Since the birth of triathlon in Hawaii in 1978, more and more athletes are getting into the sport. The rush and the excitement of being able to finish the race are the main reasons why triathlon is such an awesome sport. However, the sport demands more than just endurance and skill. It also requires the right gears and proper equipment to be able to finish the race. And one of these is the tri bike.
The triathlon is composed of three sporting events ― swimming, biking, and running. The athlete should finish all of these three sports in the shortest possible time. To be able to do this, the athlete should prepare and train for the three events. The athlete should also wear a wetsuit and shoes for swimming and running respectively. In the biking event, he or she must have a tri bike. The tri bike must be comfortable to ride. It is extremely important that the rider can pedal the bike with ease, so he canoptimize his energy.
Brand New vs. Second-Hand Bike
Weigh the pros and cons of buying a brand new or a second hand bike. If you are not comfortable with using a bike that has already been used by someone, you can always go for a brand new one. A brand new tri bike bought directly from the store has, most likely, a warranty that protects the buyer but it is also more expensive.To shop for a brand new bike, visit local bike stores so you can actually try various models before purchasing one. Ask for the salesperson’s recommendations based on your level and needs. It would also help to read reviews online.
The second-hand bike, on the other hand, can also be a good buy depending on the condition of the bike. Many triathletes who had either quit early or moved up to the next level in terms of equipment, gears, and training, also upgrade their equipment. If you are a beginner and not sure yet whether you’ll be fully committed to the sport, it would be a good idea to buy a secondhand bike that wouldn’t cost you as much a as getting a brand new bike.
Choose Road Bike or Tri Bike
A road bike is designed for comfort and not for speed while a triathlon bike is designed for speed and not for comfort. If you are in it to compete, you should get a tri bike. Triathlon bike is designed specifically for competitions.
In terms of appearance, road bikes and tri bikes may look similar, but they have one major difference. To distinguish road bike from tri bike, look at the seat tube. The seat tube is the tube right beneath the seat, basically supporting the seat. The difference between the two bicycles lies in the angle of the seat tube. The triathlon bike’s seat tube is a little bit steeper than road bike’s, with 76 to 78 degrees angle against the imaginary horizontal straight line from the bottom bracket, while the road bike’s has an angle of 73 to 74 degrees.
