best spin bike triathlon image
Lov3sSci3n
I was a competitive swimmer for more than a decade and swam division I in college and have recently found out I'm not a bad runner either. The obvious next step for my overly competitive nature is to see if I can do some triathlons but I have to admit I know NOTHING about cycling. I'm in Austin, Tx and am wondering how people get into this sport. Any info helps thanks.
Answer
Lov
Pick up magazines on tri and cycling. I like Bicycling for the latter. See if you can borrow a good road bike. Buying an inexpensive bike is a waste of money.... if you like cycling you will want to upgrade immediately and you will take a loss on your first bike. If you want to spend $1200 to $1800 you can pick up a great bike on Craig's list or Ebay. BUT you must know exactly what you want!
There is a lot to learn in cycling. Techniques you need to learn right away are pedaling and bike handling. Spinning, and clipless pedals being the major issues. All three of the sports are different. If you thought cycling and running were similar.... get that out of your mind. They are not.
If you have friends who cycle hitch a ride with them to learn. If not join a club through a local bike shop. There are also clubs that are dedicated to tri-athletes.
Have a great summer!
Soccerref
Lov
Pick up magazines on tri and cycling. I like Bicycling for the latter. See if you can borrow a good road bike. Buying an inexpensive bike is a waste of money.... if you like cycling you will want to upgrade immediately and you will take a loss on your first bike. If you want to spend $1200 to $1800 you can pick up a great bike on Craig's list or Ebay. BUT you must know exactly what you want!
There is a lot to learn in cycling. Techniques you need to learn right away are pedaling and bike handling. Spinning, and clipless pedals being the major issues. All three of the sports are different. If you thought cycling and running were similar.... get that out of your mind. They are not.
If you have friends who cycle hitch a ride with them to learn. If not join a club through a local bike shop. There are also clubs that are dedicated to tri-athletes.
Have a great summer!
Soccerref
How should I start training for the biking part of a triathlon this summer? I've always been a runner.........?
Someone
So I've had no experience competitively biking before but I'm a runner. I'm 16 years old and looking to do a sprint triathlon this summer. I need to get a bike before then too... so what kind of bike should I get? and how much do you think that would cost? (possible examples please?) and how should I go about training for it.. thanks
Answer
I 95% agree with the answer above, except that I think that for a 16 yo and first road bike and triathlon shopping for a used road bike makes FAR FAR more sense and that a used Steel frame road bike wouldn't be a problem. Steel makes great frames although the commenter before me is correct that the lighter frames of late have mostly been aluminum and that if you are looking only at less than 10 years old you will be mostly looking at aluminum. But I think that have 9 speed rear shifting vs 8 speed rear shifting or even 7 is really inconsequential at your riding level. And a 17lb bike vs. a 20lb bike isn't really that much difference either. Even indexed shifting is not that necessary for a 16 year old novice.
I'm not saying to avoid buying new, but if you budget is tight, and you are still possible growing and this is your very first triathlon, I would NOT PASS UP a good deal on a mid 80s to mid 90s Trek 1100 or a Specialized Allez or a Fuji Team just because it was steel with down tube shifters and 14 speed (7 rear speeds). If you could get something like that for $200 or $250 (very possible) it would be perfectly adequate for your first 1 or 2 seasons and make a great rain bike after that when you get a newer and better #1 bike at your adult height. And if you don't ever ride another Tri - you are out peanuts because you can sell it for what you paid for it easily.
What ever you end up getting invest in toe-clips at least but if at all possible clipless pedals and the shoes to go with them. Much much more efficient riding. Even with toe-straps you don't get as much benefit unless you get the shows and cleats anyway to get locked in properly . You can get by with sneakers and toe straps if you must - don't give up because you can't afford the best equipment for your FIRST race.
Good Luck - Also rather than always riding at full intensity, do some intervals at times - Hard for 2 miles, spin for 1 mile repeat several times. And ride hills.
