New bike or convert old?

Hi! I'm new to this site, and totally delighted to have found it! I have next-to-zero knowledge about biking, but lots of interest to learn! This summer my Dad and I trained together and competed in our first triathlon in Traverse City, MI. It was AWESOME! I'm totally hooked, and super proud of myself because this is something I never thought I'd be able to do - or want to do! My biggest goal was to complete each event without stopping, which I did. I ended up being pretty close to dead-last though, lol.

Where I lost most of my time was, surprisingly, on the bike. I have a 70's Schwinn Traveler, which I bought for $50 from a garage sale and thought it would at least be a step-up from my Magna mountain bike, lol. Well, I live in NW Ohio, and we do not have the hills that Northern MI has! I got passed by practically every single biker! It was so discouraging! I know I definitely need to train harder next summer, but I also think a lot has to do with the bike.

So my question is: I was reading some posts where people really seem to dig the steel bikes. Well, my bike is definitely steel! I was originally thinking I needed to just look for a used road bike so I could be more competitive, but now I'm wondering if maybe I could just put the money into my steel bike? New wheels, gears, etc? I want it to be fast, good on hills, and overall very competitive. (I need to improve my time on the bike because there's no saving my run - lol!)

Sorry if that's a really goofy question! Thanks for any responses!

~Chelsea

Chelszilla,

I just had a similar issue. I had a 30 year old Columbia Blaze that was my first "right size" bike. Great bike. Really reliable on the FLAT - where I used to live. When I got to Central MO a few weeks ago, I tried to use it, but it was just so heavy that even with just my school stuff (I commute to work/grad school), it weighed 50 lbs and I couldn't get up these hills - they are seriously insane.

I thought about changing out the wheels and stuff, but it wouldn't do much good. That frame just weighed a ton.

Personally, if it was me, I would go out and buy a new to newer bike. If you are really lucky you will be average height and able to fit something used that is in great shape. I got SUPER lucky and found a tiny bike that had 50 miles on it - my Giant OCR. It has a carbon fork and an aluminum frame and is just so light.

Good for you for doing a tri! You are braver than I and if you can do it on a steel bike, you can do it on anything!

Steel doesn't have to be heavy, but some of those old bikes were built to Take It. It depends on the bike.

Have you weighed the steel bike? That will give you an idea of what you are up against. Those old bikes tended to have a lot of Stuff bolted to the frame. Just losing, say, kickstands and fenders is a free "upgrade."

Also, is it running well? Chain lubed? Brakes not rubbing? Wheels true and turning freely and tires pumped? Bottom bracket moving freely? There are other things to look at but that could get you started. Some of those are cheap fixes, and some aren't. It's worth it to check on mechanical condition - again, just so you know what you need to do. Some of those old bikes have lived a rough life. (To be fair, some were babied, too.)

Some easy upgrades would be clipless pedals and faster tires. Couldn't hurt.

Shorter me: I'm a sucker for old steel bikes. I'd be inclined to do what it takes to make it work.

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Originally Posted by MomOnBike

Shorter me: I'm a sucker for old steel bikes. I'd be inclined to do what it takes to make it work.

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Me too, lots of us are. Only about 1/5th of the weight of a bike is the frame. Heavy old steel with light new stuff can be lighter and keep the great ride of steel.

New bike or old? A lot of us would say "both!" :D

While it may well be worth keeping the old Schwinn - it will never be a competitive tri bike.....

New steel bikes aren't necessarily heavy, but old ones from the 70's generally are. Parts will be hard to come by and many/most new modern parts will be incompatible with this old bicycle.

Keep the Schwinn - use it for running around, every day riding, fix it up as a project bike, but if you want to get serious about your tri's look for a newer road bike or a tri bike.

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Originally Posted by Eden

Keep the Schwinn - use it for running around, every day riding, fix it up as a project bike, but if you want to get serious about your tri's look for a newer road bike or a tri bike.

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Or train on the heavy old Schwinn, break out the lean mean race machine on race day and fly! :D

one thing for sure (if you ca't afford a new bike) investing in a new pair of WHEELS, not even fancy racing wheels) would help a lot in terms of weight and even brake power if your wheels are steel too...

When it comes to the question of "New bike or upgrade the old" most here will say "both!! :D :p :)"

More bikes, more better.

A Schwinn Traveller wasn't a high end bike back in it's day, and would have been considered heavy even then. You're better off looking at a new bike for tris, and keeping the Traveller for utility purposes.

Thanks for all the advice! I bought the bike from a bike enthusiast who lives in town here, so he had cleaned and tuned it up pretty nicely. I have no complaints with it at all, except for the vast number of people who FLEW by me during the tri - lol! SO, I think I'll take the majority of advice and just invest in a road bike, but keep my "Ol' Blue" and keep training on her to build up my leg muscles! Plus my butt finally got used to the seat, lol:)

I'll try and post a pic later. Thanks again everyone!