Triathlon bikes are like the bike industry’s playground. Free from the stringent guidelines that govern bikes designed for road racing, engineers are open to explore radical shapes and designs in the name of cheating the wind. “While aero is the primary driving design factor, things like fuel (carrying enough nutrition and hydration efficiently) and fit (making sure the bike can accommodate a wide range of fits that allow our athletes to still run after the bike leg) are critical to take into account,” says Dr. Chris Yu, director of integrated technologies at Specialized. While triathlon bikes still face their own unique set of design challenges relative to road time trial bikes, because they aren’t subject to the long arm of the UCI, some of these bikes look really exotic and very cool.
Event Specific
Before you start shopping for a tri bike, it’s important to have a grasp of what kind of triathlons you intend to do.
For sprint- and olympic-distance triathlons that have shorter bike legs (around 12.4 and 24.8 miles respectively), aerodynamics are of paramount importance, and it’s less critical to have a bike that can carry a huge amount of water and nutrition. Along with triathlon-specific rides, you can consider road time trial bikes. Even a normal road bike with clip-on aero bars will do the trick if you aren’t ready to take the plunge and buy a whole new bike. If international racing—non-drafting events sanctioned by the ITU—is in your future, an aero road bike will serve you best.
More From Bicycling
International Triathlon Union (ITU) Long (49.6 miles), 70.3 (56 miles), and Ironman (112 miles) distance triathlons have significantly longer legs that will have you spending many hours on your bike. Aerodynamics are still important, but now comfort and ways of carrying nutrition and hydration are critical as well. Look for a bike that has integrated storage for water bottles and nutritional products for easy access on the go.
Fast Bike or Fast Wheels
If you’re buying your first tri bike, you can get much more bang for your buck (better frame and components) if you’re less concerned with also getting killer wheels at the same time. The most important factor in aerodynamics is your body position, followed by the shape of the frame. So if you can’t decide between two bikes, choose the one with a better frame and components over better wheels—you can easily upgrade to those in the future. Of course, if your budget allows, you can—for the price of a used car—get a complete package that’s an absolute rocket ship on two wheels.
How We Selected
Each bike on this list has been chosen through thorough research and evaluation of the market, and discussion with other experts. We survey user reviews, speak with product managers and designers, and rely on our own experience to determine the best options in terms of value, performance, and accessibility. Based on these criteria, here are nine triathlon bikes worth consideration.
Liv Avow Advanced Pro 1
All Liv frames are built specifically for the musculature of women’s bodies, and the Avow is no exception. This triathlon bike is made with a women-specific carbon layup and available in sizes XS, S, and M. The Shimano 105 drivetrain offers a wide range of gears so you can take it on a hilly course as well as out-sprint other riders on your way back into transition. It has rim brakes, which are much lighter than disc, though a bit less precise, and comes with Giant Gavia AC tubeless tires that lower your risk of a race-ending flat on the course. Looking for something similar but a bit higher level? Check out the Avow Advanced Pro 1, which has Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting and a built-in power meter for $5,800.
Argon 18 E-117 Tri Disc
This bike is designed to be an affordable and easy-to-control option for riders investing in their first triathlon-style bike. It’s fully carbon and built with Shimano Ultegra derailleurs and Dura-Ace shift levers, which react smoothly and sharply to keep you in the cadence you prefer. And the E-117 features the nose-less ISM PR 1.0 saddle, which is more comfortable when you’re in the aero position, and disc brakes to allow you more precise stopping power.
Specialized S-Works Shiv Disc
specialized S-Works Shiv Disc
The S-Works Shiv Disc represents the pinnacle of aero design from Specialized; it pulled out all the stops when creating this wind-cheating machine. The super-tapered frame and crosswind-optimized airfoils prioritize aerodynamics, weight, and stiffness, and in turn, speed. SRAM eTap Axis electronic shifting and disc brakes aren’t unexpected on a bike at this price, and 64mm Roval CLXs carbon wheels are super light and fast. It also features Specialized’s hydration and nutrition Fuelcell systems, little hatches in the frame that allow you to store all the food and drink you need for long bike legs and training sessions. All that capability and top-of-the-line design doesn’t come cheap, though, which is why this bike is seen mostly in the pro Ironman fields.
