Should i buy triathlon bike

My motto is always comfort over everything else. Since most people are much more comfortable on a road bike, if you have to choose between the two, I say road bike all the way. I recommend getting a professional bike fit. If you choose a road bike, and you want to use it for triathlon, you can pretty easily modify the frame by switching out the seat post and adding clip on aero bars.

There is nothing wrong with experimenting with this for your first few years of racing. After your first couple seasons you may want to reap the benefits of a more aero position on the bike. Internal cables are common on the majority of bikes these days, aiding aerodynamics and reducing the chance of them getting damaged by environmental factors. Altering the frame shape is another common method of enhancing aerodynamics. Cervelo has featured a dropped downtube for a long period of time, which, reduces the space between the downtube and front wheel, improving airflow.

Dropped seatstays are another common modification, which, limits the frontal area contacting the wind and reduces drag as a result, the Felt IA's seatstays a standout example. Some brands have even removed the seatstays altogether, Cervelo, Diamondback, Softride and Falco all offer examples of triathlon bikes with no seat tube and seatstays as a result. And finally, wheels are another way aerodynamics are enhanced for triathlon bikes. Generally, the deeper the wheel profile the more aerodynamic, although it does make the bike harder to handle given they will be more affected by side wind than a shallow rim, and the extra material required also creates a harsher ride by not offering as much compliance comfort as a shallower wheel.

To learn more about wheels and how they influence aerodynamics, comfort and ride quality read our feature article: Road Bike Wheels: What to Know. While some of these solutions might be cost prohibitive, it's worth noting that a good aero helmet, skinsuit, and position on the bike can be just as valuable in terms of time savings.

This article highlights the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to aerodynamics , and you might be surprised how much of a difference the little things can make. We've spoken about the integration of brakes and cables to enhance aerodynamics, but the integration of storage systems for tools, fluid, and nutrition is just as important from a functional point of view.

Once upon a time, triathlon bikes had many after-market modifications like rear water bottle holders behind the seat, saddle bags, chunky storage cases on the top tube for food, and who could forget the old sticky taping gel packets to the top tube? Modern triathlon bikes are much more sophisticated with storage solutions, integrating them into the bike design, eliminating the need for retrofitted parts.

Giant has its 'AeroVault System', a front hydration storage system that was engineered with the frame to carry the same amount of water as a traditional sports bottle as well as improving the bike's aerodynamics. Cervelo's P5X and the Diamondback Andean each have an integrated storage system for tools that fills the space between the front and rear wheel.

Trek has its 'draft box' which sits behind the seattube and millimetres above the rear wheel to assist airflow as well as providing a great storage solution for spares, tubes, and tools. Specialized has an integrated hydration system it refers to as the 'Fuelselage Hydration System' inside the super thick downtube, eliminating the need for water bottles on the downtube.

And virtually all brands offer integrated top tube storage for food. Of course, all of these features come at a cost and generally, the more expensive a bike is, the more integration it has. This is most obvious at the front of the bike. Entry level models tend to have basic cockpit set-ups featuring traditional fork, steerer tube, stem, and handlebar combination, without any integrated storage systems.

This can be beneficial from a functional point of view because it allows for easy adjustment and maintenance when required. Conversely, top-tier models have highly integrated cockpit set-ups with multiple fairings, modifications, and integrated storage systems. This approach enhances aerodynamics and integration but can make adjustment and maintenance more difficult. Comfort is important when riding any bike but even more so for triathlon. Long distance events are upwards of 90km of solo riding, which could take anywhere from two hours if you're a pro to over six hours for an Ironman.

Add to that a run off the bike for a minimum distance of 20km and the importance of comfort, and as a result saving energy, is obvious. The triathlon-specific geometry helps with that but there are some important comfort considerations when making your purchase. Normally when we discuss gearing for a particular type of bike we discuss ratios and ranges but when it comes to triathlon bikes, the choice between electronic and mechanical is the focus.

Arguably the best place for electronic shifting is on a time trial or triathlon bike. Not only does electronic shifting remove the laborious cable routing process due to internal cabling, long tube lengths, and sharp bends of TT and triathlon bikes, it also eliminates the need to move your hands to the bar ends to shift if you are on the brake-bars. Shimano, Campagnolo, and SRAM all have electronic options that allow you to change gears from both the TT extensions and the brake-bars, Shimano going one step further with their new 'Synchro shift' technology, providing an almost automatic response in front shifting based on the position of the chain on the rear cassette.

If you do decide to go for electronic, be sure to charge it as required, we've heard too many stories of flat batteries on event day. As for gear ratios, triathlon bikes typically share the same size gearing and range as that of road racing bikes. Typically the longer the races, the more you'll want a wider range. Just like most other bikes, spending more money on a triathlon bike will typically but not always result in a reduction of weight, improved shift quality, increased durability and greater comfort.

For triathlon bikes specifically, you can also expect greater integration and aerodynamics too. The best option in this price range is to go for a road bike and add clip-on TT extensions. Due to the extensive research and integration that goes into a triathlon bike, they are comparatively more expensive than a road bike, so the next price bracket is the go-to range of a triathlon-specific bike. This is the sweet spot for the best triathlon bike for beginners with the frame design featuring similar aerodynamic properties as more expensive models, and the standard cockpit set-up of a steerer tube, stem and handlebar construction making it easier for riders to adjust their position and make frequent small changes.

The frame will typically be made from carbon with internal cabling, hidden rear brakes potentially front too , and basic levels of integrated storage. Shimano speed componentry should be expected as a minimum, although don't expect to find any electronic gearing options within this price range.

Wheelsets are a key point of consideration for a triathlon bike, with many of the bikes at this price point coming equipped with a more basic training wheelset. The general expectation is to buy a higher-end race wheelset to get the most out of the bike on race day.

As you spend more money, greater integration for hydration, food, and tool storage feature, as does more cockpit integration.

Shifting moves from mechanical to electronic, enabling you to shift from the bar extensions as well as the handlebars. Upgraded deep profile wheelsets that reduce drag and improve aerodynamics are also common, although, manufacturers will often equip their bikes with a basic set of training wheels to reduce costs, as many triathletes will save deeper profile wheels or a disc wheel for race days.

To help you make an informed decision, create a list of your top five bikes and do some research. As well as trawling through cat videos, YouTube can also be used as a quick source of easily consumable information. Look for videos from the manufacturers for specifications and technology information but also look for impartial people or companies providing their opinions.

Worse still, most carbon fibre tri bikes have a flat handlebar design so you can't even rest your hands on it when you sit up for a bit. Riding in aero position can also make you feel rather exposed: your arms are extended forwards and your centre of mass is also shifted away from the seat post towards the handlebar. Needless to say, you're less capable of reacting to events on the road when you're in this position, making riding fast even more risky.

Realistically, especially if you're a beginner, the only surface where you can ride in aero position is flat. Neither you can really lean into pedalling when trying to climb mountains, nor can you descend in a safe manner when you're all leant forward.

Unless you're competing in high levels, you won't really be able to make the most of the aorn position and therefore dedicated triathlon bikes. Sprint 20 km and Olympic distance 40 km triathlons can be easily tackled using a road bike and once proved to yourself that you attending triathlon races wasn't just a phase, you can start looking around for more serious tri bikes.

For a full Ironman training and racing, we would recommend getting a TT bike but if you're willing to undertake such a big challenge, we can only assume that you're not completely new to the sport. Matt is a fitness fanatic a. In his free time, he works out at home, runs, cycles and loves a good ol' walk around the city. Zip through the traffic with the best Black Friday deals on electric scooters.