Frames with S&S couplers cost a pretty penny. Also, most long distance endurance rides (100-1000 miles) are done on touring bikes like a Surly long haul trucker or trek 520, while triathlons are done on Tri/TT bikes.
or at least a racy road bike with some aero bars.
and touring and race bikes value different things in their design.
@gideon consider an audax bike. Audaxes are generally winter endurance events, often longer than summer races, up to maybe 500km. I have a typical audax bike, a Dawes Century SE. You can see it is a definite road bike, but has a bit more of a relaxed geometry than an out-and-out racing bike
However, I would think that this bike is not particularly suited to time trials
But it is good because it has little niceties like (i) mudguards for winter riding, (ii) can attack a rack and panniers for touring (iii) out of the factory comes with slightly wider tyres than a standard road bike (25mm vs 23mm) for that extra ounce of comfort
Having said that, I have never ridden an audax event. The closest I have come was a 100 miler (160km), which I rode on this bike
Note that with "racing" road bikes, the longest races you will get, even in the professional peloton, are maybe 250km. And often less. This is because these bikes are designed for efficiency, not for comfort
@PeteH Thanks for your reply. It looks lovely. But it's quite out of my budget. I made the big move and went and ordered a Speedster60. Audax is completely unheard+unavailable in india. It may just be but i'll really have to look. The reason I'm going low budget is because I believe in minimalism. I did my first hundred miler on a bike that costs about $50 and broke apart not long after a few more hundred milers.
@PeteH I plan on using the speedster60 for triathlons and endurance races. One day I want to ride the PBP so thats the angle. So racing really. Just endurance.
If I manage to even do a 1/2 or 3/4 iron (There isn't any Full Iron event in India) then I'll say I deserve serious gear. Not before ;)
@gideon - well, if you ordered the Speedster there is no going back! But Scott is a very good make, I know a couple of people who ride them. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
I was wondering, what is the quality of the roads like in India? I have two totally opposite images in my head, one of beautiful brand new tarmac, the other of mud!
I have a couple of Indian chums here (uk) and they say that it is a country of extremes
@PeteH I remember me and my buddy as late teens riding on our cheap bikes gawking at the guys who could import scott and what not Whizz past us on our 200 miler. And of course everyone thought we were nuts (our families and such) but we made it, and said "ah one day we'll maybe buy a scott"
Well it's been more than a year I could easily buy a scott, even a $1000 bike. But I never did, got flabby and spoiled earning money. So I'm going back to minimalism.
@gideon well that sounds really good. I used to cycle as a teen, but stopped and only came back about 5 or 6 years ago. Since then I have tended to collect bikes a bit ;-)
@PeteH Absolutely. Extremes everywhere. I run (and will cycle) at 4am when there really isn't anyone around. Maybe even 3:30. It's impossible to manage to walk let alone cycle or run in the day.
Scroll through and see the extremes: roads .... trains
@PeteH wow. I'm hoping for that this year. Ran my first race just a few weeks ago. 5k. Took that first step. Also I'm 24 so that late teen (19 y/o) wasn't too long ago. I still have that energy waiting to come out.
Nearly all my pants and shirts don't fit :/ But I'll get there.
@gideon ah yes, you are still young enough to profit. I came back to cycling when I hit 40 and literally realised that my body wasn't working as it should. I'm now 47 and a lot trimmer. But I do wonder, what if I had gone back to cycling earlier?
