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Challenge Roth just happened last weekend, and in the bike count organized by Triathlete magazine, popular Canadian brand Cervelo is still on top of the heap. Cervelo has been lording it over in bike counts, and it has been on top of Kona’s bike count for ten years. But the German brand Canyon has been creeping in, and in Challenge Roth’s count, it only trailed Cervelo by 40 bikes. In the 2017 bike count in Kona, Cervelo was still far and away the trusted brand of the sport’s top age groupers. Cervelo topped the count with 561 bikes, a 300 bike count gap with 2nd placer Trek. Can Canyon turn over its popularity in Germany’s most popular triathlon race over in Kona? With the past three Champions in Kona having ridden Canyon Bikes (2017 Lange, 2015-16 Frodeno), it is only safe to assume that Canyon will ride the popularity and rise in the Kona Bike rankings.
With the Kona Ironman World Championships coming in as the next big triathlon race, let us take a look at the sport’s hottest piece of equipment. And with no ICU guidelines to commit, the aerodynamic designs are produced to meet the triathlete’s goal of having the fastest bike split possible in the most efficient way. If you’re in the market for the best, or simply want to look, then drool away:
- Cervelo P5
The Cervelo P5 has been around for 6 years but it still stands as one of the most popular super bikes in the market. It is stiff, fast and screams super-bike. While there will be maintenance issues with the brakes (magura hydraulics), and also little room for adjustability in the cockpit for a proper fit, it is Cervelo’s preferred model for the serious, competitive age-group triathlete, well if you can afford it.
2. Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 LTD
With three consecutive Kona Ironman World Championship titles under its belt, Canyon is emerging as one of the hottest seller on the market right now. The updated version has a longer wheelbase and more adjustability on the cockpit, allowing for more straightline speed and improved comfort. Combining great specifications and superb geometry, this is truly an excellent bike in terms of value, riding and speed.
3. BMC Timemachine TM01
This machine was a product of many studies on triathletes and years of product development. Wel-thought out tube shaping, maximum component integration, and months spent on the wind tunnel makes this bike as one of the fastest in straight-line speed. It also features a V-shaped cockpit, with adjustability to raise the stack-height, allowing for a more upright position and comfort.
4. Parlee TTiR Disc
Parlee TTiR Disc is of the few tri bikes to embrace disc bakes for all-weather condition reliability. It has a nice mix of adjustability and integration while remaining user friendly, which is a key for athletes traveling to big races. What goes fast, stops fast is a nice tag-line for this high-end bike for Parlee.
5. Ventum One Di2
No downtube? No seatstay? That’s not a problem with this bike from Ventum racing. Without those, the Ventum Oneone is touted as one of the most comfortable super bikes on the market. It is made for the most luscious long-haul, straight-line riding you will ever have. While one may ask, where will I place my hydration bottles and stuff, Ventum made a genuine integrated hydration system in the top tube. That is 47oz of hydration and refillable on the fly. Comfort and fast don’t usually go together but Ventum One made sure that the transfer of power from the rider to the machine is seamless with the stiff bottom bracket design, making it one fast super-bike that looks different from anybody else.
6. Cervelo P5x
Cervelo once again targets the iron-distance loving group of age-groupers. One of the problems in iron-distance racing is the multitude of nutrition and hydration you need to store in the bike. The P5x solves most of the storage problems, without the hassle of ruining the bike’s aerodynamic features. It has storage options in three areas, the top tube for your nutrition, and two areas near the bottom bracket for your tools and flat kit. The beam bike design has been around since the 90s but this updated version from Cervelo packs serious stiffness and speed, thanks to its massive bottom bracket design. The front cockpit is also highly adjustable, unlike its little brother P5.
7. Quintana Roo PR6 Disc
Another triathlon bike with a disc brake system. What separates this QR model is the asymmetrical chainstays that aims to reduce road noise and improve ride comfort. The PR6 has integrated storage box on the seat-tube and bento box for your nutrition in the top tube. The front cockpit is also highly-adjustable, making it one of the most bike-fit friendly super bike in the market.
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