For a road triathlon such as Silverman, there are two main [...]]]> **Tracy is a guest blogger for SilvermanOrBust.com. Tracy has a long background in fitness and has raced numerous Triathlons among other events. She is also a physical therapist completing a graduate degree. Tracy is going into her second year as a pro-triathlete. **

For a road triathlon such as Silverman, there are two main styles of bike to consider if you are in the market for a new ride – road and time trial (tri bike). Both have pros and cons and the important thing to remember is what your primary riding will be. There are some major differences between the bikes that affect handling, comfort and performance.

Road bikes are designed for long days in the saddle, quick handling and riding in large packs. They have drop handlebars with a variety of places for your hands. They also have STI shifters – the brakes and the shift levers are in the same location on the bars. The geometry of a road bike also tends towards a more upright position (when compared to a TT bike). The seat angle will be closer to 75-72 degrees, which makes the bikes more stable when riding down the road. Because more road bikes are sold, you tend to be able to get better quality components for less money.

Tri bikes are highly specialized machined with one purpose – to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. They are not as easy to control, especially on technical descents, because the geometry encourages having the weight forward on the bike. The seat angle is usually between 75-80 degrees, which opens the hips and allows for a more aerodynamic position. These bikes come set up with aero bars, and cow horns, with bar end shifters on the aero bars and the brakes on the base bar. This can create issues when trying to shift in traffic or on technical roads. Tri bikes are more expensive then road bikes in general, and are less versatile in terms of riding.

There is a whole lot more differences between the two styles of bikes. A good rule of thumb is to consider how many bikes you can afford. If the answer is one – then a road bike with good quality clip-on aero bars is a better option then the tri bike. You will be able to use that bike for tris, group rides, road races and other events. If bike handling is an issue, then go for the road bike – it’s more stable and easier to handle under adverse conditions. If you already have a good road bike and are looking to up-grade, then start looking at the tri bikes.

It’s time to start talking about the bike. For most of [...]]]> **Tracy is a guest blogger for SilvermanOrBust.com. Tracy has a long background in fitness and has raced numerous Triathlons among other events. She is also a physical therapist completing a graduate degree. Tracy is going into her second year as a pro-triathlete. **

It’s time to start talking about the bike. For most of us, the bike will be the single longest leg of the triathlon, both in distance and in time. For that reason, it’s important to get the right bike. Triathlete Magazine has some good bike buying and first time tri tips in the latest issue, so I would encourage you to check it out.

At any triathlon, there is a dazzling amount of bike bling on display in the transition area. From full carbon triathlon specific bikes with disc wheels to uber light road machines with aero climbing wheels. The variety of bikes and equipment can be staggering. Add to that the high pressure ads on-line and in the magazines claiming that “these wheels are the fastest ever” and “this bike weighs nothing at all” and trying to find the right bike for your first and many other triathlons can be very challenging. It’s even more challenging if you have money to spend and a planned up-grade from the bike in the garage. There is a lot of information and many different styles and brands of bikes. I’ll start a series here discussing bikes – the differences between road and triathlon (and maybe mountain), the types of wheels available, and equipment, clothes, safety and basic maintenance.

As with any topic, some information might be new, some might be a good review or it might completely contradict what you have heard elsewhere. That’s okay! Bikes are such an important part of our event and represent the single greatest expense we have. But you don’t need the bells and whistles to complete a triathlon, even one as challenging as Silverman. All you need is a bike that fits comfortably and works well. The latest high tech bike won’t be as fast as the clunker in the garage if it’s not the right size or not comfortable for hours.