Used Triathlon Bikes: 6 Things to Check Before Buying

[@bow.1073]

Good advice. Two months too late for me. Take the tap test seriously. Bought a used felt just to get it home to show it off to my wife and as I leaned it over noticed a longitudinal crack in chain stay under the sticker. Very difficult to see, but tap test positive. Dream bike became a nightmare within 30 minutes of purchase.

[@greasycervelo]

I ride used Road bikes as my focus is MTB and the road bike is Trainer,and early season rides I would also like to add this. Buy a good frame and look at buying a new groupset. I did this with my specialized. There are online places that sell sell the latest 105 groupset (5800)for less than 500CAD including delivery. (I would love to buy local but but with Shimano there is no way local can compete with online and they pretty much don't carry Shimano anymore as it costs them almost 50% more) I do give them the extras such as chain, cables, and bottom bracket and get them to put it together. They actually don't mind and advertise this service. They know in my case and others they will never sell me a new road bike. Doing this got into my latest road bike 2013 Specialized Roubaix for 1200(This is more bike than I need). I am not afraid of used just be smart and don't buy with your heart. There are a few E-bay stores I trust for their quality and always look there first.

[@jaykarandikar]

Thanks for the tip Taren. My current road bike - 2009 MAdonne 5.2 was bought off craigslist. (i did buy and sell two bikes before that off of craigslist). Finding a used bike, has been a trying and a tiring experience. I am thinking of purchasing the next bike - a tri bike - brand new. I think I am going to go for a Cervelo P2C.

[@doyourawesome4116]

Did you buy the P2C?

[@primarymedworks]

So excited...new bike day this week for me!!! They are the best!!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Great tips all around. I wish more people were comfortable buying used; I've known (too many) people who didn't get into the sport because they can't afford a new bike. I've seen people on 1980s Panasonics destroying on the bike leg and I've seen a Cervelo P5 never even getting ridden because its owner didn't make the swim cutoff. Now hey, I'm as much of a bike nerd as anyone, but admitting that a bike is only as good as I am saved me a lot of money, lol.

[@drbellpepper]

I bought my Trek SC off of CL and was very happy with the deal I got. I used Trek's Size guide which at 6"2 put me in the upper end of the L and lower end of the XL. (I got the XL) I took it to a local bike shop and had it properly fit for my body. BEST $100 I HAVE EVER SPENT! The owner of the shop spent over an hour with me measuring and adjusting everything from my seat and stem to my cleat position. Video suggestion... I am thinking of flying either to Florida or California for a triathlon next summer. What are your tips for traveling long distances for a race where you can't drive? Do you ship you bike via bike flights or check you bike on an airline. If I don't want to invest in a bike case can I use a bike box from a bike shop? How much do you break the bike down? (I have heard that is a downside of Trek SCs)

[@waltersalazarr6653]

Wow, I just bought a 2012 Felt B2 and it's amazing!!

[@dannyboy8183]

Recently I purchased a litespeed blade 2003 got a real deal with this bike I really like how it rides 🤙🏾

[@sheddski2942]

im looking at a 2013 fuji aloha 2.0 but its been changed over from triathalon setup to dropped bar street setup and the owner didnot cheapout quality bars 105 breaklevers to match rear derailor and same orange type wrap job using stock stem also clip pedals and the original handle bars are still in one unit included incase you want to train for decathalon all total 400.00 looks great from pictures black and orange so youre opinion 🍀

[@addlip8877]

What do you think of cheap carbon wheels like Yoeleo?

[@nizzypatel]

Taren - I'm new to triathlons, so please excuse my silly question: Regarding the "head set" and putting a towel over it during indoor rides to prevent sweat from getting in....What about when you're riding the bike outside on a hot day (when you don't have a towel over the head set) and sweat onto the head set? Love you channel and your recent coverage of KONA...EPIC!Regards,Nirav

[@TriathlonTaren]

The seating in that case isn't nearly as intense because the wind is wicking it away

[@Lucky008aau]

I "love" how according to Taren that old Shimano 105 is crap when I'm cruising on a 2012 aluminum road bike with old Tiagra components (19.2 mph/30.9 kph in my last Oly). Some of us have kids with daycare expenses.

[@knight1boner]

Says the guy with his Corvette in his profile pic. lol

[@TriathlonTaren]

+Jared Bone hehehehe

[@kajet666]

I have Claris on my road bike. If you're not familiar, that's one notch BELOW Tiagra. Works almost as smoothly as the 105 on my 2016 tri bike. Eat this Taren ;)

[@Lucky008aau]

I wish it was mine. I rock an '08 Camry SE (V6 at least), but +Jared Bone is right, the pic does not help my argument.

[@Lucky008aau]

That's TWO notches (Claris, Sora, Tiagra...), wow, I didn't think to go that low. It's good to hear it works well. My understanding of the Shimano line: consider 105 as the base, the best for budget, quality, and weight. Ultegra is lighter, but more expensive; Dura-Ace is the lightest, most expensive, but more fragile. Going the other way, Tiagra, Sora, and Claris are increasingly heavier and cheaper (and have fewer gears in the rear cassette). Wikipedia lays it out well: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimano

[@alexa4438]

Just a quick dumb question: "Do road bikes bearing no UCI sticker allowed in any triathlons in Northern America or europe? I mean those bikes that were never heard of or not the usual brands we see in races.

