Health & Fitness
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What kind of bike should I get?
I want to attempt a triathlon. I spin 2/week but haven't really biked on a road since college.
I've also recently moved to the beach so I want something I can use on the bike paths around town (not riding quickly).
I don't want to spend a ton of money - definitely not more than $1K, would prefer under $500 if that's remotely reasonable. Should I buy a used bike? Check Craig's List? Is there a good starter bike I should get new? I've gone to the local bike stores but basically just feel like they are trying to upsell me.
Re: What kind of bike should I get?
Southeastern Cycling
My Nest Bio and Cycling Advice
Thanks for the response. I've gone to three local bikeshops and, other than telling me what size bike to get, they were useless. Basically, they all said - here is what we have in stock in your size. Which one feels best. I also read your bio. But I want to know which bikes are still comfortable after hours of riding? Are there particular bikes known to be generally good bikes for beginners? Is my price range unreasonable? What is the "sweet spot" for value v quality? Which bike would you consider in my situation?
Any bike that fits your properly will still be comfortable after hours of riding. This means the most important part of buying a bike is getting the right size and having a fitting done. You'll also need a good saddle, but everyone is different when it comes to saddles so you'll have to learn what doesn't hurt by trial and error. Numbness is bad.
As for a good starter bike, the Specialized Allez is a good one http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=62279&scid=1101&scname=Road Ideally get the "elite" one, specifically because it's got Shimano Tiagra level shifters - the Shimano 2300 that come with the basic level tend to wear out and break quickly. Definitely ask the shops if they've got any old stock - bikes from last year, those are usually on sale. You could also go with the Specialized Dolce http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=62200&scid=1101&scname=Road - it's their bottom level women's bike. I have never ridden a women's bike, and honestly the differences are somewhat minor - they usually have a slightly different geometry, which might be good or bad depending on your dimensions.
Or if you've got a lot of Trek dealers around, you could get the Trek 1.5 http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/2_and_1_series/1_5/#/us/en/model/details?url=us/en/bikes/road/sport/2_and_1_series/1_5 Once again, I don't recommend using Shimano 2300, so if you can, pay a little more now and save yourself from having to fix/replace parts later by getting Tiagra or better.
Note that these bikes are all basic road bikes, not triathlon bikes, but since you're just starting out you won't need a super-fancy (expensive) triathlon bike. If you'd like to get a more aerodynamic position, you can buy clip-on aero bars like these http://bontrager.com/model/07224
Definitely go with a road bike. They are more versatile than a "triathlon" bike. That way if you decided that you hate triathlons, you aren't stuck with a tri-bike.
Fit is the most important thing after budget, so the LBSes were right in that sense. All of the major brands make a good bike, so don't get hung up on a name brand. Having said that, the pps suggestions for specific bikes were good ones. Is there a LBS that has a woman on staff? Call to find out, and call EVERY shop in town or nearby towns. Sometimes it's easier to talk to another female than one of the guys on staff. Trust me on this one. They tend to understand one of their own better. (Disclaimer: I have no problem talking to a guy about bikes. I usually talk circles around em.
$500 is too low. I'd bump it up to at least $750 for an entry level bike. If you can afford $1000, that's even better. The "sweet spot" is really what you can afford. Obviously the more you spend, the nicer bike you will get. I'd say for most people it's in the $2000 range where you get a good bike with better than entry level components for a good price. At about $2000, there are not many upgrades most people will make until something breaks except for maybe a nice wheelset (Like Joenali wants to do). Most "race ready" bikes with Shimano Ultegra or SRAM Force start around $2300-2500. My "sweet spot" is about $3000-3500 (or even more), but I have to spend that to get the kind of bike I want with the higher end, race worthy components. (Please keep in mind that I ride at least 5 days/week year round and race 25+ times/year and have been doing so for almost 15 years.) I think for $750-1000 you will get a nice bike that will serve you well for your first year or two in triathlons. After that, you may find yourself loving it so much that you want to upgrade.
Avoid Craiglist or anything used for your first time buying a bike. The nice things about a bike shop are: 1. There is usually at least a 1 year warranty on the bike. 2. They will do minor repairs and adjustments for free for a time period (usually a year) 3. They will help fit you to the bike (this is not the same as a professional fitting that can run $150 and up), but it will help you get the right size bike.
Southeastern Cycling
My Nest Bio and Cycling Advice