Tri Bike or Road Bike?! Help spend my denero!

[Tri'inMomma]

Hi Ladies!

I posted in the bike forum before I found this haven of tri-dom! So please excuse my spam-like posting frenzy!

I am new to cycling this year after hitting a few triathlons on a dare. I am completely and utterly hooked. Austin is a great place to be bitten by the tri and cycling bug.

Before buying anything this year I dusted off my dad's 16 yo old Raleigh touring bike, had it tuned and fitted (as much as possible, too long) and have been riding it for the last 5 months. Since completing a few triathlons and joining a training group I feel committed enough to invest. Plus the old bike is now sufficiently decked to entice the hubster to hit the road and accompany me!

A little info to help suggest with:

ME:5'8, 150lbs, 30-31 inseam, broad shoulders from a youth spent swimming, long arms, long fingers.... LOVE SPEED and love hills.... LOVE triathlons!

BUDGET: $1600 ish.

So my dilemma is this: do I buy a tri bike or a road bike? I am torn. Here in Austin we can comfortably ride 300+ days a year. The tri season is 5ish months so that leaves me 5 months of potential for long group rides. I would love the speed of a tri bike, but my LBS told me it may be uncomfy for 30+ mile fun rides with a group. Do you ladies agree? Any advice to a newb?

THANKS!!!

[HillSlugger]

What kind of tri's will you be doing? You might be best off with a road bike fitted with clip on aero bars, especially if you're doing sprint tri's.

[Tri'inMomma]

What kind of tri's will you be doing? You might be best off with a road bike fitted with clip on aero bars, especially if you're doing sprint tri's.

OOh good question - failed to include that. I am doing sprints with a season finale oly. I do enjoy sprints so I could foresee next year being a mix of sprints and a few olys. I don't feel a pull to do an iron man or anything. Having done Houston Marathon training in 2000 ending in injury, I don't want/need the punishment again.

[ehirsch83]

I would suggest going with the road bike and then outfitting it for tri's. This way when tri season is over you can join in on group rides, since riding in aero position on a group ride is a big no no(safety reasons).

[Tri Girl]

Yeah, a road bike sounds like it's the best deal for you. If you were going for HIM or IM- I'd say go with the tri bike then ride it regularly the rest of the year. I'm borrowing a tri bike now and I can ride pretty comfy upright (I just don't like to- aero is far more fun). Definitely more comfy in aero, but it's not as bothersome as some friends' tri bikes are in the upright position.
Do you have a bike in mind already?

[anakiwa]

I second the idea of the road bike- it's more versatile. Unless triathlon is the only thing you care about (in which case you should get a tri bike) you'll probably be happier with the road bike.

I have one of each. I love my tri bike for time trials and triathlons, but I don't really like it for training rides and riding around. So I spend much more time on my road bike overall. While I love both bikes, if I had to part with one- I'd keep the road bike.

Have fun!

[Tri'inMomma]

Do you have a bike in mind already?

OK, so I feel like the road bike is definitely the way to go now. So given that decision, here are some of the bikes I have researched:

Bianchi Elle (a tad above budget, but still won't break the bank)
Trek 2100 WSD
Specialized Dolce
Specialized Ruby

At 5'8" should I be concerned about purchasing a WSD or should I expand my horizons to the men's bikes as well?

I am heading up to the LBS at 11am CST to test drive some of the bikes listed above. My hunt begins today.

[HillSlugger]

Don't lock yourself into thinking you need WSD. Try lots and see what feels good.

[Tri'inMomma]

Well I took the "Don't lock yourself into thinking you need WSD" and brought that to the LBS!

I am now a proud owner of a LeMond Versailles! YAY!

I told the sales chick (who was SOOO knowledgeable and helpful and patient and coaching) that I may have a build that could handle a man's bike and she agreed. I have rather broad shoulders, long arms and long torso - the men's bikes just felt better than the WSDs I tried. So we nixed the rest of the WSDs and focused on the men's bikes.

I tried several carbon frames of varying prices to see what I liked. The bike I loved was the 55 cm Versailles and it happened to be on sale --- a sale that made it a mere 200 over budget... it's amazing how stretchy budgets can be when one is in love.

So I added some aerobars, trip computer, matching bottle cages and of COURSE some new shorts and socks. I can never get out of there without some snazzy new foot huggers.

They fitted the hubby on my old steely Raleigh....after a group of the sales guys were commenting that I shouldn't sell it ever since it is "so cool"! lol So now the hubster has no excuse to not get into this wonderful sport with me!

Thanks for being willing to guide me towards the road bike. Happy riding....oh and swimming and running...

[HillSlugger]

It sounds like you got a bike that you love. Great! Please post some pictures.

[Tri Girl]

Congrats on your new bike!!! Yup, we're gonna need to see some pictures of you on your new rig!
Sounds like you got a great bike- and now that DH is on board too, you can have lots of fun adventures together!!!

[HillSlugger]

I'd like to see pictures of the "cool" Raleigh, too.