One of the most common questions new triathletes ask us is, what kind of bike should they get? Bikes can be really expensive, so this is a question worth taking seriously. There are probably as many opinions on this as there are people, so take all of this with a salt replacement tablet.
Are you sure you need a bike?
The first question you should ask yourself is whether you really need a new bike. (If you don't have a bike at all, then you will need one, so skip ahead to getting a bike that fits.) You'll often gain a lot more speed by riding your bike more than by getting a new one. You should also take stock of your strengths and weaknesses and see whether a new bike is important for you. For instance, when I began, I was such a terrible swimmer that focusing on that could save me 10 minutes or so on longer races, while a new bike might save just a few. For a lot of you, just riding the bike you have more often will make a bigger difference than a new bike. And for others, getting your bike to fit better or outfitting it better will make more of a difference than a new bike (plus it's a lot cheaper!)
If you already have a bike, start out using that. Nothing's going to be cheaper than a bike you already have. You may not go as fast as you like on it, but you know you can ride it. We've seen plenty of people doing races on campus commuter bikes. I had one guy pass me on a long race with a mountain bike, when I was riding one of those expensive carbon-fiber dealies. Spending money on a new bike may not make you any faster, either: "fast" bikes may not have the gears to get you up a hilly road like Centennial Road in Berkeley. Ask Matt or me about that sometime.
On the other hand, the bike you ride should be in good mechanical condition, have smooth, road-type tires, and ideally, be a road bike rather than a campus commuter. Even an old 1980s 10-speed Peugeot, as long as the wheels are true and the chain, brakes, and shifters are all working.
Get a bike that fits
So you came into some money, and you really want to get a sexy bike, you just want to know what the best is. Well, the most important thing is fit. If a bike doesn't fit you, it's worth less to you than a bike - any bike - that does.
What does it mean for a bike to fit? There are lots of adjustments you can make to a bike to help it fit better (more on that in a sec,) but the main thing you can't change is the size of the frame. This is measured as the top-tube length, the distance from the seatpost to the handlebars. This is usually given in centimeters, and for most folks it's somewhere between 50cm and 60cm long. There are some differences in how manufacturers measure that distance, so you won't know whether a bike is the right size until you've ridden it, and a bunch of other bikes to compare it to.
How do you know if a bike fits? Well, going to a friendly Local Bike Shop can help. They'll measure you up and tell you about how big a bike you should be looking for. They'll try to sell you a bike, though, and you won't be sure - really sure - if it's the right one until you test ride a bunch of bikes. As many as you can. As a friend of mine advised me when I was looking for a bike, "If they're not sick of seeing you, you haven't tried enough bikes." I went to our sponsor Ken's Bike and Ski and tried half a dozen bikes, then went over to Freewheeler and tried a few of theirs, until I knew exactly the size I was looking for. Then I found a great deal on a bike on Craig's List. (Don't worry, I've given plenty of business to our sponsors since then.)
What sort of thing are you looking for? Mostly, when you ride a bike that fits, it'll just "feel" right. I'd ridden a hand-me-down bike for years that was too big for me, and I always had a knot in my back when I rode it. I figured it was just something that happened from riding bikes. Then I got on a smaller bike, and while riding it my back was comfortable. I also tried riding a bike that was slightly small for me, and it just felt "twitchy." Again, ride a bunch of bikes, and you'll settle in on a size that fits.
When in doubt, err on the small side. Smaller bikes are lighter, and if the bike is a road bike, your body will get more extended when you add aerobars. (More on that in a sec, too.)
Try to save money on your bike
The bike is by far the most expensive piece of equipment a triathlete will own, and it's tempting to get a sweet bike like you see other people riding, or to get a "sweet deal" from a friend. Sometimes these are great deals, sometimes not, but you'll want to save money on your first bike, because:- You'll probably be unkind to your first bike, and put more wear and tear on it than an experienced rider would. It hurts less to do this to a less expensive bike.
- With any new hobby, you'll have a better idea what you want after you've been doing it for a while. It's nice to have experience with something before you spend the big bucks.
- You'll be spending money on other things like pedals and aerobars (and race fees!)
Get your bike fit to you
After you've gotten a bike, you'll want it adjusted to fit you. The main adjustments you can make are the seat height, the seat "setback" (how far forward or back it is,) and the stem (or handlebar) height.
There are many ways to do this. If you get it at a shop, they'll help adjust it to you. Greg LeMond's book has a bunch on sizing and adjusting a bike. Last year we got a team deal with a professional; email info @ ucdtri.com to see if we have something like that going on this year. You can also ask someone with more experience to look at your bike; bribes of baked goods help.
Outfit your bike for triathlons
Once you've got a bike that fits you and is adjusted to you, there are things you can add to make riding easier or faster.
The first thing you'll want to get is clip-in pedals, the kind that attach your shoe to the pedal. (These are also, confusingly, called "clipless pedals.") You'll need to get a pair of bike shoes too. You'll spend at least $100 for a new pair of cycling shoes and a pair of clipless pedals, but it makes such a big difference to your efficiency on the bike, you'll want to do this eventually.
The next thing you'll want is a set of aerobars, if your bike didn't come with them. These make you more aerodynamic, and should both make you faster, and make you have to work less so you have more energy left over for the run. Team members get a discount on aerobars from Profile Design; see the sponsor page for more details. Ideally you'll get these early in the season, and train on them, as they take some getting used to.
Once you've got a bike that fits, and clip-in pedals, and aerobars, you might want to think about getting a pair of race wheels. These will often make a bigger difference than a lighter bike would just by itself. We don't get a discount on wheels, so you'll have to shop around for a pair of these.
