Retro Triathlon Bikes ??????????????????????????????????????

[jollyroger88]

Old triathlon bike junkie is back! Here's my latest build, 1998 CAAD3 Multsport (650c wheels, of course) with SRAM Force drive train, Ultegra cranks and Velocity wheels

 

[rentedmule]

I guess my only roadie qualifies as a retro triathlon bike. It's a 2000 (ish) S-Works M4 that I picked up for $300 CAD about 7 years ago. Spinergy's, CK headset, Ultegra Flight Deck (still working!), Thomson stem - about 19 pounds. I've since put a shorter riser stem and more subdued bar tape on it. It's comfortable enough for the short rides I do and feels down right speedy compared to my mountain bikes!

Road 1 by Rented Mule, on Flickr

 

[avalonian]

Used for triathlons 20 years ago. ( Not by me )

 

[jollyroger88]

I guess my only roadie qualifies as a retro triathlon bike. It's a 2000 (ish) S-Works M4 that I picked up for $300 CAD about 7 years ago. Spinergy's, CK headset, Ultegra Flight Deck (still working!), Thomson stem - about 19 pounds. I've since put a shorter riser stem and more subdued bar tape on it. It's comfortable enough for the short rides I do and feels down right speedy compared to my mountain bikes!

Road 1 by Rented Mule, on Flickr

Canadian triathlon stars Peter Reid and Lori Bowden in their glory days (late 90's early 2000's) rode mostly on M4's, but I struggle to consider them as "vintage triathlon". For me, the benchmark between "vintage" and "modern" is the move from 650c to 700c wheels size

 

[bikeworkshop]

Canadian triathlon stars Peter Reid and Lori Bowden in their glory days (late 90's early 2000's) rode mostly on M4's, but I struggle to consider them as "vintage triathlon". For me, the benchmark between "vintage" and "modern" is the move from 650c to 700c wheels size

Surely the definition of a modern tri bike is:
one that could be brought into the T1 Transition Area without raising a laugh?

 

[jollyroger88]

Surely the definition of a modern tri bike is:
one that could be brought into the T1 Transition Area without raising a laugh?

I disagree: certain 10 y/o design are not "retro" by any means, but cannot be brought into the T1 Transition Area without raising a laugh

 

[dirttorpedo]

I've been tempted to pick up an old Centurion Dave Scott Tri-bike because those very early tri bikes had 700c wheelsets and my understanding is the geometry was more relaxed than your typical American racing bike targeted to critiums. I've seen many interesting examples of 650c bikes on the local Craigslist languishing because nobody wants a Quintana Roo or a beam bike. My friend is still happily riding his Trek Hilo which would probably qualify as a vintage tri-bike. Its a bit fugly, but he loves it.

 

[jollyroger88]

I've been tempted to pick up an old Centurion Dave Scott Tri-bike because those very early tri bikes had 700c wheelsets and my understanding is the geometry was more relaxed than your typical American racing bike targeted to critiums. I've seen many interesting examples of 650c bikes on the local Craigslist languishing because nobody wants a Quintana Roo or a beam bike. My friend is still happily riding his Trek Hilo which would probably qualify as a vintage tri-bike. Its a bit fugly, but he loves it.

The Centurion Dave scott signature is certainly a great option for long hours on the saddle; but my average rides are now in the 2 hours range and almost never beyond 3 hours, therefore I prefer the responsiveness (and aesthetics, albeit weird) of the later 650c designs