It was a sad day, but it was time to retire the old Motobecane Record before the triathlon season started. I have had a great ride on this bike, but taking the step up to Ironman events has made me really look hard in purchasing a triathlon specific bike. By the time you purchase the bike, the bike computer, racing wheels, blah blah blah… I was pretty much up to an amount that was more than what I paid for my first vehicle. It is obviously a large investment, and I have been dreaming about it every since I finished my first triathlon.Because drafting is not allowed during most triathlon events for safety reasons, triathlon bicycles are generally optimized for aerodynamics, having special handlebars called aero-bars or tri-bars, aerodynamic wheels, and other components. Historically Triathlon Bikes grew from combining a durability of a road bike and the aerodynamics of a time trial bike. Triathlon bikes use a specialized geometry, including a steep seat-tube angle both to improve aerodynamics and to spare muscle groups needed for running.
New triathlon bikes can vary in price depending on the material used from around $1200 to $20,000. Aluminum frames are generally much less expensive than their carbon fiber counterparts. With new technology enhancing the fabrication of aluminum bikes, the low end carbon bike is generally less than 1 pound lighter than an aluminum bike. Comfort in ride has always been the main reason to purchase a carbon bike, but aluminum bikes have now added carbon components to them to dampen the road vibration such as carbon fiber front forks and seat posts. I still have not found use for a $20K bike, but they market them to someone right? I decided that I was going to keep on the lower end of that range and compare some of the combination aluminum/carbon bikes on the market. The four that I decided to compare was the Felt S22, Cervelo P1, Fuji Aloha 2.0, and the Quantana Roo Tequilo.
The first bike that I chose to look at was the Cervelo P1. It is a combination aluminum/carbon fiber bike that has a high reputation of quality, style, and comfort. If you have ever been to a triathlon and did not see a Cervelo bike, then you just were not looking. They seem to be one of the top sellers in the triathlon market and for good reason, they spend a lot of time engineering and testing each of their bikes to make sure they putting out the best product. This bike is a looker too with it's red and silver paint scheme, and yes, it looks a fast as it rides. I had a blast testing out this bike and it left me wanting more.For more specifications see the Cervelo P1 webpage!
The next bike I checked out was the Felt S22. It too is also a combination of aluminum/carbon fiber and along with a great components package backed by a company that cut their teeth in triathlons. Felt bikes have always been on my radar because every time I have ever seen them they seem to catch my eye because of it's sleek look and style. The S22 does not disappoint. From the time I got on the bike to give it a test ride, I knew this bike would be hard to beat. It was so smooth, quick, and comfortable. At 20.78lbs it is also just a little less than a 1/2 pound heavier than it's bigger brother the full carbon B16, but with the same components. The look of the bike is dare I say, pretty sexy with it's red, white, and black paint scheme.For more specifications see the Felt S22 web page!
The Fuji Aloha 2.0 has always been of interest to me as well, but mostly because of the price point. At just shy of $1500 ready to race, this bike is hard to beat. Of course there are some great local bike shops near me that offer special deals on Fuji bikes that include what they call a beginner triathlon package which includes helmet, bike shoes, and triathlon shorts and top. It is a really good deal for someone that is looking to get into triathlons without taking out a second mortgage to buy all the gear that you need to get into triathlons. Since I felt the Motobecane was a great beginner bike for me, I pretty much decided that this was not the bike for me if I was going to upgrade, but I would totally recommend it for someone that is looking to get into triathlons and or biking in general. Fuji makes some great bikes and if you find yourself in my local tri store, you will be in good hands too. For more specifications see the Fuji Aloha 2.0 web page!
The Quantana Roo Tequilo slowly crept up onto my list of favorites when I started to do my research mainly because of Coach Lyons ringing endorsements about the brand. Of course everything he said about their bikes was very true. The Tequilo was redesigned this year in this aluminum/carbon fiber bike, but the price point was not compromised at all. When I rode this bike, I found it to be extremely stiff and sensitive to your every movement. I love that feel about it, and I knew that I had a tough choice to make.For more specifications see the Quintana Roo Tequilo webpage!
After my search shopping was over, I knew that I could not really go wrong with any of these choices so it really came down to which bike fit me better, which bike I felt more comfortable on, and ultimately, which bike gave me the warm fuzzies when I thought about it. The bike I chose...Drum Roll Please....If you did not already know...
The Felt S22
This bike came out on top for many reasons, but the most important reason was what I got after the sale. I got Corey and Bicycle World of West U. Corey was great about being patient while helping me out, being very informative, friendly, and supportive. Of course, I have gotten him really excited because of all the awesome gear that I got from Profile Design including saddle, water bottles, Aerodrink, E-Pack, Aqua Rack, and most importantly my soon to be Altair Full Carbon Race Wheels for my Ironman debut. Bicycle World does not sponsor the Shawn's Ironman project (Call Me!), but I feel they deserve a mention because of how great the shop is. Plus they carry all of your Profile Design needs. If you go in, tell Corey that you support Shawn's Ironman and be prepared for him to treat you like you are the most important person in the world.