I was hoping to hear some opinions on bicycles. I want to purchase the one I promised myself last summer and I was discussing it with my brother who I am hoping will help me make the purchase. I was telling him that I thought I wanted a hybrid model (some brands call them a comfort bike). I also mentioned I wanted to maybe do a sprint triathlon next year. He thought I might find that I am not appropriately equipped (basically he was concerned I'd look stupid or amateurish) for a tri with a hybrid and thought I should look at a mountain bike instead and then put more 'road bike' type tires on for the tri. I think I will be mostly riding it for leisure with maybe a dabble in tri's so I think I should get something that I will be super comforatable on and if I look kind of stupid at the tri, oh well because it's not like I'll be there to win the thing anyway.

So I'm wondering if any of you will share what kind of bike you are riding and why. Also, for those that have done tris, what sorts of bikes have you seen in use there and do you think I'll stand out like a sore thumb?

Thanks!

Peg

quote:

Originally posted by Mary Lou:
I ride a Giant OCR3 it cost me about $600 2 years ago and is considered an entry level road bike - I had total sticker shock when I started shopping. And then when I bought it I was sure it would be the ONLY road bike I'd ever need ... so then I started racing a litle last year and this bike is too heavy for serios racing (but then so am I, so I figure I need to finish losing MY weight first!) needless to say, I'm now in the market for an entry level racer - which is more along the lines of what would be typical in a tri, and I'm looking at $1200 for entry level ...

I also have a Giant OCR3 for racing and training and use a Terry bicycle seat -- I don't think the bike fits me very well. But the bent-over position that you ride in on a road bike is not comfortable to most people for riding around town. I have a cheapo mountain bike that I use for commuting. Also, the slick tires do not feel safe to me if conditions are more than a little wet or otherwise slippery. I suppose it's all in what you get used to, but I would imagine that if you're not doing lots of racing or touring, a hybrid would be best for most people.

If you haven't been riding at all then some form of hybrid is probably a good idea and with some modifications you could make it more competition worthy. And as others have said it's not how you're going to look, but how you'll be able to ride that will make a HUGE difference in a tri or any kind of road ride.

I'd say leaving everything else equal that you'll get 3 -5 mph boost on a road bike vs. a hybrid, and even more if you're talking a true mountain bike with nobby tires.

If you don't mind doing some research you can check out different models here:

http://205.147.231.123/ss.asp?Fam=HybridCity

and bicycling magazine's annual gear and bike review issue came out not too long ago and you may still be able to find it at bike shops or maybe barnes & noble...

Ok, that said, I have to speak up in defense of road bikes - if you ride at all, road bikes can be very comfortable ... they're built for the road, not off road or gravel trails, so you need to keep that in mind. I have no problem riding my road bike 100 miles - of course I'm not going to do that the first ride of spring, but I have a 'women's specific' seat, that to look at it you'd never imagine would be 'comfortable' but during the summer I ride 200+ miles a week no problem ...

I ride a Giant OCR3 it cost me about $600 2 years ago and is considered an entry level road bike - I had total sticker shock when I started shopping. And then when I bought it I was sure it would be the ONLY road bike I'd ever need ... so then I started racing a litle last year and this bike is too heavy for serios racing (but then so am I, so I figure I need to finish losing MY weight first!) needless to say, I'm now in the market for an entry level racer - which is more along the lines of what would be typical in a tri, and I'm looking at $1200 for entry level ...

Hope some of this info helps ... I guess if you haven't done much riding at all I'd recommend starting out with a hybrid - I still ride mine off road, in the spring when the roads are so dirty and for training rides cause you have to work so much harder ...

good luck

I have seen all kinds of bikes at sprint tris, so don't worry about looking silly. Like mountaingirl said, you don't want a big heavy bike for a tri, but that's because it will wear you out, not because you'll look silly.

A good bike shop should be able to steer you in the right direction but a light hybrid should be great for a tri. Road bikes are definitely NOT comfortable for fun riding and unless you're doing a lot of racing you wouldn't want one.

Peg
DO NOT GET A MOUNTAIN BIKE FOR YOUR TRI! Sorry, your bro is wrong on that.

Ok, I never talk in all caps, so you gotta know how emphatic I feel about this! My friend who did the tri with me last summer finished the bike portion of the race a full hour after me ( I took 44 minutes to do 13 miles of very hilly road, which wasn't bad) because she was on a mountain bike. (Honey, that's an hour more of wicked hard work than she had to do!) They just are not made for the road, period. It's like draggin your granny.
I have a hybrid too (trek) and I love it. I will move up to a more sleek road bike if I prove to myself this year that it is really a big passion - but right now I love running more. It was a great first bike to get for road riding as a workout, and I really didn't know how much I would love riding. I needed a place to start. The upright structure is much more comfortable while you are learning everything else you have to learn about the sport. You really don't need to have an awkward bent over posture that feels extrememly odd at the beginning. The ideal would be to find a good bike shop with trade up options. I don't know if that exists, but you could ask!

Go for it!!!
Lynne

Definitely talk to a bike shop. You can do some serious knee damage if you are not properly fitted for a bike. They can also find the right type of bike for your needs.

I have a hybrid and I love it. It's perfect for what I need, since I mostly want to ride on dirt trails through our county park system. It's also good for riding on the roads, though I don't ride on the roads much.

Definitely don't go cheap on helmets. They really can make or break the results of an accident (as several people in our local bike club have found out). And don't skip the helmet, especially if you're looking to do tris, you never know when you'll have a spill.

Hope this helps.

Peg,
I too have been considering getting a bike...I loved to ride as a kid and I think I would really enjoy it now as an adult. I'm looking forward to the recommendations.
Jill

peg,
I bumped up a previous thread that might be helpful.