2007 9:49 AM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

This reminds me of a ride I did several years ago--this guy was hanging with my kids and me, going on and on and on about this guy on a really sh!t hot bike, how he was going to get one so he'd be a better rider, etc, etc, etc... We get to the next rest stop and there is The Bike. So this guy asks whose bike it is. Oh, he got SAGed in. I just looked at the guy and said "It ain't the bike". Meaning, you can have sh!t hot gear--but you still ahve to do the training! My guys--one on a Huffy mountain bike--did what that guy couldn't: finish a metric century.

When looking for a new bike, don't be afraid to look at used bikes. I was able to get my son an older Trek 1000 for $200. It's a decent starter bike for him, since I knew he would outgrow it. I just didn't expect him to out grow it in less than a year.....

tuscaloosarunner

728 posts since
Apr 7, 2006

4. Sep 22, 2007 12:37 PM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

quote:<HR>Originally posted by jroden:
Triathlon is an expensive sport... If you have a reliable bike, you can enjoy the sport just fine, assuming the bike has rudimentary safty features like bar end plugs and working brakes.<HR>

Anything else I should check out to make sure the bike is safe? I'm a complete novice in this department--spent all my time running...

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Tuscaloosarunner[/URL" target="_blank">

3chilipeppers

696 posts since
Nov 3, 2007

5. Sep 22, 2007 1:09 PM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

Definitely take your bike to a shop and get them to check it out. It shouldn't cost you much. A tune up and just a good checking out will give you peace of mind if nothing else. Plus, you'll have a relationship with a LBS when you need something.

You don't need a fancy bike to do tris. Yes, you'll see a lot of fancy bikes, but lots of triathletes just use what they've got (hybrids, mountain bikes, etc...). Keep your eyes out for good used road bikes, though. I've seen good ones for as little as $300. You'll eventually want one if you fall in love with tris. That's just how it goes. BUT-- the bike doesn't make the rider. You still have to train. I started my training on a mountain bike, then I bought a used road bike. There are online places like www.performancebike.com[/URL" target="_blank"> and www.nashbar.com[/URL" target="_blank"> that run great specials on bike gear. There are coupons on the bike forums for these places. Buying used gear is always a good bet.

The entry fees are a lot, but no more than longer road races (HM, mary, etc...) Sprint tris typically cost $50 or so and Olys will be around $100. Mine was $90, but I'm a USAT member, so I didn't have to pay the extra $10 fee.

You can do it on a budget. Getting started takes a little bit of money, but you can acquire most things as you go along a little at a time.

Kelli

DONSKIMAN

277 posts since
Nov 25, 2007

6. Sep 22, 2007 1:42 PM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

I've done all my tris on a now 14 year old road bike. It's a decent bike though that cost $1000 back then. However, prior to that bike I did all my road biking on a bike I bought new from Target for $69. With regular maintenance I rode that $69 bike for at least 10,000 miles. I have it on my trainer now. Still works fine.

If you want to be competitive you're going to need a road bike at the bare minimum. A hybrid doesn't put you in a really good position to generate lots of power and the more upright position makes you less aero.Yu could easily use a hybrid to finish a sprint or oly, but unless you were a really strong biker you're not likely to be competitive. It sounds like your running would help you make up some time, but it's real difficult to compete in that manner.

With a bit of looking and some research you can probably find a decent used road bike for a low price. What you want to do is find out what size bike you need, then look for a good deal on that size.

For now, just use what you have to get in some biking mileage.

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Don
My Profile[/URL" target="_blank">

jroden

1,683 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

7. Sep 22, 2007 1:53 PM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

check the spokes for broken ones, spin the wheels and ensure they are fairly straight, check the tires for cuts in the tread or sidewall and dry rot on the sidewall or other deformaties, check the bearings in the headset, hubs and crank for looseness and binding, check the chain for stiff links and clean / lubricate it, check cables for loose strands and go over all the fasteners on the bike and ensure they are tight and not rusted in place. Finally, look at the unions where the frame is welded togethr and check for broken welds from time to time. If you have normal hand tools you should be able to do all the checks yourself, some of the repairs may require some special equipment.

May as well learn to service your bike if you want to do the sport on the cheap. Feel free to ask questions here as you get into your bike.

Ice Cream

602 posts since
Dec 28, 2003

8. Sep 22, 2007 3:40 PM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

FYI: I did an alympic tri with an old hybrid bike. I had bought it used for $100. When I arrived at the race, i was the only one without race handle bars, I could not hang my bike on the bar in the transition area because of it, I was intimidated by all the other bikes, and I was slow, too, on the bike.
The best part came when I heard later on that someone told DH to get his wife a better bike.
I am primarily a runner, too

tuscaloosarunner

728 posts since
Apr 7, 2006

9. Sep 23, 2007 4:31 PM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

Thanks for all the insights guys. I do appreciate it. I will definitely keep asking questions as training goes along, although for the next six months, tri training will be somewhat ancillary to my running training. Just looking to lay inroads for the future...thanks a ton.

tuscaloosarunner

728 posts since
Apr 7, 2006

10. Sep 23, 2007 4:34 PM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

quote:<HR>Originally posted by DonSwBkRn:
[b]I've done all my tris on a now 14 year old road bike. It's a decent bike though that cost $1000 back then. However, prior to that bike I did all my road biking on a bike I bought new from Target for $69. With regular maintenance I rode that $69 bike for at least 10,000 miles. I have it on my trainer now. Still works fine.

