Triathlon Bikes Triathlons (and Biathlons) have been around for some time. The IRONMAN series of events is the "WORLD SERIES" of this sport. The cycling segment of these televised, national-scope races has perhaps given cycling more visibility to the general public than any other medium in recent years. As a bicycle retailer, I am thankful for this!   I remember sitting on my recliner last winter flipping through stations on my new 700 channel digital cable box while a blizzard pounded the outdoors. Right there on Channel 7 – New York City – BROADCAST TV at 2pm on a SUNDAY– was the IRONMAN from Maui, HI. What I wouldn’t have done then to be teleported to the beach they were filming on at that moment! I realized that the athletes were in transition and about to hop onto their bikes. I sat there for at least 20 minutes while the program covered the cycling segment of the race. I thought to myself how great it was for my livelihood to have people on bikes on TV! Even though they were covering the PRO event, the broadcasters did a fabulous job of getting the viewer excited about the sport. You quickly learned that TRI was about PERSONAL Challenges. If you started with a 50 foot swim, quarter mile bike ride, and a 90 foot run, you were a tri-athlete as LONG AS YOU SET PERSONAL GOALS TO GET BETTER and you acted on them…it didn’t matter how out of shape you were, how slow you were, etc. It was about your PASSION and work ethic as much as anything. A lifestyle. This is how it should be. This is how the Italians build bikes and how they view cycling! This is how the bike industry should get more people into the sport of cycling. Forget about designing new widgets every year to sell to people in order to keep the dollars rolling in. Forget about labels, fancy marketing, and all that other fluff…at least for a while…and get people into biking for life. All my banter here has a purpose. As you might have guessed, and as was easy to predict a couple of years ago, the visibility, appeal and accessibility of Triathlons to many different people (for good reasons, as well as because of a lot of mainstream flash) has turned TRIATHLONS into a very popular activity. This is great. More triathletes means more people who buy bikes!  Also easy to predict was the subsequent full-court-press or blitz by many manufacturers to jump on the TRI bandwagon. Bikes, aero bars, shoes, hydration systems, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture! We’ll focus on bikes here.  So then… What is a TRI bike? I’m just starting, Do I Need a TRI Bike? A lot of the information we provide about a stage, or traditional style road bike talks about a bike’s feel, stability, comfort, ability to traverse many types of terrain for many miles, etc. Well, when it comes to TRI-specific bikes all of these qualities usually take a back seat to achieve one goal: BE FAST and BEAT THE CLOCK. Hardcore, higher level, competitive triathletes want to beat the clock…period! Comfort? Stability? Feel? One-ness with the road? …..Maybe another time! FAST, FAST, FAST! End of story.   Triathletes want a low-center of gravity (this is why you see some riders using 650c wheels). They want a stiff, efficient bike. They want to tuck into aerobars to become more aerodynamic and fly downhill with as little air resistance as possible. Tri frames utilize aerodynamic tubing to further cut wind resistance. They have short wheelbases. Short top tubes, short head tubes and STEEP seat angles. It is all about SPEED, no matter what the cost.      Torelli Countach AERO!   Oval 990A Aero Bar with Carbon Upgrades!     After years of selling bikes to triathletes of all levels, we are still a little baffled by how a TRIATHLON bike is defined by some companies.   To us, a tri bike is any bike that is set up for competition in a triathlon.  Most of these bikes have aero bars on them. While TRI-specific bikes (or AERO BIKES), as they are currently defined and packaged, are a somewhat new piece of gear to most commercial bike companies, the fundamental idea behind a tri bike is nothing new. The biking segment of a triathlon is a time trial. Time trial bikes have been around for decades and some tri bikes are very similar to time trial bikes (those with 74/75 degree seat tube angles). A time trial bike is a "specific use" bicycle.  It is designed and intended to be used for one thing. You don’t ride it for recreation. You don’t even use it to train on for the most part. It is your race-day machine.  Some riders excel or even dominate in time trial events while riding more traditional road bikes that are set up with aero bars.  You'll read more on this matter soon. A competitive, top-level triathlete who owns a bike for use in competition probably owns at least one other road bike and uses it to log his or her "road miles", to hone their bicycling skills, and to generally stay on a bike for all the good it does a triathlete.  (OUR NOTE: If triathletes spent more time developing general cycling skills, rather than put all their eggs in the weight, rigidity, aerodynamics and speed baskets …we predict they’d be better triathletes!)  A stage bike is the perfect "training bike" for these folks. Stage bikes are also a great choice for competitive tri-athletes that want to own only one bike to carry them through general use, training, and triathlon racing. Come and talk to us in person about how to make your Italian stage bike (or any solid road rig) a great triathlon race-day rig. Now we can turn into the next question: Do I Need a TRI Bike? If you are a beginner, you probably would be making a mistake by running out and getting an all-out Tri-ready bike as your first or as your only bike. As we’ve mentioned, a tri bike is not the best rig to train on or to hone your basic riding skills that all triathletes need for the cycling segments of their events. A Tri bike is certainly NOT a great multi-purpose bike. Again, for beginners, we would recommend a bike that you could use for many purposes. There are certain accessories and other alterations you can make to a Stage Bike or other road rigs that would make it more TRI-specific for race day. Compact frames, like the ones that Guerciotti makes, can be a great compromise and turn out to be awesome all-purpose machines for Triathletes.

