Triathletes or road racers (bikers)- get new wheels or new bike?

[REDLYNER]

My wife got into triathlons, so I gave her my triathlon bike since I don't ride anymore. It's a Trek 1100 and has been pretty good for what we do, however, she wrecked last weekend and bent the front wheel.


I've been shopping for new wheels and found them from $60 to $1500 for just a front wheel. I'm all about picking up gear that makes you faster, but I've seen new and used race bikes for less than the cost of a new wheel. So my question is: should I upgrade the wheel (or wheel set) for $300 to $600, or pick up a nice, newer (but used), race bike for like $800 or $900 and sell mine for ~$400 and be out the same amount of money. But, that would depend on someone buying my bike and I still have to fix the front wheel.


Opinions?


If I keep this bike, what are some good bang for the buck wheels? In like the $200 to $350 range for a front wheel?

 

[BigBody79]

How well does the bike fit her? I don't know if I would put a high end wheel set on that bike. You can get a lot better bike for not much more than you are willing to spend.

This might be a good time to her a bike of her own.

or

Just find a replacement wheel that will do the trick. There are tons of wheel sets on CL all the time.

 

[drkelly]

I definitely see where you are coming from. Two years ago I picked up a used but in mint condition Trek 1.2 with Forte Titan wheels for only $400. The wheels alone probably cost the previous owner $250+. I'm just a recreational rider, no racing.

 

[1983Bronco]

I am fat......therefore have no opinion, but I feel healthier by clicking on the thread......thanks

 

[REDLYNER]

I ended up getting a set of Bontrager's Race Lite wheels (front and rear) for $280 that have zero miles on them. I'm thinking it was a pretty good deal, so I jumped on it. Too much effort involved in fixing my wheel, then selling my bike, then finding another bike that fits our needs. Hopefully these will be faster than what we had!

 

[WARRIORWELDING]

here's a related question, I also have a trek mt. bike. I do more road than off road. Buy a new wheel tire set or just the tires for more road use when I finish wearing out the center of my dirt tires? I do like to jaunt through the fields and the yard. I've got the the land to put in a good bit of trails this fall. I've almost considered buying a used skinny tire bike, but for some reason I think I might be prone to killing the tires and rims. On another note I'm slowly learning about trails and parks around the Mocksville area. Two bikes or two wheel sets? Are the road machines that much superior to off road hard tails with suspended front forks? I'd like to get in shape and compete in some multi tasked events but I'm afraid my knees can't take runnin. Are any events combine bike plus say swimming but don't have a running section?

 

[biggoofy]

2 bikes all day I do a lot of road and Mtn biking and having a bike for each is a must.

 

[drkelly]

2 bikes all day I do a lot of road and Mtn biking and having a bike for each is a must.

x2

No sense in lugging all that extra weight around while on the road.

 

[uncc civilengineer]

If you decide you want to pick her up a true Tri bike let me know.. my little brother has out grown his Jamis Trilogy. It is a 2008 frame however it was built at the end of 2009 (frame was new leftover stock). Mix between Shimano Ultegra and some 600 components... Size is 52... no aerobars currently but it's a fast bike.. Think he'd take around $700 for it... Never wrecked and never raced.. just used for training.

 

[REDLYNER]

The wife is training pretty hard now, riding 4+ times per week. She rides in our neighborhood for street training and does the stationary at the gym for the longer rides. She is pretty consistant around 100rpms both street and on the stationary. Tough to do too much more with all of the swimming and running added in. Next up are clips and pedals.

New wheels and tires are on!