ir0nfist

I just started cycling two months ago. I got out of the marines in April and didn't want to get too out of shape so i went to my LBS (Amazon bikes in Oceanside) and I bought a bike to ride to work on a few times a week. (14 mile round trip from carlsbad to Vista) The guys there, fortunately, convinced me to get the FCR3 instead of the commuting Transend. After really getting into cycling I wish I went all out and bought a "real" road bike. I'm babbling...

Basically, on a whim, I entered the Carlsbad Triathlon like 13 days before it was going to start. I had never worn a wetsuit either. So I acquired a wet suit and have been going to the beach and practicing swimming and taking it on and off.

With 8 days to go I have been looking for good deals on a road bike everywhere (craigslist, LBS, etc) If I don't decide to buy a TCR or something will I get laughed at using my FCR3 and how big of a difference do you think it will be? I personally hate my FCR3. It is cheap, it doesn't shift smoothly and it is in the shop right now getting tuned for the 2nd time (free of charge, but still lame) It even pops the chain going from smallest chainring to 2nd the few times I ever use the smallest chain ring.

What do you guys think?


btw, I have been reading the tips on the swimming and found a ton of youtube videos via this site. gracias

/lameblog

Rahzel

Lots of people use non-road or non-tri bikes in a triathlon, especially if it's a well-attended local sprint event. You won't get laughed at

The_Spaniard

you wont get laughed at, ive seen people use mtb's for tri's, some of them arent slow on them either. Im using a road bike for my tri's untill i can afford a tri specific, but that will be in like 6 months or so. But i will put stuff ont eh road bike to figure out what i like before i buy a brnad new bike.

Dwayne1

Here's a pic of a guy I took last year, what you cant see is the faded paint and rust, nobodody laughed at him and no one will laugh at you, get out there and have fun Marine that's an order!
Dwayne

thehammerdog

Dude: Noone will laugh at you, hey thanks for your service to this country.
Anyone who has the balls to saddle p ride run swim just for shats&giggles is a better man than most. Just ride train and save up for a better bike. The first race is more about completing it than any great time.
Enjoy.

cjbruin

No one will laugh...they will all clap & cheer!

celerystalksme

man, i have seen mountain bikes, singlespeed/fixies, commuter bikes, hybrids, cyclocross bikes at tri events! i'm surprised i haven't seen a bmx bike yet!

you'll be fine!!!!

haenous

ditto to what celery said above. You will see all types of bikes at the events, I have yet to laugh at anyone at a tri with the exception of a dude that was like the 130th person to t2 and was yelling at another dude that he was in the way and "Costing him time." In my experience, twits like this are very few and far between.

zonatandem

Nobody laughs at the winner!

edbikebabe

They won't laugh at you. But if you really hate your bike that much, take your time & shop around before you get something else. Nothing takes the enjoyment out of riding like a crappy (for whatever reason) bike.

caloso

Nah. I rode a fixed gear in my last tri just for kicks. It was great. I racked it up in T1 next to a full suspension mountain bike. Run whatcha brung.

kuf

Nobody will laugh at you. You see mountain bikes all the time at Sprint Tris. (I've even seen a beach cruiser!) You would certainly be much faster on a TT bike, but you can upgrade later.

Jagee

In my first triathlon, I was amazed to see such a range of bikes. On the bike leg, I went back and forth with a dude on a mountain bike (I ride an old Trek 1400 road bike w/ downtube shifters). There were folks in totally upright positions pedaling hard and kids cruising on hybrids.

When I finished and took a tour of the bike area just to drool a little bit, I came across a sweet old fixed Trek. The gearing must have been like 52-14 or something, so this guy was mashing on the bike the whole way! I have to admit, I looked up the results and found that he'd beat me!

Noone's going to laugh--they may just pedal harder.

If you don't find a bike you like better for the race, the next tri will be that much better anyway. Have a great time.

joolied

I've seen tri participants on Dorothy-from-Wizard-of-Oz bicycles, complete with basket (though no Toto) as well as a lady with a baby seat still attached behind her. Go for it!

trsidn 

I rode a hybrid

mrmcmasty

it's not you they are laughing at... it's me... swimming with water wings that has them rolling (but i need the floaties to not drown)

Keith99

You're a Marine. I might laugh if you had trouble in the water. But for having the 'wrong' bike, no way. The only ones who might laugh are the ones that are really really sure they can outrun you.

ir0nfist

I finished... my time was not so good. I struggled in the swim and the wetsuit I was using felt like it had shrunk on me. I could barely breathe. Completely messed me up in the beginning. I did well in the bike, and struggled again in the run.

celerystalksme

congrats! now do better next time! it's all about killing that personal best!

travelmama

Congratulations! I know what you mean about the wetsuit feeling as though it shrunk on you. I had a DNF when I did the Encinitas Tri in May because of the strong current. You have to get used to the suit and work out on the bike that you have. Eventually you will get used to it and make it work for you. For the record, I too have see people riding all kind of bikes, including a BMX. Whatever works, will work. I am waiting for the day to see someone on a unicycle compete in a triathlon.