http://sweat365.com/forum/ Forums Tag: bike en Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:41:02 +0000 http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/498#post-2321 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:37:48 +0000 george1 2321@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>According to me you should buy a 1600cc bike and upgrade it to a racing bike. I think that it's workable idea.<br /> _____________________________________________________<br /> George<br /> <a href="http://used.gov-auctions.org">Used Cars</a> </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/545#post-2265 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:30:04 +0000 Brad Hefta-Gaub 2265@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>I've never heard of this... interesting for sure... What kind of computer is it? GPS (Garmin?) or wheel based (polar, cateye, etc)? Is it wired or wireless?</p> <p>I could imagine that it might be interference from a power line or something. </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/545#post-2263 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:17:24 +0000 jberm 2263@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>This is very strange, but i was riding today, and whenever i rode north, my computer started showing random, disconnected numbers under mph. It would go something like 14-22-8-6-17-11-etc. When I would turn around and head south the problem did not occur. East seemed to be fine, but west was not. I tested it only nine or ten times, but every time the same thing happened. This has never happened before today so I'm stumped. Something to do with magnetism maybe? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/498#post-2170 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:15:34 +0000 John 2170@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>I would check your local bike shop for close out deals or used bikes. Be upfront that you just can't spend more than X amount. Craigslist is another place to check. I tried for 2 months to find an affordable used bike, but couldn't find my size (61cm). I bought from ediscountbike.com a 2007 new in box closeout. But bikesdirect.com and ebay have all kinds of deals too. A local bike shop can assemble your bike for you. It should cost around $50. And you can always upgrade later if you stay in the sport. </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/498#post-2068 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:10:48 +0000 kimo 2068@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>If you have not done this already, another thing you can do while you're on the search for a road/tri bike is to change your tires to slicks when road racing instead of the knobby MTB tires for off-road racing. This will help your speed.</p> <p>Jim </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/498#post-2067 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:15:11 +0000 Brad Hefta-Gaub 2067@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>What kind of a budget do you have?</p> <p>You should be able to get a good quality new "road" bike for around $500. It won't be Tour de France ready, but it will be a fair bit faster than your mountain bike...</p> <p>Used, I would check eBay or Craig's List. Or a local independent bike shop.</p> <p>If you can go up to $1200 then you could get a very good quality "entry level" triathlon bike setup... or road setup depending on the types of riding you expect to be doing more of.</p> <p>I strongly recommend heading to your local triathlon shop and chatting with the staff there. Most will be more than happy to explain the different features of various bike setups as well as what different components make sense for your goals.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/498#post-2065 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:07:59 +0000 jberm 2065@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>I ran my first sprint triathlon recently and have another one in a couple weeks. My swim was good and my run was great but my bike time was lagging. I know that racing bikes give a great advantage over my current mountain bike, but I don't know where is a good place to find a relatively cheap racing bike. Any tips on good starting bikes and where to find them?<br /> Greatly apprectiated. </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/439#post-1907 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:49:02 +0000 nutritionexpert 1907@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>I agree with the others in that, if you want to be faster, switch out your tires. I have a hybrid with skinny tires that I was using in Sprints and I was still pedaling like a bat out of hell. It's very frustrating to work harder than everyone else and still have them pass you! I'm saving up to buy a road bike, it really does make a difference. </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/439#post-1874 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:07:02 +0000 jus4me 1874@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>Thanks for the information! I was wondering the same thing!! The guy at the bike shop where I had my mountain bike repaired told me that you can go about 20 miles faster on a bike with the smaller tires ie: street bike or triathlon bike. </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/439#post-1824 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:21:15 +0000 boztris 1824@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>If you do plan on doing the race on a MTB you might consider putting some slick tires on it. I did my first few sprints on a MTB years ago. I eventually got tired of watching everyone fly by me and bought a road bike. It's worth the investment. </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/368/page/2#post-1799 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:40:09 +0000 Kevin 1799@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>You can spen as much or as little as you want. I did my first tri in May on my mountain bike with the knobby tires. I then found a used Cerve'lo on craiglist at an awesome price. All the things can be bought a little at a time. You really need the tri shorts, any bike, goggles, a shirt, good shoes, water bottles. The things I bought to just get by I use in practice and save my really good stuff for racing. I would recommend a sprint tri to begin with. I found out quick it looks easier than it is. You may become discouraged if you start too long. I don't know but the main thing is to have fun doing it. Good Luck </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/441#post-1771 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:58:19 +0000 Brad Hefta-Gaub 1771@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>I agree with Bernie's points as well.</p> <p>I guess the questions are:</p> <p>How much riding are you going to do in what conditions?<br /> How much performance do you want/and/or believe your bike will contribute to?<br /> How many bikes do you want to own?