Your First Triathlon:  What kind of bike do you really need?

The sport of triathlon is growing.  Almost everyone you talk to has done a triathlon or knows someone who has done a triathlon, but there is a lot of misinformation out there about what type of bike you truly need to enter and compete in triathlons.  Sure, you can spend thousands of dollars on a state-of-the-art carbon fiber triathlon bike, but even if money were no object, should you?  In this article, we hope to dispel some common myths and answer some typical questions we have been hearing lately around the shop about what is needed to get started in triathlons.

For most triathletes, a road bike is a perfect training and racing partner.

To be honest, anything with pedals can be used to complete your first triathlon.  Lots of folks bring us their old mountain bikes to have the knobby tires swapped out with narrow "slick" tires before their first event.  These tires make the bike a lot more efficient by reducing the amount of rubber in contact with the road.  Once you get past your first triathlon and have ambitions of doing more events, things start to change.

Road Bikes vs. Triathlon Bikes:  For most athletes just starting out, a road bike is the best tool for the job.  Why a road bike and not a triathlon bike?  A triathlon bike is a specialized bike designed for one purpose - aerodynamics during a triathlon event. A road bike, in contrast, will allow you to hone your skills in all of the

Triathlon bikes are great for going fast in a straight line, but are not so practical for everyday training.

disciplines that you will be engaging in for your training - group rides, long endurance-building training rides, and rides in the hills and mountains.  These are the areas where a road bike shines.

What about aerodynamics on race day?  A set of clip-on aero bars will give you most of the efficiency of a triathlon bike's aerodynamics and have you race-day ready at a fraction of the cost.  In fact, many professional triathletes train on road bikes and use their triathlon bikes for race day only.  The more upright position of a road bike puts less strain on the neck and back than the sleek, low position of a triathlon bike.

But, if you are a new competitor, aero bars may be best kept on the back burner for your first season.  There is nothing wrong with doing a triathlon on a road bike with a standard handlebar and no clip-on aero bars.  In fact, if you're new to the sport, that's probably a wise choice.  Getting used to a new bike while trying to master new shifters, clipless pedals AND aero bars may prove to be too much in preparation for your first triathlon.

The right set of clip-on aero bars can be installed in minutes and can shave minutes from your race time.

Finally, it is important to take into consideration your current level of fitness, your flexibility, sports injuries and your future goals in the sport before you head out the door to go bike shopping.  All of these points are critical in finding the right bike for you.  Unlike purchasing other products, the price of a bike is the least reliable indicator as to whether it is the right bike for you.

A rider with low flexibility who simply wants to compete with some friends in a few events each year would not be suited for the most expensive triathlon bike on the planet.  A good-quality, properly-fitted road bike may be more enjoyable to ride and will last for years.  Should you find yourself immersed in the sport, you'll probably purchase a dedicated race-day triathlon bike.  But even at that, you'll most probably do the bulk of your training on a road bike to save your back and neck the discomfort of an aggressive "aero" position.

We are always willing and eager to share what we know.  For more information on this or any other topic, stop by or call The Bicycle Wheel today!

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