Focus Triathlon Bikes - An Entry Level Triathlon Bike For Beginners

If you are a complete newcomer to triathlon, one of the things that will hit you immediately is the amount of gear you'll need. It is a far cry from simply slipping on your running shoes and going for a jog. Depending on where you intend to compete, you might need wetsuits - if the swim is going to be cold - but your largest expense is going to be the bike.

You can pretty much use whatever bike you want, but if you want to be able to compete realistically against other competitors, it's a bit like the Space Race! Bicycle technology is always progressing, with ultra-lightweight bikes, and computer-designed tubing tested in wind tunnels to create the least drag possible. Even the equipment worn by the riders is designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, a good example being the aero helmet.

Triathlon bikes are basically the same thing as the time trial bikes used by elite cyclists. The seat tube is usually designed at a steeper angle than for regular road bikes, and extensions on the handlebars - called aerobars - are often used. Both of these features allow the rider to practically lie across the bike to present as small a surface area as possible, thus reducing wind resistance.

Very often, the best tri and TT bikes will be made from carbon fiber. This material is both extremely strong and light in weight, which helps the rider to continue to squeeze every ounce of speed out of the machine. Importantly, this speed is generated in the most efficient manner possible.

There's nothing stopping you from sticking with your standard road bike for triathlons - except ambition! If you want to do well, and preferably not come last every time, you could probably do with upgrading, especially if you have a heavy, old twenty year old racing bike. Things move on, and these days, even very classy tri bikes packed with great features can be bought for well under $1500. Of course, if you are a competitive cyclist making the jump into triathlon - as opposed to a swimmer or runner - then you should be fine with your current bike! You'll already know if it's good enough.

Here are some tips on finding affordable race bikes:

• Scour the classified ads in triathlon magazines for second-hand models
  
• Don't be too eager to buy the first one you see - if you wait a while, you might find it on Sale (Amazon is renowned for its sales)
  
• Similar to the last point, forget about buying "this year's" model. Look for clearance sales of last year's model instead. The specs won't be that different, but the prices might be!
  
• If you are a good mechanic, build your own over time, and squeeze every deal you can when you buy every component