If you want to be competitive you're going to need a road bike at the bare minimum. A hybrid doesn't put you in a really good position to generate lots of power and the more upright position makes you less aero.Yu could easily use a hybrid to finish a sprint or oly, but unless you were a really strong biker you're not likely to be competitive. It sounds like your running would help you make up some time, but it's real difficult to compete in that manner.

With a bit of looking and some research you can probably find a decent used road bike for a low price. What you want to do is find out what size bike you need, then look for a good deal on that size.

For now, just use what you have to get in some biking mileage.

[/b]<HR>

Yeah, I want to be competitive, so I definitely want to look into a road bike in the coming months. For a middle of the road, decent used road bike, what is fair amount to plan to spend? I'm just trying to plan to save ahead of time...

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~~URL=http://www.tuscaloosarunner.blogspot.com/~~Tuscaloosarunner[/URL]

broadbill

156 posts since
Sep 27, 2004

11. Sep 24, 2007 9:34 AM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

quote:<HR>Originally posted by tuscaloosarunner:
Yeah, I want to be competitive, so I definitely want to look into a road bike in the coming months. For a middle of the road, decent used road bike, what is fair amount to plan to spend? I'm just trying to plan to save ahead of time...

<HR>

I would suggest that you first figure out how much you want to spend (or can save up) and then ask for suggestions on the best way to spend that money (components, frame, wheels etc).

The problem is that everyone has a different idea of cost. With road bikes costing anywhere from $500 to $15,000 I think you need to tell us what kind of budget you are working with.

ForceD

523 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

12. Sep 24, 2007 10:16 AM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

quote:<HR>Originally posted by pcsronbo:
There is not much snobbery, although there IS a fashion show of the newest cool gear, don't let it bother you.
<HR>

pcs - I respectfully disagree with you on that. I see all kinds of snobbery at triathlons. But, I don't let it ruin my good time because there are also lots of great people at the races too.

As far as a road bike for tuscaloosarunner...ask your friends and neighbors. A friend of mine did his first tri earlier this summer. He too was training/planning to race on his hybrid. He was talking to his neighbor on day prior to the race and noticed an old Vitus road bike in the guys garage. He asked the neighbor if he could use it. The guy said "Yeah sure. It hasn't been ridden in years and it'll probably need new tires." So, he got it and had a few training rides on the. Then, a couple days before the race the neighbor said "Ya know what. You can just keep that bike." So, if nothing else you might at least be able to get descent road bike as a loaner to use.

Dan

COcarrie

483 posts since
Oct 15, 2007

13. Sep 24, 2007 10:32 AM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Ice Cream:
FYI: I did an alympic tri with an old hybrid bike. I had bought it used for [b]00. When I arrived at the race, i was the only one without race handle bars, I could not hang my bike on the bar in the transition area because of it, I was intimidated by all the other bikes, and I was slow, too, on the bike.
The best part came when I heard later on that someone told DH to get his wife a better bike.
I am primarily a runner, too<HR>

I wasn't exactly the only person on a hybrid/comfort bike at my first tri but I had promised myself I wouldn't buy a new bike til after I did at least one. Sure, I was slow and a little intimidated and my good friend came up to me after the race and all she said (in a friendly manner) was "You need a faster bike!". Um, duh.

As far as what you can get for the money.... based on my very limited knowledge and a good deal of shopping, it seems you can get some deals this time of year and find a fairly decent "starter" road bike with 105 components for around $1000. Plan to spend another couple hundred on extras... shoes, pedals, etc. SHOP AROUND!!
Carrie

tuscaloosarunner

728 posts since
Apr 7, 2006

14. Sep 24, 2007 1:10 PM

in response to: tuscaloosarunner

Re: Starting Tris on a budget

quote:<HR>Originally posted by broadbill:
[b] I would suggest that you first figure out how much you want to spend (or can save up) and then ask for suggestions on the best way to spend that money (components, frame, wheels etc).

The problem is that everyone has a different idea of cost. With road bikes costing anywhere from $500 to $15,000 I think you need to tell us what kind of budget you are working with.

[/b]<HR>

For me, it would have to be btw 500-750. I simply can't/won't spend more than that right now. I'm putting money away on a down payment for a house, etc. so that's got to take priority...

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Sep 22, 2007 9:03 AM

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