General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Bike Rss Feed  
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2014-03-04 6:45 PM

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New user
10

Appleton, Wisconsin
Subject: Bike
Is it reasonable to use a mountain bike for my first sprint distance triathlon?

I will not have enough saved in time to get my road bike. I will have it by my second triathlon, but not my first.

Thanks,
Steph


2014-03-04 6:48 PM
in reply to: steph b

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Bike

Absolutely....have a ball!

2014-03-04 6:51 PM
in reply to: Left Brain


125
10025
Subject: RE: Bike
Have fun with it and decide if you want to commit more money and time on future races, its actually better to try a Tri before spending too much money, but be warned you will never have enough once you begin!! hahaha!
2014-03-04 7:17 PM
in reply to: steph b

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58
2525
, North Carolina
Subject: RE: Bike
Absolutely.
x2 on determining if you like it before you go and invest money in it.
No problem at all using whatever bike you can get your hands on for your first.
2014-03-04 8:06 PM
in reply to: Wthore

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New user
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Appleton, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Bike
Great! Thanks everyone
2014-03-04 8:57 PM
in reply to: steph b

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Melbourne FL
Gold member
Subject: RE: Bike

I did two Sprints and an Oly on my old 35lb MTB.  Then I bought a used entry level RB for $400 and was amazed at the speed! Rode that for a year and bought a tribike.  If the event has fat-tire division sign up for that.



2014-03-04 9:20 PM
in reply to: #4959651

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Subject: RE: Bike
Go for it!
2014-03-04 10:32 PM
in reply to: steph b

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Extreme Veteran
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Silicon Valley
Subject: RE: Bike
It would be unreasonable not to do it just because you don't have a road/tri bike. You've got a bike and it rolls. Works for me. The first thing I was told when I started was with everything triathlon follow these three rules first:

1. Have Fun
2. Have Fun
3. Have Fun

Do it, have a blast and welcome to the addiction.
2014-03-05 6:05 AM
in reply to: steph b

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Pro
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, New Hampshire
Subject: RE: Bike
Most definitely YES! First tri is for the experience and determining if this if for you. I would even recommend that you DON'T buy a bike until after your first tri. Unless you're already certain that cycling is for you of course...
2014-03-05 6:49 AM
in reply to: audiojan

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Veteran
2441
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Western Australia
Subject: RE: Bike
I would say maybe even do more than one on your MB if that means that you can save a bit more and get a few other goodies like pedals and shoes or a slightly better bike. I wish I had done this as an extra $500 would have made the difference between a bare basic road bike and something with slightly better components and probably fitting too.
2014-03-05 8:21 AM
in reply to: Stuartap

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New user
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Appleton, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Bike
I am excited, it's 87 days until my sprint. Which seems unreal because it is still freezing here.

I just didn't want to look like an idiot showing up in a 1997 Trek...lol. I feel better now that I know other people have done it. The bike itself is actually in fantastic shape, gets a tune up every year and never let's me down.


2014-03-05 9:06 AM
in reply to: steph b

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191
100252525
Melbourne, Florida
Subject: RE: Bike

I've seen many MTBs, hybrids, and even beach cruisers at races. My son did his first on my old racing BMX because he had outgrown his own bike.

It's hard to be judgmental when the majority of the racers look like this:

2014-03-05 9:18 AM
in reply to: vertseven

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Champion
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Checkin' out the podium girls
Subject: RE: Bike
Lock out or limit travel on the suspension. That makes your pedaling more efficient (meaning more speed). If possible, get slick tires and lose the rolling resistance of your trail tires.

Those two simple things will help you tremendously.
2014-03-05 10:13 AM
in reply to: steph b


49
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Subject: RE: Bike
Originally posted by steph b

I am excited, it's 87 days until my sprint. Which seems unreal because it is still freezing here.

I just didn't want to look like an idiot showing up in a 1997 Trek...lol. I feel better now that I know other people have done it. The bike itself is actually in fantastic shape, gets a tune up every year and never let's me down.


I'm buying a bike for my first tri.

I justify it because my bike is a very lovely 2007 Trek Cruiser. Great for tooling around the neighborhood with the kid caboose, but I wouldn't want to be on it for 14 miles because it is heavy as all get out.
2014-04-22 3:47 PM
in reply to: steph b

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278
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Atlanta, Georgia
Subject: RE: Bike
I'm glad I found this thread. I have been looking at buying a road bike, but I'm hard pressed to drop the coin on one before I even know if this is something I want to do long term. I still have my near 20 year old Cannondale MTB that I recently got tuned up & it rides great. I was nervous about showing up to a race on a MTB, even as a novice, but the responses in this thread made me change my mind.

I especially appreciate the response from StaceyK about holding off & saving so you can get more when you do buy. I really like the $2,000 Trek Madone, but it's outside of my budget right now. If I can hold off & either wait for a sale, or save up a few more bills, I can get what I really want.

Now, I do have have one question about using a MTB. My bike currently has toe clip pedals. Would I be better off just using those & putting my run shoes on in T1 (save time in T2!), or get a pair of clipless road shoes & some road bike pedals?