</p> <p>I own 5 bikes... I don't own a cyclocross bike... but I bet if I got into it... I'd want to own one. I am crazy... </p> <p>Bernie is right... if you want to be at the top of the game... then you not only need to be super fit, but you will be competing against other people who are super fit, and have better equipment than you... so every advantage you can give yourself will help.</p> <p>That being said, I own a great triathlon bike... but I did my first IRONMAN race on a road bike, and came in 13th place overall... (Granted, it was a small field.) The next year I raced the same race on my sexy new Cervelo P2C triathlon bike, and came in 23rd place and 30 minutes SLOWER than the year before. The bike was not the problem... </p> <p>Ultimately... you have to ride the bike. </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/441#post-1768 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:04:10 +0000 bhayden 1768@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>If you want to do a road race then get a road bike. There are some exceptionally talented riders that can (at the Cat 4/5 level) get by with a cyclocross bike but for the rest of humanity if you expect to be competitive in a road race get the best road bike you can afford.</p> <p>That said, I'm a big cyclocross fan and cyclocross bikes make for a great commuter rig. On the other hand, a cyclocross bike is a road bike you ride off road. A road bike will handle far more adverse conditions than most people believe. Watch Paris Roubaix, those are road bikes!</p> <p>The LeMond Poprad is a sweet ride ;-) </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/441#post-1766 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:43:50 +0000 Brad Hefta-Gaub 1766@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>Great question!</p> <p>Most people wouldn't be able to tell you the difference between a road bike and cyclocross bike... they are very very similar. </p> <p>Most cyclocross bikes are designed around road bike but with the following differneces:</p> <p>1) Slightly higher bottom bracket clearance. How far is the bottom of the bike where the pedals as from the ground. Slightly different geometry will give you better clearance over logs.</p> <p>2) Slightly studier (and therefore heavier) frames. You want it to be tough over all the off road bumps.</p> <p>3) Top pull or disc brakes instead of caliper brakes to aid in installation of larger tires. Since you'll want more tread on your tires, you'll want brakes that fit around the bigger tires.</p> <p>4) Secondary "top bar" brake levers on the top of your handle bars in addition to the integrated brakes on your hoods. This is because you may be doing more top bar riding and you don't want to have to change hand positions to brake.</p> <p>5) Different shifters - Some people promote bar end shifters instead of integrated brake/shifters. I've heard its a reliability thing if your getting really muddy. I just recently saw a cyclocross bike with a some new style integrated shifters.</p> <p>As far as all of these features go... I think that a cyclocross bike or a sturdy "commuter" bike would be great for what you're looking for. I think that tire tread is over rated as a speed/comfort thing... I choose my tires based on the weather... in the winter I want more tread and a tougher tire... in the summer I don't mind using "racing tires"... but really even at 20-25mphs I know that tire tread has very little to do with my performance. </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/441#post-1763 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:53:10 +0000 kbrides 1763@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>There are several longer trails that I know of that are smooth gravel. How would a road bike handle on those?</p> <p>I have a mountain bike that I will still use to commute to school and things of that nature... But I want to get a new bike to be able to ride longer distances on.</p> <p>I was thinking cyclo because it gives me a bit more versatility where I can stay on the road majority of the time but can still handle if I have to.</p> <p>Also, if I purchase a cyclo and want to put road tires on it for a ride I know is all road such as a race or event like that... that is possible isn't it? </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/439#post-1760 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:04:23 +0000 Brad Hefta-Gaub 1760@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>One other thing to mention. </p> <p>I think if you are doing a longer distance race, one that has a bike leg of further than 30 miles, you will probably want a triathlon or a road bike. </p> <p>Although you can certainly ride further than 30 miles on all the bikes I mentioned above... you'll probably be much more comfortable in the long run (and on the longer run)... if you have an easy to ride, relatively light weight, and ergonomically appropriate long distance bike.</p> <p>Any road bike (even a cheap one) and any triathlon bike, will make a longer race more comfortable.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/439#post-1757 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:50:24 +0000 kbrides 1757@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>Does your mountain bike have the straight handlebars? I have a 10 year old Trek 800 that is great for me now, but I too am looking to start training for a half triathlon and was thinking new bike would be better. Maybe I could always just upgrade to more of a cross type tire instead of the standard large tread mountain bike and add some handlebar adjustments? Any thoughts/comments seeing you do a lot of road biking with your mountain bike? </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/439#post-1756 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:48:35 +0000 renfri 1756@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>Thanks a lot for the info! </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/439#post-1755 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:34:21 +0000 Brad Hefta-Gaub 1755@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>YES! At most races you can use any bike you want. I've even heard of someone doing a triathlon on a BMX bike. At most sprint triathlons you will see bikes of all shapes, sizes, costs, states of repair or disrepair. Its all about having fun!</p> <p>Note: Technically, there are some rules about the configuration of the bike, that may or may not be enforced depending on how serious the race is. These rules will restrict the use of bikes that are considered to give you an unfair advantage: recumbent bikes (not allowed), or bikes that are considered to be dangerous (some old designs like "funny bikes" with smaller front wheels)... But any standard upright bike: road, triathlon, mountain bike, bmx bike, single speed, commuter, beach cruiser, touring bike, etc will be allowed. </p> http://sweat365.com/forum/topic/439#post-1754 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:32:34 +0000 renfri 1754@http://sweat365.com/forum/ <p>I am a newbie to this and am going to start my training this week for my first triathlon. </p> <p>Can I use my mt bike for the cycling portion of a triathlon? It is a pretty nice bike that I already use for both road and offroad cycling. </p>