[@PaudieBear]

Waiting to pick up my P3. Out of curiosity what size frame is your P2. 👍

[@masonburkett2982]

Ok, I just thought about this and thought who better to ask than you. So I’m a Senior in High School, I’m a 17 years old male, 5’11” tall, and weight roughly 145lbs, but my weight has constantly bounced around from my Freshman year to my Senior year of High School. Starting out at Freshman year I weighted maybe 100lbs, then Sophomore year I started a after school activity that helped my strength building, then I went up to about 140lbs,last year I started to run cross country because I found that I was just naturally kind of good at it and actually lost weight, down to 130lbs, but this year I’ve taken up cycling and actually gained some weight back. I can tell by just looking at my figure from last year to this year and tell that I gain that weight in muscle in mainly my thighs and glutes, and I was just wondering what kind of weight change I would expect to see once I add swimming to my routine, because I do want to do triathlons. Would I see my weight go up, down, or would it stay about the same? Also do you have any advice for like a pulled muscle or tendon around the glute area? I went to the doctor today and they said to rest it for a week to ten days, but I’m wondering if stretching it just a little would help it. I pulled it and cross country practice last week, my coach seems to think it’s the IT band, but I would think it would hurt to do the stretch and it doesn’t. Though the spot it’s in I could really only think that it’s a hip flexor or IT band. When it hurts it’s like right where the leg connects to the hip, but it’s on the back side near my butt cheek. It also only ever bothers me when I pound on it, so when I run, do like a speed walk, like I’m in a hurry, or when I fall on my foot/ jump. I can ride my bike and feel completely fine. What are your thoughts on it?

[@bow.1073]

Mason. Definitely not a hip flexor in that area. If it is under your butt cheek may be hamstring at attachment on ischial tuberosity (your sit bones). If it is more to outside of butt, but still where you sit, could be gluteus. Pain on outside bony part of hip and down thigh IT band. If it just happened, rest, ice, compression. If it is a week or more old gentle hamstring, glute stretch, rolling, massage. Ease back into speed work slowly. Hope this helps. P.S. I am not a doctor and just giving general advice.

[@kajet666]

Taren now approves the purchase of a mere 105, provided it's the 2016 or 2017 version. Whoah!

[@immerchriswell7924]

Krzysztof Kajetanowicz i appreciate that the KZbinrs i follow have standards of quality

[@kajet666]

Yep, and much as I enjoy watching the videos, I think Taren's bike recommendations are, to most triathletes, on the side of "overkill/snobbery". When you're about to do a non-drafting flat 90-kilometer TT in 2:40, you really don't need Ultegra.

[@immerchriswell7924]

I mean generally Taren has always been good at catering to people who are asking him questions and answering to their needs. So I'd bet people are asking him these questions. Also, him saying buy used ultegra isn't saying to go spend $7k or $8k. Used bikes depreciate fast, so you can be looking at what was an $8k bike for less than 50%(I got a 4 year old 105 for 30% of MSRP... 105 doesn't hold value as well). Triathlon is an expensive sport to a fault. And at the same point, Taren has videos where he says don't go buy a triathlon bike right away, just use what you have. 8 minute videos have their limits.

[@kajet666]

Good point. But you will admit the advice to start buying tri bikes at a $5k minimum is somewhat controversial.

[@VeloChinois]

It's probably 4:28 min/km and not km/hr ;)

[@WindPhotography]

What is the model of that water bottle bridge? I'm interested to get one.

[@sunesunesunesune]

im looking on a speedmax al with ultegra for 500. Good deal?

[@TriathlonTaren]

Hard to say without seeing the actual bike, condition, all kinds of other factors.

[@jameshallfishing3377]

Nice tips. I Probably would buy new though. I could imagine after buying a $5,000 bike they would probably jump to help on accessories. Especially after you told them you were thinking about buying another bike 😉🤙

[@jason200912]

That's just financially irresponsible.

[@chasecondon3064]

My local bike shop is really nice and did it for free and I wasn't planning on spending money there

[@WaltRBuck]

"Kind of a 'shirt'y thing to do."

[@RobertLombardi-r8o]

Your video says 4:28km/hr. That doesn't seem right.

[@michaelb7829]

4.28 KM/HR seems wrong, probably you mean 4.28min/km

[@ernestoquezada4644]

great info.

[@JogBird]

ive never heard people say sher-ram before

[@mcuten]

Ugh. Just had my TT bike stolen so this video is unfortunately relevant for me now 😂😂

[@TriathlonTaren]

+Mike Underell nooooooooo!

[@sharpfork]

Make sure to copyright or tm or whatever "trainarinos"

[@salsalawyer]

Dot dot, dot bike...