Cervélo PX3
Pros
- Extremely aerodynamic
- Lot of in-frame storage
Cons
- Not legal in UCI-sanctioned events
- 32mm rims are versatile but not as fast as deeper rims
No tri bike roundup would be complete without including the top-shelf bike from perennial Kona bike-count winner, Cervélo. This radical-looking ride is a dramatic departure from the classic double-diamond frames we’re accustomed to seeing and is reminiscent of the Zipp Beam Bike from decades ago. DT Swiss P1800 wheels are incredibly fast in a wide range of wind conditions, and the bike is loaded with places to stash food and water bottles for the longest, hardest races. And let’s not forget that this bike is hung with Shimano Ultegra Di2 components, so you get the benefit of being able to shift from both the base bar and the aero extensions.
Cervélo P2
If you love Cervélo but don’t feel good about depleting your savings to get the P5X, the P2 packs a significant amount of aero benefits into a much more affordable package. The frame design is a result of trickle-down technology from earlier renditions of the P4 and P5 time trial bikes that were designed within UCI guidelines, so this bike has some serious aero chops. Shimano 105 11-speed shifting offers great performance and reliability without driving up costs, and Shimano RS100 aluminum clinchers make a great starter wheelset that you can easily upgrade down the road. Whether you’re new to tri bikes and this fits your budget or you’ve been bitten hard by the bug and need to upgrade your ride, the P2 is a solid option.
Canyon Speedmax CF 7.0
The Speedmax CF 7.0 lacks the space-age frame design of some of its counterparts, but it does carry some serious cache with its stealth, matte black-on-black color scheme, and signature angular frame design. Bosses on the down tube, seat tube, and seatpost give you the ability to carry plenty of water, and a storage compartment behind the stem is a good spot to stash nutrition for easy access. Shimano 105 11-speed components and Mavic Cosmic Elite wheels offer great performance and an even better price.
Pinarello Bolide TR+ Carbon T1100 UD
pinarello Bolide TR+
Pinarello may be new to the triathlon world, but its expertise in creating fast bikes is indisputable. As if to emphasize that point, Cameron Wurf broke the Kona course record in 2018 (along Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway) aboard the Bolide TR+ Carbon T1100 UD. Integrated storage compartments for hydration and nutrition play heavily into keeping the bike aerodynamic, and deep DT Swiss hoops are about as aero as it gets across a wide variety of course conditions. SRAM Red eTap allows you to shift from either the aero extensions or the base bar, and those bars are fully adjustable so you can get into the perfect position that blends aerodynamics with comfort for long bike legs.
Quintana Roo PRfour Disc
The Quintana Roo PRfour is an elite-level bike outfitted with budget-friendly components and wheels to make it more accessible, as well as easy to work on for the home mechanic. The Shimano 105 11-speed drivetrain is reliable, performs well, and keeps sticker price in check, and an FSA Gossamer Pro crankset adds a little flare. Disc brakes help you scrub juuust enough speed in corners, and you get a choice of either aluminum Shimano RS170 wheels, Reynolds AR 58/62s for an additional $1,000, or Hed Vanquish wheels ($1,600). And let’s not forget ample storage for, and easy access to, fluids and nutrition on the go. This bike is a great bargain as it is, and the upgrade options give you the chance to really trick it out if you like.
Felt B
The Felt B represents one of the best values on this list. Mechanical Shimano Ultegra components are rare bonuses in this price range, and Felt’s Bayonet aero bar system is incredibly adjustable and easy to fit to exactly your preference. Although it doesn’t have integrated nutrition storage, Felt’s aero carbon frame does have bosses for two bottles inside the main triangle. Aluminum Devox 30A clinchers are great starter race wheels, and can be run tubeless. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a much better combination of value and performance for your first aero bike than the Felt B.
Riley Missel is an experienced road racer, mountain biker, national champion on the track, and a former Bicycling editor. She is a USA Cycling-certified Level 1 coach, a loud and very stoked Spin instructor, and she will definitely stop the ride to pet that dog.