Riding tips. SPIN SPIN SPIN. most people - guys especially - like to pound on the big gears and push hard at like 50 or 60 rpm (pedal revolutions - CADENCE is the technical term) this is bad training and riding besides not being the most efficient it can lead to knee and back problems You want to SPIN. SPIN at a cadence of about 100 or more (100 rpm). Even better SPIN at 120!!!!! You can race at 90 to 100. You produce more POWER with spinning than with mashing or pounding.
Make triangles to get good circles. A smooth efficient pedal stroke is to cycling what a good stride is to running. Think in three strokes per each circle on your WEAK leg - up to the top, down and back to the start. Focus on Pulling back and up and not mashing down - your legs will automatically do the down. Focus on your weaker leg because your stronger leg will do the same thing more naturally. On the flats always try to spin SMOOTHLY when you get tired on a hard pull, think about pulling UP with each leg, and focus on breathing and smooth strokes.
Cycling will mess up your running stride a bit if you've been training for distance at 6 minute miles or less especially. Your stride will shorten. I'd spend more time on the bike in the first weeks of training to build the conditioning because you need to train those new muscles, but the shift bake to even between running and riding as the race draws near to work on keeping your stride
Just my opinions
I 95% agree with the answer above, except that I think that for a 16 yo and first road bike and triathlon shopping for a used road bike makes FAR FAR more sense and that a used Steel frame road bike wouldn't be a problem. Steel makes great frames although the commenter before me is correct that the lighter frames of late have mostly been aluminum and that if you are looking only at less than 10 years old you will be mostly looking at aluminum. But I think that have 9 speed rear shifting vs 8 speed rear shifting or even 7 is really inconsequential at your riding level. And a 17lb bike vs. a 20lb bike isn't really that much difference either. Even indexed shifting is not that necessary for a 16 year old novice.
I'm not saying to avoid buying new, but if you budget is tight, and you are still possible growing and this is your very first triathlon, I would NOT PASS UP a good deal on a mid 80s to mid 90s Trek 1100 or a Specialized Allez or a Fuji Team just because it was steel with down tube shifters and 14 speed (7 rear speeds). If you could get something like that for $200 or $250 (very possible) it would be perfectly adequate for your first 1 or 2 seasons and make a great rain bike after that when you get a newer and better #1 bike at your adult height. And if you don't ever ride another Tri - you are out peanuts because you can sell it for what you paid for it easily.
What ever you end up getting invest in toe-clips at least but if at all possible clipless pedals and the shoes to go with them. Much much more efficient riding. Even with toe-straps you don't get as much benefit unless you get the shows and cleats anyway to get locked in properly . You can get by with sneakers and toe straps if you must - don't give up because you can't afford the best equipment for your FIRST race.
Good Luck - Also rather than always riding at full intensity, do some intervals at times - Hard for 2 miles, spin for 1 mile repeat several times. And ride hills.
Riding tips. SPIN SPIN SPIN. most people - guys especially - like to pound on the big gears and push hard at like 50 or 60 rpm (pedal revolutions - CADENCE is the technical term) this is bad training and riding besides not being the most efficient it can lead to knee and back problems You want to SPIN. SPIN at a cadence of about 100 or more (100 rpm). Even better SPIN at 120!!!!! You can race at 90 to 100. You produce more POWER with spinning than with mashing or pounding.
Make triangles to get good circles. A smooth efficient pedal stroke is to cycling what a good stride is to running. Think in three strokes per each circle on your WEAK leg - up to the top, down and back to the start. Focus on Pulling back and up and not mashing down - your legs will automatically do the down. Focus on your weaker leg because your stronger leg will do the same thing more naturally. On the flats always try to spin SMOOTHLY when you get tired on a hard pull, think about pulling UP with each leg, and focus on breathing and smooth strokes.
Cycling will mess up your running stride a bit if you've been training for distance at 6 minute miles or less especially. Your stride will shorten. I'd spend more time on the bike in the first weeks of training to build the conditioning because you need to train those new muscles, but the shift bake to even between running and riding as the race draws near to work on keeping your stride
Just my opinions
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