If I stick with the toe clips, the only thing I would need to buy to be ready for the race is a tri kit!
2014-04-22 3:54 PM
in reply to: Meathead

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Subject: RE: Bike
I've seen someone do a sprint triathlon on a unicycle.

I did my first sprint on a $100 target mountain bike.


2014-04-22 4:13 PM
in reply to: sirdizzy

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Extreme Veteran
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Media, PA
Subject: RE: Bike
1st sprint was on my hard tail MTB with slicks pumped up to 80 PSI. It was a blast, and I remember seeing those tri bikes thinking how I could see spending thousands on a bike.

That was four years, and 5 bikes ago. The fleet now includes a tri bike with aftermarket wheels (Boyd, so I'm saving over those Zipps!) a CX bike, full suspension MTB, a road racing bike, and a slightly older road bike.

Start thinking about storage options. I've found you can hang more bikes in the same space by hanging from one wheel.
2014-04-23 2:59 PM
in reply to: tcj103

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42
25
Tuscaloosa, AL
Subject: RE: Bike
At the first triathlon I went to - just watched, didn't participate - one of the mid pack bikers had an old-time three speed with a child seat on the back. Didn't seem to be bothering him.
2014-04-23 3:12 PM
in reply to: steph b

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553
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St Catharines, Ontario
Subject: RE: Bike
Originally posted by steph b

I am excited, it's 87 days until my sprint. Which seems unreal because it is still freezing here.

I just didn't want to look like an idiot showing up in a 1997 Trek...lol. I feel better now that I know other people have done it. The bike itself is actually in fantastic shape, gets a tune up every year and never let's me down.


You will see all sort of bikes at your sprint. Some SERIOUS tri bikes right along side some rusty chains.

I had the shame at my mini-sprint last year of coming out of T1, suffering jelly legs from the swim and having a teenage girl on a mountain bike coast past me on the first hill.

You will have the same fun as anyone there just with the added excitement of getting your hands on a roadie and trying it out.
2014-04-23 3:33 PM
in reply to: badmo77a

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Subject: RE: Bike
Agree with the others-- for a sprint tri you'll see just about everything. As long as you have the basic safety equipment you'll be fine. That means a helmet and possibly no cages on the pedals (depends on the state/province).

I used my son's mountain bike for my first short tri (a mini-sprint) and then bought myself a cross-bike that I used for two sprint tris. I bought the cross bike because I wanted one bike I could use for riding in triathlons as well as commuting and riding around the city. I would even use this bike for an olympic distance, but if I ever do a half-IM I might look into a road bike or a tri bike.

p.s.. It was great fun when I passed a guy on a pretty fancy cervelo tri bike in my sprint tri last year.
2014-04-23 3:37 PM
in reply to: steph b

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Expert
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Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa.
Subject: RE: Bike

Hella yeh!!!!  Mountain Bike it up!

That being said, I got passed going up hill by a fixed gear BMX style bike in one of my first triathlons. 

I was like:  "Hey, can't you see my bike?  I'm sooooooo much better than you!"  He didn't seem to hear me as he went flying by me.

Have a blast and report back here!!!!



2014-04-23 3:51 PM
in reply to: siouxcityhawk

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119
100
Groton, New York
Subject: RE: Bike
My first triathlon was a Spring tri last Spring. You saw all types of bikes.....and everyone having a fun time. Use what you have. I once road my mountain bike (the only bike I owned), on a 75 mile road trip. It worked fine for me.
2014-04-23 3:59 PM
in reply to: badmo77a


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Subject: RE: Bike

Originally posted by badmo77a
Originally posted by steph b I am excited, it's 87 days until my sprint. Which seems unreal because it is still freezing here. I just didn't want to look like an idiot showing up in a 1997 Trek...lol. I feel better now that I know other people have done it. The bike itself is actually in fantastic shape, gets a tune up every year and never let's me down.
You will see all sort of bikes at your sprint. Some SERIOUS tri bikes right along side some rusty chains. I had the shame at my mini-sprint last year of coming out of T1, suffering jelly legs from the swim and having a teenage girl on a mountain bike coast past me on the first hill. You will have the same fun as anyone there just with the added excitement of getting your hands on a roadie and trying it out.

 

As all the others have said above - rock that mountain bike proudly!

 

And absolutely do NOT feel intimidated by all the 'hot racing' bikes you see on race day. Not everyone is a die-hard triathlete, and in fact, those are in the minority at all but the Ironman races (might even still be there too!) I actually feel self-conscious bringing my racing bike and all the aerodynamic gear to local races, since most of the folks are typically doing it for fun (with a good number on mtn bikes.)

2014-04-23 7:12 PM
in reply to: yazmaster

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Greenville, SC
Subject: RE: Bike

DO IT!!!

It is always funny to see someone on a regular looking bike blow right past someone with a $6k plus price bike.  During my first year I used a bike that was 12 years old and had rust all over the frame and components...10% the bike 95% the engine!

Rock the MTB and show everyone what is up!  Triathlon is not necessarily about who is the fastest, it is about getting out there and just doing it not caring about what you look like.

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