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Advice on Bike Choices
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 2016-08-16 10:17 PM |
 33 |  Subject: Advice on Bike ChoicesI'm considering a triathlon bike for my first aqua bike (right now I have a Niner RLT with road tires on it - the RLT is a drop bar gravel grinder bike). I've narrowed it down to 2 potential choices: 2015 Kestrel Talon or 2011 Trek Speed Concept 7.0. I plan on competing in more aquabikes and do a few sprint triathlons next year. Kestrel: ($1300) Pros: - brand spanking new - LBS will include free tune-ups for life Cons: - more than the Trek - my understanding is that the geo is road bike vs. actual tri bike - lbs says that these are sometimes hard to get people fitted on Trek Concept 7.0 Pros - love the look of the bike - owner only used it for racing - owner is exactly my height - tri bike geo - 300 less than Kestrel - If I hate it, I think I can probably get close to what I paid for it vs. the Kestrel. Cons - Age - No free tuneups - probably will need a tuneup, tires, etc. ($300 to spend on it) Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! |
| 2016-08-17 6:48 AM in reply to: stipey169 |
Pro 5892    , New Hampshire | Subject: RE: Advice on Bike Choices First and most important question, do they fit you? Otherwise, they're both useless. I would pick the Trek any days of the week... just a much better bike. Maintenance is not that expensive, to the value of the free tune up is limited (and keep in mind that won't include any parts anyways, just labor). Plus, if you do it yourself, then it's free for life no matter what. :-) |
| 2016-08-17 8:41 AM in reply to: 0 |
Master 2429 Falls Church, Virginia | Subject: RE: Advice on Bike Choices ^^^^^ This. Fit is everything. I pretty much hate cycling right now because my bike doesn't fit me. I told myself if I get through the end of the season, I'm buying myself a bike, and more than anything else I just want it to fit. Edited by Atlantia 2016-08-17 8:41 AM |
| 2016-08-17 9:47 AM in reply to: 0 |
| 33 | Subject: RE: Advice on Bike Choices Thanks, all! You both mentioned fit being important (I agree completely) - but how can one really be sure it fits with only being able to have a cursory ride around a parking lot (if that - most shops do not carry bikes in my size [short])? At least with the Trek, the person who is selling is exactly my height so it would seem that I should be able to make adjustments for the shape of my body easily enough. With the Kestrel, I'd likely have to buy sight unseen and trust that my LBS would be able to take measurements to determine which size would likely be best. Edited by stipey169 2016-08-17 9:48 AM |
| 2016-08-17 12:08 PM in reply to: stipey169 |
| 265 | Subject: RE: Advice on Bike Choices I have a 2015 Talon and it works for me. People seem to want to poo poo this bike but one of our LBS, the one with the best bike fitter in the area, sells a lot of these as his low end offering. I've done a couple of sprints and a HIM this season plus have trained on the bike and have no complaints. I am a 6 footer...can't remember what size frame my Talon is. |
| 2016-08-17 4:55 PM in reply to: stipey169 |
Pro 5892 , New Hampshire | Subject: RE: Advice on Bike Choices Riding the bike for a few minutes doesn't do you much good... Best way to know and understand your fit is of course a professional bike fit... Start with a fit BEFORE buying a bike, not after buying a bike. As to "same height"... that doesn't guarantee that it will fit. You can have two people of exactly the same height having two very different fits (strength, flexibility, experience, etc. are all factors outside of body geometry that influences and changes the fit). It's better than nothing, but again, no guarantee. |
| 2016-08-18 8:29 AM in reply to: stipey169 |
Extreme Veteran 959 Greenwood, South Carolina | Subject: RE: Advice on Bike Choices If fit is good then I would go with the Trek Speed Concept. Love, love, love my Trek Speed concept. |
| 2016-08-18 1:31 PM in reply to: stipey169 |
Expert 1053 Culpeper, VA | Subject: RE: Advice on Bike Choices I have a Trek Speed Concept 7.0... I have a few gripes but overall love it. For $1000, well worth it! |
| 2016-08-18 1:39 PM in reply to: stipey169 |
| 137 Birmingham, Alabama | Subject: RE: Advice on Bike Choices |
| 2016-08-19 6:24 AM in reply to: marti038 |
| 33 | Subject: RE: Advice on Bike Choices Thanks for the help, everyone! I'm testing it out this weekend and will post pics if I bring her home. |
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