Which bike is best for Annaconda

I think Charlotte was referring to the Anaconda adventure race and the best type of bike to use.
http://www.rapidascent.com.au/anacondaadventurer...

I cant offer advise on it though.

Just for background, I've done the anaconda twice, and my better half did the paddle and ride last year as well. We are in it to finish and beat personal bests, not win the race, but fun is the overriding factor.

As has been said, comfort is the big thing. I'm going to assume you're not trying to win the event, in which case you don't need the latest and greatest bike. Dual suspension will make the ride more comfortable, but a good sizing and measure up on a hard tail will do just as well.

The course itself is largely fire trail (gravel roads), with a small amount of single track. You don't need to be a great mountain biker to go fast around here either, just need to be able to keep spinning. There's a big hill about halfway through that everyone walks (I think less than 10 people rode it last year), so don't be afraid of doing that when you need to. You'll know the hill when you get to it

+1 for going to a couple of bike shops, Wembley cycles and Malaga cycles have both given me good service over the years. I'm sure others out there are just as good, these are just the two I have experience with. Have a chat and get something that fits, and if it feels wrong, tell the assistants

As far as bikes themselves, I'd suggest Giant or Specialised, again just because these are the only two brands I've had experience with. My partner rides a Specialised 29'er, I'm on a Giant 26", and sad to say I'll be slower than her round the anaconda track because of it. I think 29'ers will be faster for on-road stuff as well, but I'm sure someone else on here will be better able to comment on that.

If you're planning on using the bike for triathlons it will pay to double check the entry rules, I'm not sure if MTB's are allowed. Even if they are you'll probably want a faster one quite quickly, especially if you're flying through the swim leg.

Training wise just get out on the trails when you can, tag along with the social rides, and otherwise make sure you're doing some decent km's before the event. Check out sleep monsters (http://www.sleepmonsters.com.au) for some good training advice, the rapid ascent website also has good info (http://www.rapidascent.com.au/anacondaadventurer...). Essentially just get the km's in beforehand and you'll be fine. If you can't get to the trails to train, just remember that 2kms on the road is only worth 1 in the bush. You'd want to have done at least 1 30km off-road ride before the event, if only so you can work out what water, food, etc. you need to take.

Above all have fun, train hard, and you'll be overtaking more than you'd expect come November

Hardtail with lockout for the front forks (so it can easily be used on road, bike paths etc).

For the offroad event, buy some 2.4 inch tyres, run at 20psi - that will add to the comfort in a major way, then buy some narrow road tyres for the bike post annaconda - for your downhill fear, a bike that can be setup with the seat height about the same as top of the grip will help this immensly - eg 1 inch riser bars on a frame for your size with a 100mm fork will often achieve this. This can be modified after the event with a flat handle bar, and removing stackers.

best training is riding in similar conditions and similar distances IMO - as they say, practice makes perfect....

I haven't ridden the Anaconda myself but a few mates have & have told me that it's generally not too technical but has a few fast downhill sections and plenty of fast fire trail. 32km should be between 1.5 & 2 hrs riding.

If you are reasonably fit and are on a budget (Don't know how serious you're going to be about future riding) I'd recommend a lightish hard tail bike (One with front suspension only). You should be able to find something for less than $1000 but at around $1200 (With discount) you start getting a really good allrounder hard tail bike with few compromises.
As already mentioned here, it's best to take a few out for a spin. Most proper bike shops will do this. Avanti, Wembly cycles, Bike Force etc.
Dual suspension is nice but unnecessary for this event and will cost more or be slower.
A 29er (Big wheeled bike) will be faster and imho will handle better but as they are still pretty new to the market therefore be less likely to be discounted. Some of the basic ones are also much heavier than an equivalently priced 26" bike so keep an eye out.

Training: Get up to the Camel farm in Kalamunda around 8 to 10 am any weekend and you will be able to find people riding that will help you get started. Ride around & get to know the gears & brakes. Learn to climb and learn to select the right gear BEFORE hitting the hill.

Good luck
T

Thanks hawkeye. That certainly does help. It is amazing how a simple thing like the right size will make such a difference and does make sense. Being 6ft tall I often have to look in the blokes section so I will certainly try to find a shop...over an internetbpurchase... that takes my height and the importance of size into consideration....I think they could make a difference to my cycling enjoyment. Happy riding.

It's not so much a 'leave pass' to walk up it as that only 10 people in the event have the skills and legs to ride it. So it's either walk up or fall off trying.

If you need tips specifically for the Anaconda then this is probably as good a forum as any - I've done the Augusta course twice, and it sounds like I'm not alone. My biggest tip would be to make sure your legs can handle the run->swim transition. A lot of people have problems with cramps (particularly hammies/calves/quads) coming off a hard 14k run and diving straight into the chilly southern ocean. If your legs go south that early then the MTB leg will hurt. (trust me on this... )

That may well be the case that you end up on a mens bike. Reach can be adjusted with bars and stem length.

However, you definitely want to try a women's saddle. Appropriate saddles are probably the biggest issue females face with bike fit. Males have narrower hips and therefore their sit bones are closer together and need narrower saddles. Most bikes are sold with mens saddles.

On a woman, whose sit bones are generally wider apart, these saddles will be too narrow and your sit bones will miss the spots they need to rest on and you'll end up taking your weight on your sensitive bits instead. This is not even remotely conducive to being comfortable! You will most likely need something wider. If you do end up on a man's bike don't let them send you out the door with the stock saddle unless you've tried a women's saddle on the bike to compare first.

So, one suggestion I'd like to make if I may is to find a bike store that sells Specialized brand bikes, and talk to one of the Body Geometry trained guys/gals. They can put you on their Ass-o-Meter (don't worry, it's not invasive ) and use that to select an appropriate saddle width from their range. This gives you a much better chance of finding a comfortable saddle.

Bear in mind that there is always a few weeks of uncomfortable sit-bones until your butt hardens up. However, if your soft tissues are tender, numb, or tingle after a ride you are putting pressure on them and the saddle isn't right.

A good pair of bike-specific padded knicks are definitely worth the investment, and these are designed to be worn "commando" - underwear has seams in exactly the wrong places, and going commando is the best way to limit chafing.

Hope this helps

What Hawkeye wrote +5000 . You may also want to try some butt cream. Some swear by it but others don't like it as they want to toughen up the skin. Some use it to prevent general chaffing and help the skin on the sit spots. So it's a personal decision. As you have a rest after the swim leg you can apply it then.

HTH

Found a pic on another forum: