Choosing your first entry-level triathlon bike can be quite confusing for many people. No matter how many investments you make in this sport, the cost of a tri-bike will be higher than all those. Usually, in most of the races, people use high-end cycles with higher prices of $3,000 and $ 4,000. However, if you are a beginner then you do not have to buy a very expensive bike. But, it is also true that the price of entry-level Triathlon bike has gone up in the recent years. You can easily spend $900 to $2000 on a good starter bike and it will surely bring you a good ride. Here are some important factors to consider while buying an entry-level bike with some recommendations.

Beginner Triathlon Bike Guide

Tri Bike Or Road Bike?

The most common question that new bikers ask is that is it necessary to buy a tri bike for their beginning practice. Or their normal road bike will be sufficient enough to do the task.

It basically depends upon the type of riding you are going to do. If you just do triathlon biking only once or twice in a year but have paved trails near your place, then a road bike is good for you. Here we are not giving any recommendation on the road bike because they exist all over the web.

You should invest your money in tri-bike only if you are going to do a triathlon every summer or going to train for Ironman and Half. Every Triathlon bike is made with a specific geometry that helps you to sit in the right posture. Then that right posture will help you to transfer more power to cranks while saving you more gas in the tank for run. The actual difference of a tri bike is most noticeable when cycling hard down a straightaway.

It is good to invest in a high-quality road bike or triathlon bike rather than splitting the difference into two mediocre bikes. The best cycle is the one that offers you good comfort and also provides the option of upgrading the components. You can also use a good bike for indoor bike training during winter. Riding a good-quality bike will give a very good feel and also make it highly responsive with time.

If you have a good budget then you can easily invest in an expensive tri bike or best triathlon road bike.

Things to Consider while Buying a Triathlon Bike

Tri bikes are available in the market in many kinds of shapes and sizes at different price points. To ensure that you get the maximum value for your money invested, here we are suggesting you some important things for an entry level bike.

Fit

The most important factor for making your ride more comfortable and enjoyable is to get the perfect fit. The fit that allows you to transfer maximum power while giving complete comfort is the best fit. Even a high-end bike that makes you stretch more is not optimal. Each brand makes its bike with a different angle and structure design. So that means a 56 cm bike of one brand will not be the same in the other brand.

Frame

The framed material is one of the biggest factors that make a huge difference in the price of a bike. However, it does not make a bike best as it all depends on your riding skills. The carbon fiber material is the costlier one while aluminum and steel are less costly than carbon. However, now steel bikes are not highly available in the market. In terms of frame options, carbon fiber bike is the lightest among all and always considered as the best ride on the road. It is usually very responsive on hills and accelerations and has also become the standard frame out there. The only issue with this frame that it can be easily damaged and that damage is not highly visible or noticeable at most of the times. On the other hand, the aluminum frame is recognized for its high-durability and also less expensive than carbon fiber. If the bike manufacturing company uses aluminum frame then it means it surely put better components on the bike as the aluminum saves them a lot of money. Another growing type of frame is Titanium but surely not for entry-level.

Components

Components include those entire small things on bike which aids in better shifting and peddling of your bike. Getting good components on your bike is great but for an entry-level, midrange components will also going to work. You can easily upgrade good quality components when you have a good budget. For example, you can easily swap bike saddles according to your choice, regardless of the bike frame. Shimano has a right lock on components but SRAM, Bontrager, and Campagnalo are also good ones. The Shimano hierarchy is Dura-Ace, Ultegra, 105, Tiagra, Sora, and Claris, and this is from highest to lowest end. Most of the new bikes in the market are now using 105 and up. Talking about pedals, you can easily buy them afterwards. Plus, it is also very important that you get the cycling shoe pedal system. Most of the experienced riders recommend spending more money on components that can spin. That means you should upgrade wheels, chain rings, and cranks first and then you can spend money on braking and shifting system.

Condition

The right condition of the bike is a very important factor when you are buying a used bike. Used bikes usually come with frame issues. You should avoid buying bikes that have cracked, bent, or corroded frame. Also make sure that all components are working in good condition such as cables, rims, shifters, and brakes. You can easily replace tires and seats if they are not in proper condition.

Top-Rated Entry Level Triathlon Bikes of 2020

There is a huge variety of Triathlon bikes available in the market and it is quite difficult for a beginner to choose the best one. The fact is that the same bike can provide a good level of comfort to a person but do not fit well for the other one. Here, we are recommending some of the best entry level bikes that we use personally.

Felt S32

PROS

CONS

The Felt S32 has been considered as the best entry level bike from many years. It is a quite light aluminum bike that also contains some components in the carbon fiber form such as the fork blades. This bike has Shimano 105 components that are usually available on entry-level bikes. The price of this bike has increased to $1,399 from the past few years but you can easily get it at a lesser price through sale or discount offer.

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Quintana Roo Kilo

PROS

CONS

QR brand is a great brand because, since its beginning, it has been consistently focused on tri bikes. The Kilo is the main bike of this brand that has good selling rate but it is not their lowest-priced bike. The price range of this bike is quite confusing as they vary the componentry. It is usually available in the range of $1,100 to $1,400. It comes with a carbon fiber frame and Shimano 105 drivetrain. This is the best combination of good riding for long years.

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Felt B16

PROS

CONS

We were hesitating to put the Felt on this list but the company has really made a great decision by keeping bikes at the entry-level price range. Felt B16 offers the best value for their carbon fiber bikes. It contains the high-quality UHC carbon fiber frame and 105 drivetrain which are usually used in high-end bikes only. The Aero time trail base bars are perfect for aerobats and offer 3 positions they can be set on. Its price is $1,800 but you can easily get it under $1,500 at a good deal offer.

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Orbea Ordu M30

PROS

CONS

Orbea is a well-renowned Spanish bike maker which has been making tri bikes since the 1930s. They entered into the triathlon bike market with the other brands, and have been providing great bikes ever since. Many world champions of this sport have ridden Orcas.

It is made of high-quality M30 triathlon frame with good carbon fiber components, 105 components, and a full carbon frame. It contains the features of a high-end bike such as aero forks and a wider bottom bracket. It comes with a price tag of $2,300 that is quite high for entry level. If you want to save your money then you can go for Orbea M30 which is a good quality road bike under $2,000.

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Giant Trinity Advanced

PROS

CONS

Giant is a big brand that makes bikes at a very large scale unlike Felt, Orbea, and Quintana Roo which are more focused on specific things. Their bikes are always the best quality bikes but they are not for the gear-junkie crowd. Their Trinity Advanced model is also very good. Their full-fledged bike comes with Shimano 105 components, frame and fork, high-quality rims and tires. This is the best option for those who want a good bike within the range of $1,900 to $2,000.

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Other brands, such as Cervelo and Cannondale, have been making solid tri bikes for years, but their price point is a little higher than what we wanted to recommend for entry-level bikes. However, if you have the budget for it, definitely include these two brands in your search. Trek is another mainstay that could be considered if you have more to spend, although in recent years they have focused their energy on road bikes, and much less on the tri market.

There are some other brands as well such as Cervelo and Cannondale which have made their solid entry in the market. But all those are selling bikes at a quite higher price for entry-level bikes. If you have a good budget then you can go for them. Another great option is Trek that is mainly focused on road bikes than tri bikes.

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Another best option is to use a road bike that offers aggressive race position. These road bikes are basically flatter-geometry bikes rather than endurance bikes. They enable you to ride in the right angle position which you usually get with tri bikes. These road bikes will help you to get aerodynamics of the tri bike but not offer the forward geometry which is necessary for an optimal transition. The Cannondale CAAD12 series is best which comes with disc brakes and carbon frame at the price point of below $2,000.

Conclusion

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Topics Covered

A Guide [2020] To Buy An Entry Level Triathlon Bike

Tri Bike Or Road Bike?

Things to Consider while Buying a Triathlon Bike