Triathlon Bikes
· You shouldn't even be reading
this section unless you are
already a seasoned road bike
veteran or triathlon competitor.
These bikes are not meant for people to just tool around on. They are meant for one thing. Speed. Forget comfort. Though there are some that still say they are comfortable...they're just not going to be AS comfortable as a more relaxed frame design. Triathlon bikes are a highly specialized variation of road bikes. Since the bike segment of a triathlon involves a rider racing against the clock by himself, aerodynamics are absolutely essential. Triathletes will put some sort of aero bar extensions on their handlebars so they can assume a wind-cheating "superman" position. Believe it or not, it is possible to be relatively comfortable in this position. Riders go fastest when they're not fighting their bikes. Beyond optimizing body position, triathletes use aerodynamic wheels such as rear disc wheel and a deep-dish rim front wheel to cheat the wind even more. A triathlon frame will have a steeper seat angle to help the rider reach the aero bars and sculpted frame tubes to cut through the wind. Most triathlon bikes we sell have aluminum frames since aluminum tubing is so easily formed into the deeply-profiled shapes needed for racing against the clock.
Here are some sale pitches I found for triathlon bikes. Javelin's Trilite 700 frameset at $999 and their Aero frameset at $1599 are perennial best-sellers. Cannondale's Multisport 2000 and Multisport 800 bikes are two other superb choices. Although a small company, Javelin has achieved critical acclaim from top level road racers and triathletes alike. Javelin's investment in wind tunnel testing combined with real world feedback from top pros allows Javelin to offer the best value in road and aero road bicycles. They use of state of the art materials such as Easton Scandium aluminum to create the lightest and most aero frames available. Some notable Javelin riders of the past include Chann Mcrae, winner of the 1995 US National Road Race championship on a Javelin Lobo. Alison Dunlap captured a 1996 Olympic road race spot on a Javelin, as well as winning a stage in the Tour de France Feminin. Irishman Declan Lonergan rode a Javelin to World Cup track victories in the points race in '96 as well as competing in the Olympic points race that same year. Elizabeth Emery won the US National Time Trial Championship on a Javelin in '97. Mari Holden, the US record holder in the 40km Time Trial (she rode an amazing sub 52 minutes) rode a Javelin to her National TT victory in '98. Julie Ricketts won the USTS Pro Chanpionships in '99 on a Javelin Aero and is competing for a spot on the Geat Britain Olympic team for the inaugural Olympic Triathlon in Sydney, Austrailia in 2000. Danish Duathlon and Triathlon Champions Henrik Svarre & Gudrun.
Of course the big boy companies like Trek, Cannondale, Kestrel, Schwinn just to name a few have their own triathlon bikes too.
