Trip-Tips

I am receiving so many great questions! Thank you. I have recently improved my site so that I can more quickly post answers here so please keep sending them via email.

Finding the right bike?

[update: June 24, 2006]

First of all i’m very very excited about your new website, i have been a huge fan since i watched you compete at IMAZ 2005. i have been competing in triathlons (sprint and olympic) for a couple years and am competing in my first half ironman in march in san diego. i’d really like to invest in a new triathlon bike sometime in the next year, because i’d like to do an ironman sometime in 2006 or early 2007. i get so confused and frustrated because all bikes are so complicated and different. i would love if you could just give me some pointers on where to start. what are specific things you like about your bike or you look for in a new bike? i know bikes are very specific to the person, and i would need to go test ride any bike i choose. i’m just looking for basic things? thank you so much for your time i look forward to watching you compete in 2006, i hope you have a great season, good luck with all your training! Katy

HI Katy,

Thank you for writing, I know how difficult choosing a tri bike can be, it doesn’t feel like all that long ago that I was there myself! Here is a short list of things to consider to get you started:

1) Establish your price range. Decide how much you are willing to spend on the bike and components. If you are going with Shimano component line, there is a huge difference in price between Dura Ace (the better quality, more expensive) and Ultegra(dtill great quality, cheaper). If I could suggest something here, it is probably better to go with a more expensive bike and Ulterga components, if available, if you are trying to cut cost corners. In my opinion the Ultegra groupo is very good and will allow you to get a higher end bike, this is the route I chose for my first tri bike.

2) Consider what you want your bike to be made of. Again, this will largely depend on what you are willing to spend. You will find bikes made from aluminum (usually the cheapest), titanium, steel (more rare these days), aluminum mixed with carbon, and all carbon. My Guru Crono is all carbon and had Dura Ace components. The bike I was riding previous to this one was aluminum. I notice a huge difference between the two bikes; the flex in the frame. Obviously when riding a bike especially if there is wind, you want all energy you are putting into the bike to propel you forward. On my Crono, the frame is so stiff there is no energy loss. However because the bike is made of carbon, it is extremely light and still very nice for climbing hills. When you are looking at bikes, test the flex in the frame by placing your hands on both brakes and your shoe on top of the place where the crank meets the frame, and giving it a good push! You will be able to see how the different bikes respond to this test, hence s howing the frame flex ion. Ideally you want a bike that is both light and stiff. Another difference between carbon and aluminum is the pick up of road vibrations, I can ride on a very bumpy road with my Crono and it doesn’t seem that bumpy, which is obviously perfect for long rides. I was picking up much more road vibration with the aluminum bike, this is often the main complaint people have when riding aluminum.

So, point being, if you can afford carbon, or even a mix of carbon, go with carbon. If you would rather stick with Aluminum or titanium, give it the flex test and decide.

3) Get a bike fit and go for some test rides. Most bike shops are very nice about giving a demo bike out to ride or to borrow for a day. Do not be afraid to ask for this! Bike feel is extremely personal and what feels good to you may not to someone else…..so get out there and test drive! Also, make sure you find an experienced fitter, one who measures your inseam, torso, etc. The last thing you want is a bike that is too big or too small. Ask around to acquire names of experienced bike/tri shops and bike fitters. If you are buying a bike from a shop they should measure you before putting you on a bike. You cannot tell what size someone is by looking at them because often tall/short people have long legs or short torsos and vice versa.

4) Make sure you have a comfortable saddle and the correct saddle height. It took me a long time to find a saddle that worked for me. There are some great women’s saddles out there made by Fisik, Terry and Trans Am. I have opted for a saddle with a cut out as I find it much more comfy. This is also something you should ask to test ride. You want to make sure your “sit” bones are receiving the weight of your body and not various other important parts! Go out with an allen key on your test ride and play with the saddle height a little. It is amazing how a small adjustment in saddle height can make a world of difference in comfort. Mark the height once you’ve got it!

5) Compare comfort. Ultimately the best match for your bike is one that is comfortable and fast. You could be really comfy on a beach cruiser but you might be losing some speed here. Guru makes custom fit bikes, my bike was made specifically for my body so naturally it is comfortable! You want to feel very good down in the aero position and much of this will have to do how the bike is fit. You want to have a very nice 90 degree angle in you elbows when down in the aero bars so the weight of your upper body is evenly distributed. Let me know how the choosing is going! top