bike recommendation

Question
 I'm looking for a new bike to replace my 15 year-old Schwinn hybrid which has served me well and which I still like.  However, I've just registered to run a (mini) triathlon and my trusty, rusty old Schwinn looks (and rides) a little tired.  The bike component of the triathlon will only be 25 miles.  I doubt if I'll ride much beyond that distance, but I have done up to 75 miles before and may even try a century ride at some point.  What's your recommendation for a new (or good used) bike to suit me?   I'm 44 years old, male, fit, 6', and 190 lbs. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and will be riding mostly on the weekend, on bike paths to the extent that I can stay on them and away from traffic.  Road bike?  Hybrid? Size? Brand?  New? Used? I would appreciate any info you can provide.  Thanks, Dave  

Answer
Hi dave

Bike Equipment

You invest your time and energy into training for triathlon. But no investment can match the money you have to put into your bike- and bike shoes, jersey, pump, etc.

If you are new to triathlon, the single biggest favor you can do yourself is to buy a used bike. I'm sure many people are reading this right now and saying "What! The best thing to do is to go to a bike store and get help making the decision about what kind of bike to buy, what bike fits best, and getting the assurance of a guarantee from a local bike store." All great things to consider- but if you're just starting out in triathlon, a friend who knows something about biking, plus perhaps a little studying up on your part, should be fine to get you started.

Not to mention saving hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in bike (and bike equipment purchases). Besides- what if you decide triathlon isn't your cup of tea? (Perish the thought!)

So, if you have some extra dot.com cash to burn, or you're of the mindset "when I buy, I buy the best!" then by all means, seek out a knowledgable salesperson at a local bike store, and buy with absolute confidence.

Otherwise, buy used. You can always sell your used steed and upgrade next season, when you've got some biking miles in your legs- and some race experience. Buying a Used Bike

First, find a friend to give you advice about bikes you will find. Then, try these places to find used bikes:

   * triathlon web sites
   * local bike stores cork boards
   * local newspapers
   * community web sites (such as Craig's List in the Bay area)

To evaluate a bike's price, ignoring name brand of the frame and fork for the moment, one must consider the frame material, components, fork material, and wheels.

Bikes are generally made of one (or a combination) of these materials:

   * steel- least expensive; heaviest material to work with, though weights have come down in recent years; flexible, shock-absorbant; "steel is real"; Reynolds tubing, 631 and 853 tube sets most current; will rust, especially in salty environments; long-lasting
   * aluminum- inexpensive; very lightweight; very stiff, better for heavier people; translates road shock more than other materials; recent tubing calling 6000 series (very good) and 7000 series (even better); can be shaped into aerodynamic designs; tubes are larger to help dissipate road shock; cannot corrode, but does fatigue over time
   * carbon fiber- more expensive; unique tube shaping achieved by layering carbon sheets; generally heavier than aluminum, but lighter than steel; some manufacturers approach light aluminum weights, but at great cost; very plush ride; can be stiff, depending on bike design; long-lasting, though carbon fibers do "loosen" after many, many thousand miles
   * titanium- most expensive; some manufacturers use commercial grade ti to bring costs down; feels like steel, plush like carbon, can be as stiff as aluminum; 3/2.5 means 94.5% ti, 3% alum., and 2.5% vanadium; 6/4 is the most expensive tubing; should last indefinitely, as ti does not corrode

The next thing to know is components. There are two main companies: Shimano and Campagnolo.

   * Shimano- made in Japan
         o Dura-Ace- best quality, pricey
         o Ultegra- a notch below D/A, very good
         o 105- still top shelf, 1/2 pound heavier
         o Tiagra- big drop-off in quality, top of next "family"
         o Sora 2- heavier, still fairly reliable- 8 speeds
         o Sora 1- entry level- 7 speeds
   * Campagnolo- made in Italy
         o Record- best of the best- carbon shifters
         o Chorus- high quality
         o Daytona- medium level components
         o Veloce- heavier, much less expensive
         o Mirage- entry level

Forks are made of carbon, aluminum, or steel. Aluminum and steel forks have an effective resale value of $0, but a good carbon fiber fork adds value to a bike, and is in fact a sellable item on its own.

Finally, there are the wheels. Triathletes generally like lower spoke count (18,24) wheels with a deeper profile (depth of rim from the tire toward the hub) and bladed spokes (flat). All that aside, you should note the make and model of the wheels, and consult your friend (or search online) to gauge the wheel quality.

Armed with the four pieces of information above, and once again disregarding name brand (although it is certainly important- I won't break down bike price points brand by brand), here is a rough guideline for pricing used bikes (assuming very good to excellent quality):

   * aluminum, steel- tiagra, sora- $400-$600
   * aluminum, steel- 105, ultegra- $700-$1000
   * aluminum, steel- dura ace- $900-$1500
   * carbon, ti- 105, ultegra- $800-$1500
   * carbon, ti- dura ace- $1200-$2500
   * aluminum, steel- veloce, mirage- $400-$700
   * aluminum, steel- daytona, chorus- $700-$1100
   * aluminum, steel- record- $1200-$2500
   * carbon, ti- daytona, chorus- $1000-$1600
   * carbon, ti- record- $1300-$2500

As you can see, it is much easier to gauge prices for aluminum and steel than it is for carbon fiber and ti. Prices vary widely for the more exotic materials.

Bottom line: if you look around enough, you should be able to find a good used aluminum or steel bike with tiagra or veloce (or better) components for $400 to $1000.

cheers