College student here on a budget. Can get this for $350 usd. Been trying to do a bunch of research, but I am on a budget and kind of confused. Want to do a Half Ironman, is this bike a good choice for that?
I am also 6’2 so it’s been hard to find bikes on Facebook marketplace that are my size
Edit: Description – Sleek Trek 2.1 Alpha road bike. Has black and grey frame. Comes with Shimano components and Bontrager wheels. Two red bottle cages included. Great for rides around town or longer trips.
by RhodesianFAL27
4 Comments
Not a triathlon bike, but 350 isn’t bad if you’re in a HCOL area. This bike and its components are very dated.
I’ve seen people do half’s on unicycles, so if this is the best you can do, it will work. Most important is it fits you and is in good working condition.
2011ish going by the parts on it. Functionally any bike that rolls and conforms to Tri’s rather loose rules can be used for a Tri. Bikes like this are a common choice for Tri athletes without much budget. Pictures of the drivetrain would be helpful. Possibly the original tire on the rear, I would try to budget for replacing them. Try to get the [best performing](https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/road-bike-reviews) and largest tire that fits ~24-28mm. If it has not had a tuneup in a while that can be used to lower the price. Negotiate on the price down some and I like it better.
Aluminum with tiagra groupset, I wouldn’t pay more than $200
This looks fine for training on, but I would rent a triathlon bike for race day