GIANT 
TRINITY ALLIANCE 
AND AERYN TRI BIKES!

 

FSA F-Force Cranks and Spiuk SONIC GLASSES ...Every triathlete's good friends!   If you are at the top of your category, and you are committed to many aspects of being a top notch triathlete, then from reading this you probably know that you want a training bike as well as a race-day bike.  Having a TRI ready bike is important if you want to keep up with the other elite athletes. But keep an open mind and do what is right for you…remember your roots and your strengths. If you are a STRONG road rider…you might blow away other top TRIathletes in the cycling portion of a race on your stage bike. We see that happen a LOT.  When you have made the decision to get an AERO BIKE, you'll have to decide on one of two types of bikes that are separated by FIT PHILOSOPHY.  1. Traditional Seat Angle and Rider Fit, 2. Steep Seat Angle and TRI-specific rider position.  Choice #2  is where most riders get confused, receive poor advice, and usually have trouble making the appropriate choices!  Ironman champion Peter Reid prefers a traditional road set-up (equipment and fit) that is tweaked to perform in triathlons.  He is a legend in the tri world, and no one can contest his accomplishments on the bike.  Greg Lemond and Lance Armstrong are two other names that might make you think of CYCLING SUCCESSS....both prefer traditional road setups for time trials.   Greg LeMond owns the world record in a famous Tour De France Time Trial…and he did it on a stage bike!  In the earlier days of aero bars, LeMond realized that he seemed, and indeed was, faster when using aero bars during shorter time-trial type courses.  BUT...his feedback was not what people might expect.  Lemond NEVER mentioned aerodynamics as a reason, perceived or calculated,  for his increased speed.  He clearly felt that the advantage of aero bars was mechanical and not fluid.  LeMond believed that the aero bars, when matched up with his traditional road fit, simply gave his body more LEVERAGE and made him capable of pumping the bike and creating a higher power output.   He keeps this opinion to this day. (This leverage theory is a good example and should provoke some thought on two things: 1. Understanding that super-aerodynamic frames and other gear, by themselves, don't make anyone a better/faster cyclist.  2. Realizing that there is room for biomechanical improvement - like exploring the use of leverage proves!) COIN FLIP...riders like Mark Allen, Miguel Indurain, and Laurent Jalbert (all UNGODLY  ANIMALS at time trial) rode AERO or TRI specific bikes, but with comfort and stability factored into their positioning.  This just demonstrates that it is all more about the INDIVIDUAL and what works for YOU,  more than it is about a certain piece of equipment or fitting technique that instantly works for everyone!   A tri bike with a very steep seat tube angle (76-80 degrees) that puts the rider onto the bike in a very "tri specific" posture does so mainly for one reason, with one approach in mind:  using certain muscle groups and saving others for the run.  This is completely legit but may not be the right way for certain folks to go when planning a new bike even if you are buying a race-day only machine.  Once again, it is about what is right for YOU....consult, consult, consult! This is the foundation of the Smart Cycles philosophy:  Identify what is right and best for the individual and make it happen.   I WANT an aero bike...do I go for TRI-Specific geometry and Fit, or do I buy an AERO bike built around more traditional road geometry and fit? We think this topic is best left for personal, in-store discussion.  It should be obvious that we are bigger fans of a good solid, traditional road fit even for the MOST TALENTED TT or TRI riders.  We cannot stress enough that we believe comfort, efficiency, and proper fit are what matters MOST!  We WOULD like to mention that TRI-SPECIFIC FIT AND EQUIPMENT cause the greatest amount of confusion and misunderstandings that we run into in general!  SO...please...come visit us and ask us for a FULL, concise, complete explanation.     