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Bike confusion

Hi all, I'm new to the forum but need some impartial advice. I need a bike for an Ironman next year. I haven't raced on a bike except for a cross country Tri last year. I used to race Ski Biathlon and I thought that was technical but when I look at bikes I feel massively out of my depth. What should I be looking for? apart from a years supply of saddle sore cream![:@]

Comments

  • Hi good morning slim,

    the great thing about this site is that everyone will give you lots and lots of different views on bikes, but I will tell you mine. I had a Carrera Virtuoso from Halfords which I bought about 3 years ago and gradually changed bits on it to make it quicker, I then bought a mountain bike on which I could do my training it turned out that that bike was lighter than the carrera, so recently after getting a friend to join me in the world of Tri, I bought a bike called Ventoux, which is like a bullet and is great. There was an article in Tri 220 about the new Carrera Vanquish, again from Halfords which highly reccommends this as an entry bike into the Tri worl, but what ever you get I am sure it will be fine.

    IAN
  • JasonBJasonB Posts: 303
    Me personally. I don't have the greatest bike in the world. I have an Orbea.



    But if I were going to do an ironman I maybe wouldn't go so much for a race bike, more of a mix between race and enthusiast.

    I think race bikes are extremely quick but no very comphortable. However the enthusiast bike is a race bike but with a few extra comphorts. Which makes it slightly heavier.



    Evans cycles give excellent advise, and are very triathlon friendly. Actually we have a local trathlon specialist shop called 53-12. It is based in Colchester.

    They give the best advice for anything tri related, and it comes from excellent experiance. You should try them. I am not sure I have the number, but believe me it is worth it.



    Don't worry I don't work for them.

  • guv001guv001 Posts: 227
    I don't want it to sound like a cop-out but I would advise you to go to a bike shop and have a good chat with one of the assistants there as they will give you loads of good advice and let you test the bikes. What is comfy for me you might hate and vice - versa. I personnally have a racing bike a specilized Tarmac Comp and I find it really comfy even on longer rides however bikes do have a habit of making your wallet lighter so be sure what your after and what your budget is.
  • n1ck bn1ck b Posts: 27
    Which ever bike you select, it has to fit properly and more importantly be comfortable for you to ride for long periods.

    May I suggest, if you have the time the TCR07 show,this will give you the chance to view alot of bikes under one roof and get some advice from the athletes that ride them. the web page is http://tcrshow.com/

    Good luck on your IM quest

    2009 will be the year of my 40th birthday so the IM will be my quest also.
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