Best Triathlon Bikes for Beginners: Affordable Options & Used Models

Question
Michael -

I am currently training for my first triathlon and I know my current bike, purchased at (don't laugh) Sears, won't do.  However, I don't have a great deal of money.  Can you recommend a good starter bike (or perhaps an older model I could purchase used) for a triathlon?  

FYI, I plan on starting with sprint distance but working up to intermediate distance - mostly road races.  I don't plan on too many off-roads, and if so, I can always use my old "wide-tire".

Thanks so much for your help!

Lorena  

Answer
Hello Lorena,

About choosing a bike is a really personal choice.
However several points are important to choose a bike, and it aint the colour which is important like many female riders think :-)

Brand and money
Steel tube is more cheaper as a aluminum or more expensive is carbon tubings.
For a short triathlon i should go for a alu type.
Like secondhand on ebay.com
Maybe a Cannondale with a special triathlon geometry whereby you're postioned more upfront to run faster of easier.
When you ride a lot on your bike besides those races you can choose for a roadgeometry with a special seatpost which turns you upfront.
Further look for the right sizes.
A little smaller frame/bike is not bad because aerodynamics are more important, when you can stretch down on the bike it is a good position.
So on a roadbike from brands from Cannondale, Trek is enough choice.
Serotta.com is a steeltubing specialist.
A Merlin or Litespeed.com is enough info about material and geometry.

When you want to know more, let me know.

I can you more for hours.

Good luck

Michael

What is your budget in USD?