Bike Quality and performance

HI,
You did not mention what bike she has but technology has come a long way in
the last 20 years. If she is looking to compete in her age roup she will
probably need better equipment in a 56 mile ride. Inovations in
aerodynamics and lightweight materials could mean more than 5 min.
As far as where to get a bike. I get all mine off ebay and through this
newsgroup because my funds are limited too. You have to know what frame
size she would use and then how the manufacturer you are looking at measures
frame size. (My 54cm frame has a 56cm top tube other 54cm frames have a 53cm
top tube). The bike I currently ride, a specialized M4, I purchased used
for $850 off ebay. I bought new race wheels for $400 off ebay. This bike new
with the wheels retail would have cost me about $3,000
Good Luck
Mike
"sb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:cN6Uc.18430$S55.47@clgrps12...

Quoted message said:

I just found this newsgroup and have a question that hopefully has an
answer.

My wife did a number of "mini triathlons" in the mid eighties and wants to
train now for a higher distance. The bike section will be 56 miles.
The bike she used back then was ok (we think) for the training and

distance

Quoted message said:

she competed at but we are now wondering :
1. Should she get a new bike (or rather a quality used one as resources

are

Quoted message said:

limited)
2. Should she continue with the bike she has because the performance

(speed)

Quoted message said:

gain might be neglible.
So here is the question:
Is there a rule of thumb calculation that can be used that would say
something like "for every 1000 spent a person will likely increase time

over

Quoted message said:

a specific distance by x minutes/seconds"

I have no doubt she will compete to place in her age group (she will be 45
at that time, sorry Lyn;-) )

If there is an answer to this that could be given in laymans terms we

would

Quoted message said:

appreciate it.

Thanks!

Steve

Just keep in mind the law of diminishing returns. Once you reach a certain
point, it is pointless to keep spending silly amounts of money on something
that will get you an extra minute or two in a Half or Full race. At least
that is my thought.
M~

"Mike & Kelly" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

HI,
You did not mention what bike she has but technology has come a long way

in

Quoted message said:

the last 20 years. If she is looking to compete in her age roup she will
probably need better equipment in a 56 mile ride. Inovations in
aerodynamics and lightweight materials could mean more than 5 min.
As far as where to get a bike. I get all mine off ebay and through this
newsgroup because my funds are limited too. You have to know what frame
size she would use and then how the manufacturer you are looking at

measures

Quoted message said:

frame size. (My 54cm frame has a 56cm top tube other 54cm frames have a

53cm

Quoted message said:

top tube). The bike I currently ride, a specialized M4, I purchased used
for $850 off ebay. I bought new race wheels for $400 off ebay. This bike

new

Quoted message said:

with the wheels retail would have cost me about $3,000
Good Luck
Mike
"sb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:cN6Uc.18430$S55.47@clgrps12...

Quoted message said:

I just found this newsgroup and have a question that hopefully has an
answer.

My wife did a number of "mini triathlons" in the mid eighties and wants

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

train now for a higher distance. The bike section will be 56 miles.
The bike she used back then was ok (we think) for the training and

distance

Quoted message said:

she competed at but we are now wondering :
1. Should she get a new bike (or rather a quality used one as resources

are

Quoted message said:

limited)
2. Should she continue with the bike she has because the performance

(speed)

Quoted message said:

gain might be neglible.
So here is the question:
Is there a rule of thumb calculation that can be used that would say
something like "for every 1000 spent a person will likely increase time

over

Quoted message said:

a specific distance by x minutes/seconds"

I have no doubt she will compete to place in her age group (she will be

45

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

at that time, sorry Lyn;-) )

If there is an answer to this that could be given in laymans terms we

would

Quoted message said:

appreciate it.

Thanks!

Steve

Thanks for the input Mike.

The bike she has right now was built for her from a standard Chro-Mo frame
(at that time) made by Peugeot of France (we lived in the UK) Size of the
frame is 50cm top of seat post to Centre of the crank. I am wondering if
this is a little big. What should her leg length be for that size of frame,
any ideas?
We are looking at ebay right now actually. We only have upto 1000CDN to
spend so we have to be really careful.

Anyway, thanks again

Steve

"Mike & Kelly" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

HI,
You did not mention what bike she has but technology has come a long way

in

Quoted message said:

the last 20 years. If she is looking to compete in her age roup she will
probably need better equipment in a 56 mile ride. Inovations in
aerodynamics and lightweight materials could mean more than 5 min.
As far as where to get a bike. I get all mine off ebay and through this
newsgroup because my funds are limited too. You have to know what frame
size she would use and then how the manufacturer you are looking at

measures

Quoted message said:

frame size. (My 54cm frame has a 56cm top tube other 54cm frames have a

53cm

Quoted message said:

top tube). The bike I currently ride, a specialized M4, I purchased used
for $850 off ebay. I bought new race wheels for $400 off ebay. This bike

new

Quoted message said:

with the wheels retail would have cost me about $3,000
Good Luck
Mike
"sb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:cN6Uc.18430$S55.47@clgrps12...

Quoted message said:

I just found this newsgroup and have a question that hopefully has an
answer.

