Triathlons are often a solution for athletes who think one sport just isn’t enough.
Triathlons, which consist of a swim, cycle, and run event across varying durations, present a significant challenge in terms of endurance, strength, and mental toughness. And, while triathlons consist of running, swimming and biking, the bike component often accounts for around 60% of the race, regardless of the overall distance of the event.
Sounds difficult, right? Well, that’s because it is!
If you are new to triathlons and triathlon bikes, you might be wondering what makes triathlon bikes unique from other bikes, right? Well, they have a number of special features that make them unique. Let’s take a look at what those features include…
What Is A Triathlon Bike… The Details
Let’s take a look at some the characteristics of a triathlon bike and what makes them unique from other bikes…
Seat position
The geometry of any bike has a significant impact on its purpose, and triathlon bikes are no exception. Triathletes need to be comfortable in an aerodynamic position for extended periods of time, in addition to being able to run long distances once off the bike.
A steeper seat tube angle helps save the quads for the running portion of the triathlon.
Because of this, the seat tube angle and top tube length are the two key differences between triathlon bikes and road bikes, which are designed to recruit different muscle groups and provide comfort without sacrificing performance.
Triathlon bikes feature a substantially steeper seat tube angle than road bikes, often starting at 74 degrees and increasing to more than 80 degrees.
This huge push forward stimulates more glutes and hamstrings during the pedal stroke, sparing the quadriceps for the race’s run leg. It also enables riders to take an aggressive aerodynamic position and lower their frontal profile.
A steeper seat angle on a triathlon bike helps to save the quads for the running portion of the race.
However, while this hyper-aggressive positioning is excellent for aerodynamics, it can also be challenging to maintain for long periods, particularly for people who lack flexibility and mobility in their hips and lower back.
To mitigate this, triathlon bikes typically have a somewhat shorter crank length than road bikes, and seats are designed to better accommodate the pronounced anterior pelvic tilt caused by bending forward.
These minor adjustments increase the hip angle, enhancing comfort and allowing riders to remain in that position for extended periods.
Triathlon bikes also have a longer top tube and an expanded reach. This adjustment is intended to stretch out the rider, placing them in a more aggressive, horizontal stance that increases their aerodynamics. This also helps to distribute a rider’s weight across both wheels appropriately.
Note: Triathlon bikes can be expensive, so if you’re looking to ease your way into owning one, take a look at these used tri bikes for sale at QR.
Aerodynamics
Triathlon bikes are not limited in the same way as time trial bikes are, allowing for significantly more imaginative designs. Now, the flip side is that triathlon bikes must have a lot of storage space, which adds more elements to the aerodynamic jigsaw.
Triathlon bikes use the same computational fluid dynamics and dynamic wind tunnel testing as road racing bikes, but in most cases, the testing is done when the bike is race-ready and equipped with fluid, tools, and food storage. Some manufacturers employ these tweaks and enhancements to improve the bike’s aerodynamics.
Aerodynamics is an important component of triathlon bikes since any minor advantage can be the difference in a race.
One way to improve aerodynamics is to use bigger tube profiles. The larger profiles allow the wind to pass smoothly along the bike, reducing turbulent airflow and increasing drag.
This is usually found on the front forks, downtube, and seat tubes. Other manufacturers will replicate this oversized tube profile by basically chopping the “tail” off an oversized tube profile, reducing overall weight, creating a stiffer frame, and simulating the same airflow.
Another way manufacturers increase a bike’s aerodynamic efficiency is to “hide” or integrate components such as brakes, wires, and storage. Triathlon bike brakes are often found behind the forks, inside the forks, or disguised behind the bike’s front fairing. They are positioned at the rear of the bike, either underneath the bottom bracket area or out of the wind in partial tube cuts on the seat stays. Internal cables are now standard on the majority of bikes, improving aerodynamics and lowering the risk of damage from environmental causes.
Another popular way to improve aerodynamics is to change the geometry of the frame. Some manufacturers have traditionally used a dipped downtube, which lowers the gap between the downtube and the front wheel, thereby boosting airflow.
Dropped seat stays are another common modification that limits the frontal area contacting the wind and thus reducing drag. Some brands have even removed the seat stays entirely, and now you can find triathlon bikes without seat tubes or seat stays.
Lastly, triathlon bikes also improve their aerodynamics by adding wheels. Although a deeper wheel profile is generally more aerodynamic, it makes the bike more difficult to handle because it is more susceptible to side winds than a shallow rim.
In addition to this, the additional material needed makes the ride harsher because it provides less compliance (comfort) than a shallower wheel.
Storage
Triathlon bikes used to have several after-market modifications, such as rear water bottle holders behind the seat, saddle bags, chunky food storage containers on the top tube, and sticky tape for attaching gel packets to the top tube.
Modern triathlon bikes have considerably more complex storage options built into the design, removing the need for retrofitting equipment.
Some bikes have a front hydration storage device designed with a frame to hold the same amount of water as a standard sports bottle while also increasing the bike’s aerodynamics.
Others have an integrated tool storage system that fits between the front and rear wheels, while others offer a ‘draft box’ that lies behind the seat tube and millimeters above the rear wheel to improve airflow while also providing excellent storage for parts, tubes, and tools.
Specialized brands have an integrated hydration system that sits within the extra-thick downtube and eliminates the need for water bottles.
Of course, all of these features come with a price, and more storage means a higher price.
Entry-level models often have basic cockpit setups with a classic fork, steerer tube, stem, and handlebar combinations, with no integrated storage systems.
This can be useful from a functional standpoint because it allows for simple adjustment and maintenance as necessary.
Top-tier versions, on the other hand, feature fully integrated cockpit layouts with various fairings, modifications, and integrated storage systems. This strategy improves aerodynamics and integration while making modification and maintenance more challenging.
Final Thoughts On Triathlon Bikes
There is no right or wrong triathlon bike to go for. It all depends on you and your preferences. Hopefully, this article has helped you understand what exactly a triathlon bike is and have gotten a starting point for the types of features that will be important to you on your triathlon journey!
