vespasianus

I thought you WANTED a tri-bike. One that you could ride with flat pedals. I would say, that if you want that bike, buy it. Nothing to be scared about.

VegasJen

It's not so much that I want THAT bike. I do want a tri bike. That one is just rare in that it happens to be local to me and the correct size.

THIS is the bike I really want. The biggest barrier right now is just the distance. 700 miles round trip is a full day. I have finals next week and then I'm jumping on a plane to spend Christmas with family. I simply don't have the time to take a full day off from studying. I just hope it's still available when I get back after new year. Then I'll have time to take a drive.

Lombard

Look at it this way. If you wait until after the new year and the bike is still available, the listing will be older and that will give you more negotiating power. If it's gone, there will be other listings. And I assume you won't be doing any events until spring anyway, right?

Lombard

Yup. We're pretty much all guilty of this:

VegasJen

I'm not planning on doing any HERE until spring. I will be doing one in Sarasota next month, but I'll be using a different bike regardless.

But your point about the bike availability is well taken. If it lasts another month, I should be able to negotiate a pretty good price on it. And if it's not available, another will come along. Eventually.

Koyote

That's very insightful, and also demonstrates remarkable self-awareness. I sometimes wonder the same thing after spending time here, but have never been able to articulate it this well.

son_of_clyde

I understand what you're saying. I did it that way because estimating moment of inertia for a complex wheel (hub, spokes, etc.) would be a pita, plus having the weight concentrated at the radius gives sort of an "upper bound" in terms of advantage of lighter wheels.

vespasianus

OK. But then, I am not sure what "answer" you are looking for. The original question was about a being scared to buy a specific bike, If you want a tri-bike, I say but a tri-bike, which eve one you want.

vespasianus

But honestly, this has been the most useful and entertaining thread. The arguments made were not crazy and there was some "data" presented that supported a point of view, that people actually looked at and discussed. In most other threads, nobody thinks and just states that 5 cents and keeps repeating whatever they want to repeat.

As for why we come back to things like this, there has to be something addictive - like crack cocaine- that is at play...

VegasJen

Ya, the question was really more about settling, and of course, the structural integrity. I want that Specialized, but once again, odds are not good that it will be available when I'm able to make the trip. The Kuota might be, and given that it's only 100 miles round trip instead of 700 miles, I have much more flexibility there.

Lombard

I would be willing to bet that bike will still be there a month from now. Most people aren't thinking about biking right now.

Don't settle. Keep looking for the bike you really want.

vespasianus

If you want the specialized, I would hold on for that. Come Jan and Feb, you will see more bikes for sale.

VegasJen

The bike I really want it way out of my price range. And I would be stupid to spend that kind of money on a bike anyway. The bike I want is the bike I should have been riding 30 years ago when *maybe* I could have been a competitive athlete.
You think so? I would have thought that's when people would start shopping for bikes. I wouldn't think it would be a weather thing, especially for people in SoCal.

rsbob 

How did this thread get back on track?! Come-on people, you are really slipping.

tomato coupe

I blame the OP.

Trakhak

Meant to mention earlier in the thread: before you drive 100 miles or any other significant distance, triple-check that the bikes you're looking at will actually fit. The size of one of the bikes you linked to was listed as "small," for example. That might be based on male rider sizing and be meant for a rider between 5'4" and 5'7".

VegasJen

That's exactly why I said what I said. Finding a bike in my size is challenging. I am 5'4", so yes, I need a small frame. Normally ride a 49 or 50cm road bike.

Lombard

5'4" isn't unusual. Not nearly as challenging as someone who is 5 foot nothing. I know a guy who found the only bike that fit him was an 47cm womens specific bike.

VegasJen

Maybe I should have been a little more specific. Unless going into a bike store and spec'ing a brand new bike, it can be difficult to find a tri bike in a small frame. I can ride a 54cm bike, but there's no question it's too tall for me to be comfortable on for a long ride. I can't swing a dead cat and not hit a 54cm/medium frame tri bike. But small frame tri bikes, and especially ones close to me, are a much rarer breed of unicorn.

Lombard

To be clear, a 54cm bike is too large for you. I'm 5' 10" and take a 56cm bike. You're definitely a 49 or 50.

Camilo

Like my wife. I've found a couple that fit her and are comfortable, but it's usually an XXS, sometimes called a 44. BUT (big BUT), one really has to look at geometry and frame measurements. Sometimes its "S", sometimes "XS" that can easily fit then it's just a matter of (mostly) the head tube length and whether the rider wants/needs a higher or lower saddle-bar drop or maybe whether the standover meets the rider's comfort zone.

Eric F 

Agreed. I'm 5'-9" and generally ride a 53 or 54.

Eric F 

Maybe I missed it before... Did you decide against the bike you were first looking at in this thread?

VegasJen

I did ride the Kuota in question. It's a small frame and fit me very well. I really don't want to go any smaller than a small frame because, 1) the fit of a small is pretty good, and 2) I really don't want to get into a 650 tire. The bike size is already odd enough. I don't want to complicate matters with weird tire sizes too.
No. I would just rather the Specialized I linked to in a post a little while back.

Lombard

Do you mean a 650b tire? That's not an odd size. Pretty easy to find tires and build wheels that size. I have them on my gravel bike. Remember that a 650b is the same as a 27.5 in mountain bike sizing just as 700c is the same as a 29er in mountain bike sizing. If the bike fits you otherwise and you like it, no reason to disqualify it for 650b wheels and tires.