Beginner's Bike Guide For 70.3 & Ironman

Part 1 of 3: entry considerations, new vs. used, road vs. TT, brands, sizes and more

Ryan Dreyer

Jan 31

The most common question I get is: what’s a good entry bike for a 70.3 or Ironman?

So I built a 3 part “Beginner’s Bike Guide” series with the most helpful information to know.

In this Part 1, I’ll cover:

entry considerations
where to look
buying new vs. used
road bike vs. tri bike
how to know your size
brands I recommend

There are links to Part 2 and 3 at the bottom of this post with details on what they cover.

Entry Considerations

Ask yourself: what is my goal with buying a bike?

Are you expecting to be competing in triathlons and cycling for multiple years to come?
Or are you just doing a triathlon to “do it” and trying to go the bare minimum route?

No matter which one you are, you want a reliable bike that’s easy to ride and maintain.

If you’re committed for more than 1 year, you likely want to spend $2k (or more) upfront.

A good bike set up from the start will help you…

enjoy riding more
make progress more easily
save money in the long run

If you’re not so sure how long you’ll be into cycling, you can get by closer to $1k (or less) if you’re resourceful.

3 Tips To Help Manage Your First Bike Purchase:

set a budget
create a full list of items you need (use this series)
research purchase options (local stores, Amazon, etc.)

2 Cautions On Going “The Bare Minimum” Route:

Every athlete I’ve worked with who’s bought an old, cheap, used bike on Facebook Marketplace has run into problems and eventually upgraded (or spent more on repairs and new parts).
Every athlete I’ve worked with who’s expected to be “one-and-done” in triathlon has finished their race and stayed in the sport for more.

Where To Buy A New Bike

a bike shop
an online retailer

My #1 suggestion is to start by walking into your local bike shop.

Tell them your goals, check out their inventory and see how they can help.

Even if you don’t buy a bike from them, you’ll need a reliable place to go to for tune ups, repairs, etc.

Plus, they’ll help you learn about your local cycling community, best routes, group rides and more.

4 Ways A Bike Shop Can Help You With Your Bike Purchase:

they have a bike available within your budget
can check inventory at other locations of theirs
can help purchase from an online retailer and assemble your bike for you
can do a maintenance check on a used bike you find online (before purchasing)

People that work in bike shops like helping people get into cycling.

They’re experienced and willing to help you.

Take advantage of that.

My first bike: Trek Emonda ALR5 bought from the local Trek store

2 More Tips For Buying A New Bike:

Buying a prior year’s model is a great way to save on a new bike
New bikes don’t come with pedals, so you’ll need to get those separately

Another option for buying a new bike is purchasing direct from an online retailer.

I’ve had athletes successfully purchase from Canyon and Quintana Roo.

Where To Buy A Used Bike

Facebook Marketplace
The Pro’s Closet

Facebook Marketplace is completely fine if inventory options are limited or you’re looking to save on cost.

Checklist For Buying A Used Bike On FB Marketplace:

Avoid bikes that are 5+ years old
Check condition of frame, gears, and breaks
Avoid bikes with visible signs of rust, wear and damage
Vet the seller and try to buy from someone who:
- was into cycling/triathlons, but has moved on
OR
- bought a new bike, didn’t use it as much as expected and decided to sell it

Pro Tip: ask to meet the seller at your local bike shop and arrange for the shop to do a quick inspection/fit check before you buy

The Pro’s Closet is an online retailer with both new and certified preowned bikes (and more).

Road Bike vs. TT Bike

For someone brand new to cycling/triathlon, I recommend getting a road bike before getting a Time-Trial bike (aka tri bike or TT bike).

Why?

road bikes are less expensive
you can easily configure a road bike to be well-suited for triathlon (see Part 3)
they’ll help you learn and practice the fundamentals of bike handling (more so than a TT bike)
they’re more versatile and can be suitable for any type of riding (flat, rolling, hilly, climbing)

How To Know Your Bike Size

Road bikes are measured by frame size and presented in centimeters.

The size measures the center of the crank to the top of the frame tube.

Bike measurement from center of crank to top of frame

Here’s a size chart to point you in the right direction:

I am 5 foot, 11 inches and ride a 56cm road bike.

Pro Tip: while inseam serves as a good guide, torso length is more important to consider

This is especially true in triathlon, since you’ll be riding in aero.

If you have a short torso, you’ll skew to a smaller frame that let’s you easily reach the handlebars.

If you have a long torso, you’ll want a larger frame so you are not overly scrunched up.

Seat height can easily adjust to accommodate leg length.

Your local bike shop will be able to help you here. Make sure they know you’re doing tris.

Brands I Recommend

Here’s my list of reliable brands (that are most easily accessible):

Felt, Fuji, Trek, Giant, Canyon, Cervelo, Specialized, Cannondale, Quintana Roo

You’ll be satisfied with any of these brands, but this is by no means an exhaustive list.

Summary:

ask yourself: what my goals are with buying a bike and how long do I think I’ll be into triathlon?
walk into your local bike shop and use them as a resource for buying your bike and servicing it throughout your cycling journey
new bike purchase options: your local bike shop or an online retailer
used bike purchase options: Facebook Marketplace or The Pro’s Closet
road bikes are better for beginners getting into triathlon
height and inseam length will guide you toward the right frame size, but torso length should be deciding factor (since you’ll be riding in aero)

In Part 2: