Triathlon Road
What is the difference between a Road Bike and a Tri Bike?
I have competed in a few Triathlons (sprint) and really want to step it up this summer. I used a Mountain Bike to compete and I get blown by. I noticed that there are Road Bikes and Triathlon bikes, what is the difference and what should I look for when purchasing a bike? (Carbon, aluminum frame, gears (how many?)) I have no idea, I just want to get a good starter bike for Triathlons.
If you are looking for a starter bike for triathlons, a road bike, which you can equip with clip on Aero Bars will probably be the best choice. To train, you will have to spend some time in the saddle out on the road, and a road bike is much safer for general road riding. The aggressive aero position of a tri bike puts the rider much farther forward over the Front Wheel hampering maneuverability, and brakes and gear levers are located in different areas, which is inconvenient for general riding. As for frame materials, aluminum will be the norm for entry level bikes, you will need a larger budget to think about Carbon Fiber. Gearing will be pretty easy, most road bikes are equipped with double chainrings in front, 10 cogs in back giving 20 possible gear combinations, of which about 16 are really useful. If you need a bigger range of gears for hills, you can opt for a Compact Crank, or even a triple if you really feel a need for a wide range of gears. My choice for an beginner would be a compact crank, much better shifting performance than a triple.
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 Challenge Triathlon Road Tire 700x23c Cycling Bicycle $44.99 Time Remaining: 3h 28m Buy It Now for only: $44.99 |
 Shimano 105 Crankset Black FC 5750 50t 34t 1725mm Road Triathlon Crossbike 725g $198.00 Time Remaining: 4h 30m Buy It Now for only: $198.00 |
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 Full Carbon Fiber Road Triathlon Bike Fork 1 1 8 195mm $69.97 Time Remaining: 8h 16m |
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 FFWD F6R Fast Forward 60mm Carbon Tubular Wheel Triathlon Road Tri TT NEW $582.99 Time Remaining: 1d 4h 3m Buy It Now for only: $582.99 |
 ISM Adamo Road Saddle original packaging great for road or triathlon $68.00 (22 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 6h 23m |
 SRAM PG 1070 Cassette 11 28t 10 Speed Road Bike Triathlon Cycle TT Time Trial $34.00 (14 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 9h 9m |
 Fsa Vision Aero Max Ti Bicycle Saddle Seat Road Bike Triathlon Synthetic $27.95 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 16m Buy It Now for only: $27.95 |
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 Fsa Gossamer Standard Crankset 1725mm 53t 39t Road Triathlon Crank Set 815g $119.84 Time Remaining: 2d 9h 6m Buy It Now for only: $119.84 |
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 Shimano Dura Ace Di2 Shifters Brake Lever TT Triathlon Bar End Road Bike $162.82 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 9h 21m |
 SRAM PG 1070 Cassette 11 28t 10 Speed Road Bike Triathlon Cycle TT Time Trial $65.00 Time Remaining: 2d 9h 21m Buy It Now for only: $65.00 |
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 SPEEDPLAY X1 Titanium Pedals X 1 X 1 Road Triathlon Cycling only 150grams RARE $63.00 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 4d 6h 59m |
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 2010 Zipp 404 Clincher Rear Road Triathlon Bike Wheel NEW Shimano Sram $950.00 Time Remaining: 5d 5h 52m Buy It Now for only: $950.00 |
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 SRAM 900 Carbon TT Shift Levers Triathlon Road Bike Tri Shifters Free Shipping $109.99 Time Remaining: 6d 9h 55m |
 2010 ZIPP 606 Tubular Carbon Wheelset 808 404 Wheels Road Triathlon TT $1,700.82 Time Remaining: 6d 11h 13m Buy It Now for only: $1,700.82 |
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 Shimano Ultegra Crankset FC 6700 53 39t 175mm Road Bike Triathlon Cranks 720g $190.00 Time Remaining: 6d 14h 32m Buy It Now for only: $190.00 |
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 Triathlon Handlebar Mounts for Road bikes $4.99 Time Remaining: 10d 4h 32m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 New Syntace Aeroshift C2 fit Ultrashift Handlebars Triathlon Tri Road Bike 110 $38.00 Time Remaining: 10d 9h 38m Buy It Now for only: $38.00 |
 ISM Adamo Time Rial Road Bike Triathlon Saddle NEW $189.99 Time Remaining: 11d 21h 20m Buy It Now for only: $189.99 |
 Vintage Grip shift CX DT 8 speed road bike triathlon bicycle aerobar shifters $199.00 Time Remaining: 12d 42m Buy It Now for only: $199.00 |
 Velocity Deep V Wheelset 650c Dura Ace Hubs Handbuilt Road Cycling TT Triathlon $439.00 Time Remaining: 12d 5h 42m Buy It Now for only: $439.00 |
 NEW 2011 ISM Adamo Podium Seat Saddle Road Triathlon $179.99 Time Remaining: 12d 6h 31m Buy It Now for only: $179.99 |
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 Serfas Tri W2 Ladies Triathlon Road Bike Bike Saddle $59.99 Time Remaining: 13d 18h 32m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 |
 NEW Oval Concepts A911 JetStream II Fork 700c Carbon Road Aero Triathlon 44mm $224.99 Time Remaining: 13d 21h 23m Buy It Now for only: $224.99 |
 Cycling Decal Sticker Road Bike Triathlon $3.99 Time Remaining: 14d 22h 36m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
 New Tektro TL720 Triathlon Road Bicycle Bike Brake Levers Silver $27.99 Time Remaining: 15d 5h 51m Buy It Now for only: $27.99 |
 Id Rather Be Cycling Decal Sticker Road Bike Triathlon $4.99 Time Remaining: 15d 6h 4m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 FK005 Brand New Full Carbon 3K Road TT Time Trial Triathlon Bike Fork 1 1 8 $129.00 Time Remaining: 15d 19h 56m Buy It Now for only: $129.00 |
 New 2011 Easton Tempest II 700c Clincher Aero Wheelset Road triathlon $548.98 Time Remaining: 16d 12h 25m Buy It Now for only: $548.98 |
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 Profile Design Cobra S Stem 318mm 110mm TT Triathlon Road Cycling $89.00 Time Remaining: 17d 9h 20m Buy It Now for only: $89.00 |
 Selle San Marco Kuota Saddle Road Triathlon Gel TT Time Trial Cycling New $69.00 Time Remaining: 17d 9h 26m Buy It Now for only: $69.00 |
 Sram Red Front Derailleur Double Titanium Braze On Road Cycling TT Triathlon New $119.00 Time Remaining: 18d 21h 34m Buy It Now for only: $119.00 |
 Stronglight Helion Crankset 175mm 53 39T Carbon Road Triathlon TT Time Trial Tri $399.00 Time Remaining: 18d 21h 36m Buy It Now for only: $399.00 |
 Bicycle Mountain Road Bike Easy Clip On Triathlon Handlebar NEW Light Alloy $39.99 Time Remaining: 19d 5h 22m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 |
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 Continental GP Triathlon 700 x 23c Road Bicycle Tire $40.50 Time Remaining: 20d 19h 54m Buy It Now for only: $40.50 |
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 New Tektro RX 50 Road Bicycle Bike Triathlon Bike Brake Levers Carbon Fiber $44.99 Time Remaining: 21d 14h 53m Buy It Now for only: $44.99 |
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