How to Buy a Triathlon Bike

Triathlon bikes can be either road bikes or mountain bikes. They come in all sorts of materials, from traditional steel frames to high-end graphite frames. Triathlon bikes can cost as much as car, so it is important to determine your budget before you begin shopping.

Instructions

    • 1

      Decide what you will be using the triathlon bike for. Will it just be for races, or will you train with it? Will you use it to commute to and from work? Some bikes are specifically made just for races, not for day-to-day use.

    • 2

      Understand the properties of the different materials triathlon bikes are made of. Steel is the most common and the least expensive. However, it is stiff. Aluminum is mid-range material, both in price and comfort. Titanium is the lightest of the alloys and the most expensive.

    • 3

      Consider how long you have been biking. If you are a novice, then spending $5,000 on a bike--yes, they cost that much--may not be the wisest decision. However, if you have been biking for a long time and are now thinking about racing, it may not be unreasonable to invest a significant amount of money in a new triathlon bike.

    • 4

      Get your bike custom fitted. Unlike the bikes you may have ridden as kid, a triathlon bike is not a one-size-fits-most. In order to achieve the most speed and comfort from your bike, you will need to have it custom fitted to your body frame. Most bike shops will include this as part of the purchase price.

    • 5

      Plan on purchasing biking accessories such as helmets, biking shoes (sneakers don't work with triathlon bikes) and biking shorts and jerseys.