Torelli Tocatta - Perhaps our best suggestion for triathletes looking for a "do everything" road bike. Scantly 18 pounds, stiff, efficient, comfortable and fit oriented (stage geometry and available in 16 sizes).  Not half bad looking either!   Some GOOD advice that is commonly accepted by TRIATHLON EXPERTS is found below in easy-to-digest bullet points: Find a good bike fitter.  Proper bike fit is step one, end of story.  A good bike fitter is invaluable and not available on "the cheap".  A good bike fitter who understands how to fit people on aero bars PROPERLY is even harder to find.  Consider an AERO bike if, and ONLY IF, you plan to ride in the aero position most of the time...75% or more. NEVER sacrifice comfort, stability, fit and efficiency in an effort to become more aerodynamic.  Your focus should be on your ability to produce POWER (wattage) and staying relaxed and comfortable. Going AERO instantly decreases power output, stresses the body (killing efficiency) and chips away at lasting power on the bike for 99% of riders. It has been proven in the laboratory that a 5% increase in aerodynamics causes a 15% loss of efficiency and power output. NEVER, NEVER, EVER, EVER, ignore the importance of GENERAL bike handling skills and becoming a more efficient cyclist in general.  Going AERO instantly requires you to re-learn these things because you are forced to learn how to ride efficiently in a new posture.  This is further proof that no one product or item will instantly make you faster! We have to point out that some of the claims that certain marketing departments make are so laughable they are downright sad!  "Our frame will result in 1:20 faster time", "Our aero bars will make you 15% faster", and so on, and so on, and so on!  PLEASE....give us a break!  We aren't so naive.  Shame on you for assuming your potential customers are! GO AERO once you feel like you are as good  on a road bicycle as you can be.  Going AERO should be respected as "the next step". GO AERO ONLY after you have determined that aerodynamics is the only place for you to improve your overall race times.  Have you practiced saving time in the transitional areas??  PROBABLY NOT!   GO AERO when you are ready to spend time learning how to retain all your efficiency and power output while in a new cycling posture....almost back to square one.   DEFINITELY GO AERO IMMEDIATELEY if you hit the lotto and have serious cash to lay out on some new BLING BLING! Either way, and no matter what intensity you exhaust while participating in triathlons, having the right bike and making sure it FITS YOU PROPERLY is paramount. Please chat with us in person for more about TRI bikes.  Our experience with triathletes and their equipment is extensive!   TRI-BIKE  BLUEPRINTING Our fitting system combines your body's dimensions,  your interests, goals, and any physical or functional problems  and then produces a personal blueprint for  YOUR OWN OPTIMAL Tri Bike.  This ensures COMPLETE, thorough and thoughtful selection of your frame-size and full bike set-up.   NO SYSTEM IS MORE COMPLETE.   TOP: blueprint generated for a 700c wheeled TRI BIKE.  BOTTOM: Blueprint for a 700c wheeled TRI BIKE

We carry a full range of gear from Louis Garneau, 
one of the most recognizable brand names 
and innovators of QUALITY Triathlon gear!  
As the joke goes: Quintana Who?

Louis Garneau Airstream 8.0 TT - Fundamental Equipment for 
any dedicated triathlete - 17pounds, sleek and aero, makes you 
fully competitive on day.  Looks don't hurt either!

Louis Garneau supplies the tri-world with some of the 
finest products available.  Their TRI-AIR Carbon Shoes are
a great Example: 550gr per pair, double stitched aerated upper, 
FULL carbon sole, hot and cold instep system lets you choose
the right footbed for race-day conditions.  These are a MUST SEE!

TRI-AIR Shoes have the same features as the model above, 
but without the Carbon sole.  $70 less, too!

Louis Garneau Chronos, Prologue, and Rocket 
AERO HELMETS!

SERFAS - TRI Seats for Men and Women
...who can tell us what a tri seat is, how it differs from others, 
and why you might need one?!  Free Prize!