Bikes

Ok starting to look at bikes since I will be getting one in a week or so.  The shops around here have what appear to be some pretty good deals.

I have found a couple deals on Cannondale road bikes I believe it is the Synapse line.  They have 2 models in that line that are about $100 difference.  I have looked and the only difference seems to be in the Shifters and derailers. 

Stupid question but at this point in my game how much difference will I really see.

Also related for Bikes I just got the Garmin 310XT  is the attachment for the bike worth it for training rides?  If I enjoy it I can see me doing more distance.

 If I remember right, you are fairly new to biking, or triathlons or something.  Depending on what bikes you are looking at, you may or may not notice a difference.  If you are looking at the bottom 2 bikes in that class....eh not so much.  But if you compare the Sora to Ultegra, big, big differance.  In my opinion, buy all you can up front.  Us bikers have this disease called "want", and even before your wallet cools from the first buy, you will be wanting to upgrade.  If you can, at least buy the 105 series, you will not regret it.  (easy for me to say, its not my money)

I recently have spent over $4200 on my new steed and look everyday for upgrades.  I am never happy, as most cyclist are.  The most important thing is get what you can afford, dont look back and have fun

ROY
Here is my new steed.  Worth more than my car, but worth every penny.
Email me if you have any questions.

Roy,

I am totally new to biking and Tri.  The tri I am doing is for a cause that has a very special meaning to me which is the only reason I am doing a Tri at this point.  I would love to get a higher end bike because I am sure I will end up at least continuing to ride but unfortunately cir****tances at this point really don't allow for a major investment.  My wife says we have to get furniture and stuff for the new arrival in Aug, and everyone knows how expensive baby stuff is. So right now my options are limited.

 Hey I totally get it.  What bikes are you looking at, and maybe I can give some non-expert advise.  I spent the last 8 months researching and have learned a little.

ROY

You can see a big difference.
I went the inexpensive route on my first bike and regretted it.  Money was an issue, but I also though well I might not even like this cycling thing, so why spend a lot of money on something that is just going to sit in the garage.  The thing just wouldn't shift worth a darn.  Well I ended up loving to ride, but I hated my bike, it made the rides unenjoyable to be fighting it during the ride.  I had it into several different shops on multiple occasions.  I finally had to replace the front derailleur.  The way they generally get the prices down on the bikes is they put cheaper components on it.

The money I had to spend on mechanics and on parts, could have been spent on buying a better bike right from the get go. 

Some shops will give you a credit on the parts that are installed towards the purchase of upgraded parts, if the bike doesn't come with those parts as a standard option.  The shop I bought mine from swapped my cranks and gears.  No charge, no shop fees nothing.  They took the set I wanted off of another bike in the shop and swapped them.

I recommend spending every bit you can afford without putting yourself in the poor house.
What are the components on the two bikes? 

Yes get the attachment for the bike.  I think I paid 10.00 for mine on ebay.  I also ordered my cadence sensor off of ebay for less that what the stores were charging.
You don't have to have it, you can always wear it as a watch, but that Garmin is so big that it's annoying to wear. 

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your new bike.

A couple more things.
The bike isn't the end of the money hole either.
Helmet
shoes
eye protection if you don't already have some good sunglasses or regular glasses
water bottles
water bottle cages
pedals most of the bikes that you get from the local bike store don't come with pedals
gloves
riding pants and jersey (padded cycling pants big plus on the old rear end)
and the cost keeps clinbing and climbing.
Not all of it is a must have, some of it is, some of it is a nice to have and some of it is a convenience factor.

I started out with a new Trek 1.1C road bike, it was $620 and was all I could afford. Plus at the time I wasn't sure if I would like cycling or triathlons.

I ended up falling in love with triathlon, and wanted a triathlon bike, since I don't do group rides, and I train mostly alone except for the monthly occasion when my best friend feels like joining me (I ended up giving her the 1.1C).

When the bike shop was getting all the 2011 Trek Speed concept triathlon bikes, I got a good deal on last year's exquinox 7 triathlon bike. I am so happy with my purchase, I love it, I feel fast on it, and it fits me perfectly.

Had I bought a pricier road bike, I still would have wanted a triathlon bike, its just a personal preference, mostly because I love triathlons, and I never go on group rides.

I bought a Garmin 305 with the cadence sensor, I like having it because I am a data nerd, and it give me a good idea of my distance when I am riding on the bike trainer, but trainer miles don't translate 100% to road miles, so I don't take the mileage too seriously, I pay more attention to my cadence and heart rate.

I must tell you though, the extra expenses will come with a bike purchase: clothes, clipless pedals, shoes, cleats, helmets, clip-on aerobars if you decide to get them, a bike trainer if you decide to get one.

Out of everything I have ever been involved in, triathlon is by far the most expensive, its it far worth it to me, but my head would be spinning if I sat down and added up everything I have spent on this sport

 I dont want to scare you but I saw this list a few months ago and laughed at it.  Sadly, I am 5 months from my first tri and have bought most of what is on this list.  Like Jillian said, it is a damn expensive sport.

For the swim:  
hydrodynamic goggles ($50)
A swimming wetsuit ($400)
and either a one piece or two piece tri suit ($179)

For the bike you'll need 
a Tri/TT bike ($2,000-$5000)
Custom fitting ($300)
with a Tri seat ($179)
Clipless pedals ($200)
carbon soled tri shoes ($200)
an aero helmet ($200)
Aero Wheelset ($1000 to $2800)
sunglasses ($100)
race tires (or tyres) ($120)
pump ($100)
CO2 inflation kit ($30)
Water bottle cages (carbon) ($100)
Water bottles ($20)
tubes ($30)

For the run- 
Training shoes ($100)
Tri running race shoes ($100)
cap or visor ($30)
race belt ($10)
running socks ($12)

For the transitions you'll need:
A specialized transition bag ($150)
A towel ($10)
sports drink, recovery drinks, gels ($50)

Other stuff:
Entry fee ($130)
hotel/travel ($300)
Coaching ($1000)
Fitness Club/Pool membership  ($500)
Garmin 310xt GPS watch ($350)
BT membership ($60)

i'm of a slightly different opinion.  i have used an entry level road bike (specialized allez) for just about two years and i've put that bike through some hell (3 or 4 centuries, maybe a dozen tri's, the six gap century, and the ride across indiana, let alone all the training in the mountains of n. GA).  i didn't upgrade any component and didn't upgrade to clipless pedals until i did a half ironman (i did a century in clips without any issues, and just slapped on some aeros for the half ironman).  when you start talking about upgrading bikes and buying a very expensive carbon frames there are definitely diminishing returns.  i.e., if you focus on losing a couple of pounds here or increasing your cardio/strength there, you will have greater results.

that being said, i'm ready to purchase my second bike, it will be an middle of the road model not too crazy, but mostly because i've worn through just about all of my bike due to all the miles i've put on it.  it's served me well, and i'll keep it around for some events.

Hey Bro,

Bikes CAN make all the difference. On this ride below, I competed in Ironman Louisville with this exact setup and averaged about 18mph with theis setup... Ultegra, mid level carbon and decent race wheels...


Last November I competed at Ironman AZ and my bike split for the 112 miles was almost 20mph. Dura Ace, Disc, and much better carbon.