buying a bike....where to start?

[chitownbelle]

I want to buy a bike so I can start a diffrent sort of exercise and get into tri's.  Where should I start?  I am reading recs and reviews on shop websites and it is so foreign to me, I don't understand half of what they are talking about.  Should I start with a hybrid, or get a road bike? 

ETA: $600-1000 ish budget.

[Susie]

If you are looking to use it for tri's, definitely look at road bikes. You will "outgrow" a hybrid for that purpose almost immediately. $600 is a pretty limited budget for a road bike, but you may be able to find something very entry level from last season, this time of year. As I'm sure you've heard in previous bike posts here, correct fit is #1. A LBS should be able to help you with that.

[joenali]

Don't get a hybrid if you want to race. There is nothing wrong with them, but if you love triathlons you are going to eventually want to upgrade. Can you save a little more money? $1000-$1200? At that price-point you can buy a really nice entry level bike.

[chitownbelle]

i guess i just dont want to spend a ton of money on a bike if ive never owned one (not since being a kid.) what if i hate it and dont want to bike or do tri's? then i just wasted $1000.

[joenali]

Sept 2, 2013 10:19:37 GMT -5 chitownbelle said:

i guess i just dont want to spend a ton of money on a bike if ive never owned one (not since being a kid.) what if i hate it and dont want to bike or do tri's? then i just wasted $1000.

I guess on the flip side you could waste $600 if you hate your bike and want something different that meets your needs.

[chitownbelle]

lol good point.

what are some decent brands? so many shops in town and they all carry different lines, not sure where to start ;-)

[Susie]

There are so many brands that, TBH, have pretty similar offerings. Scott, Felt, Trek, Specialized, Giant, and Cannondale are the usual ones that I think of.

[chitownbelle]

awesome, those are some ive heard of. hopefully i'll test ride some out today. maybe catch an end-of-summer sale. thanks.

[joenali]

Specialized, Cervelo, Fuji, Scott, Jamis, and on and on!

I have a specialized and I love it, but I'm not married to the brand.

[chitownbelle]

a friend just got a specialized last month and did her first tri last week, so i may start at that bike shop first!

congrats on your ironman, joenali! i give myself 10 years to reach that goal. you ladies are a great inspiration!

[joenali]

Sept 2, 2013 10:51:36 GMT -5 chitownbelle said:

a friend just got a specialized last month and did her first tri last week, so i may start at that bike shop first!

congrats on your ironman, joenali! i give myself 10 years to reach that goal. you ladies are a great inspiration!

Thanks lady!!!

[sadlebred]

Go read the link below. it will help you start. $1000 is a decent budget for a first road bike. If you want to do tris, you can add clip on aero bars. Don't forget to budget for a good helmet, bike shorts, and a jersey.

[Deleted]

Another vote for a road bike. The hybrids are better for things like casual rides or commuting.

Can I put in a plug for refurbished bikes? If you can find a reputable dealer near you, a used roadie can be a great way for someone like yourself to get a quality bike without spending a fortune.

[trigal]

The brand doesn't matter. The fit does. Go to a reputable bike shop and tell them why you want a bike. They will help you. You will also have to budget for things like cycling shorts/jersey, gloves, water bottles, a helmet, extra tubes, a pump, etc. Learn how to change a flat tire too!

I did my first tri on a mountain bike, then bought a road bike.  I spent about $800-$1000.  I have since bought two more road bikes and a tri bike.  My blog has a page for tri newbies.

And, read sadlebred's bio.  She is very wise!!!

[beachygal]

I'm going through the process of buying my 1st road bike now, but I was in your position a few months ago. I bought a used hybrid (off of a Nestie from my local board, actually!) inexpensively. I really did appreciate being able to learn how the gears work and such, and I used the hybrid in my first sprint tri and will use it in another sprint tri next weekend. If you know of anyone looking to get rid of a hybrid (or even if you can borrow one from a friend), that might be a good way to at least see if you like biking.

But I also agree with pp--a few months into triathloning, and I can't wait to get a real road bike!