My wife did a number of "mini triathlons" in the mid eighties and wants

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

train now for a higher distance. The bike section will be 56 miles.
The bike she used back then was ok (we think) for the training and

distance

Quoted message said:

she competed at but we are now wondering :
1. Should she get a new bike (or rather a quality used one as resources

are

Quoted message said:

limited)
2. Should she continue with the bike she has because the performance

(speed)

Quoted message said:

gain might be neglible.
So here is the question:
Is there a rule of thumb calculation that can be used that would say
something like "for every 1000 spent a person will likely increase time

over

Quoted message said:

a specific distance by x minutes/seconds"

I have no doubt she will compete to place in her age group (she will be

45

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

at that time, sorry Lyn;-) )

If there is an answer to this that could be given in laymans terms we

would

Quoted message said:

appreciate it.

Thanks!

Steve

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Mike

"sb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:cN6Uc.18430$S55.47@clgrps12...

Quoted message said:

I just found this newsgroup and have a question that hopefully has an
answer.

My wife did a number of "mini triathlons" in the mid eighties and wants

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

train now for a higher distance. The bike section will be 56 miles.
The bike she used back then was ok (we think) for the training and

distance

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

she competed at but we are now wondering :
1. Should she get a new bike (or rather a quality used one as resources

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

limited)
2. Should she continue with the bike she has because the performance

(speed)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

gain might be neglible.
So here is the question:
Is there a rule of thumb calculation that can be used that would say
something like "for every 1000 spent a person will likely increase time

over

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a specific distance by x minutes/seconds"

I have no doubt she will compete to place in her age group (she will be

45

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

at that time, sorry Lyn;-) )

If there is an answer to this that could be given in laymans terms we

would

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

appreciate it.

Thanks!

Steve

As a rule of thumb, I would start cheap. Use as much as you can from
the "old days". Yes, you will get more than a few weird looks from the
tri-geeks, but you (or your wife) are there for yourself, not to show
off your new $200 Pearl Heliarch shorts. Buy only the bear
necessities, until you really need them. Your wife might not like
racing as much as she did back when "Knight Rider" was a popular show.
If she gets back into it, and she probably will, go form there. This
kind of goes ahainst the grain, but you will thank me later. Forget
about being aero, and just have fun as you are re-wetting your feet.

$$

First I would need to know the old bike manufacture and model. There were
some fine bikes in the 80's. Second I would want to know what the course
was. Distance is only one factor. If it is flat then weight is not so much
of a factor as if the course is hilly. It could be that the most bang for
the buck would be a proper set of wheels. We should also know her goals
and expectations. Is she looking for a podium spot or a finish? Podium
spots in most big races today require a very proper set-up as well as finely
tuned body.

Ken

"sb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:cN6Uc.18430$S55.47@clgrps12...

Quoted message said:

I just found this newsgroup and have a question that hopefully has an
answer.

My wife did a number of "mini triathlons" in the mid eighties and wants to
train now for a higher distance. The bike section will be 56 miles.
The bike she used back then was ok (we think) for the training and

distance

Quoted message said:

she competed at but we are now wondering :
1. Should she get a new bike (or rather a quality used one as resources

are

Quoted message said:

limited)
2. Should she continue with the bike she has because the performance

(speed)

Quoted message said:

gain might be neglible.
So here is the question:
Is there a rule of thumb calculation that can be used that would say
something like "for every 1000 spent a person will likely increase time

over

Quoted message said:

a specific distance by x minutes/seconds"

I have no doubt she will compete to place in her age group (she will be 45
at that time, sorry Lyn;-) )

If there is an answer to this that could be given in laymans terms we

would

Quoted message said:

appreciate it.

Thanks!

Steve

"Money" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As a rule of thumb, I would start cheap. Use as much as

you can from

Quoted message said:

the "old days". Yes, you will get more than a few weird

looks from the

Quoted message said:

tri-geeks, but you (or your wife) are there for yourself,

not to show

Quoted message said:

off your new $200 Pearl Heliarch shorts. Buy only the bear
necessities, until you really need them. Your wife might

not like

Quoted message said:

racing as much as she did back when "Knight Rider" was a

popular show.

Quoted message said:

If she gets back into it, and she probably will, go form

there. This

Quoted message said:

kind of goes ahainst the grain, but you will thank me

later. Forget

Quoted message said:

about being aero, and just have fun as you are re-wetting

your feet.

Quoted message said:

$$

I'm with you Money,

I have a Cannondale R300 (read low-end sport bike) from
1996. Despite all the LBSs warnings about upgrading ("That
will cost you twice as much as a new bike"😉 I've been
piece-meaing over the years. At this point only the
headset, seatpost, and bottom bracket are the original. My
most recent improvement was a new set of wheels which took
me from the original 7-speed to 9-speed.

As a bonus I had bought the bike as the end of the season as
"last years model" - so I paid like $500 for it.

The LBSs where correct - I've put in close to $1000 on the
bike - some parts need to be replaced - some parts get
replaced as I upgrade - but $142/year is a lot cheaper than
$1500+ for a new bike.

I also think that "learning" what you need is part of
becoming a good racer. Doing without a piece of equipment
allows you to take advantage of that equipment to its
fullest when you do get.

And besides, money can't buy the most important piece of
equipment which is often overlooked - and that's the engine.

-CF