Among lovers of an active lifestyle and sports, triathlon occupies a special, honorable place. This discipline is an all-around, in which the competitors are forced to show themselves in various exercises – running, swimming, as well as cycling. The latter is distinguished by maximum entertainment, not inferior by this criterion to the world famous races ala 'Tour de France'. During the competition, riders are able to reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, and therefore special, very specific requirements are imposed on the bike used for these 'rides', because not every bike is able to withstand such loads with maximum efficiency.
Triathlon bike selection video
Which triathlon bikes are best for you? Top manufacturers
Since the cycling stage in triathlon almost always involves riding at maximum speed, choosing an 'iron horse' for such purposes requires a special approach. The most suitable class of transport for these purposes are road bicycles – only they allow you to develop the required speed. For this very reason, the best manufacturers of triathlon bikes are:
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Scott;
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Cube;
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Trek;
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Merida;
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Giant;
In the assortment of products of each of the above-mentioned manufacturers, there are models positioned exclusively for triathlon. These are highly specialized bikes, the destiny of which is sports events of this kind, and they are practically unsuitable for everyday use.
Main selection criteria
When choosing a bike for a triathlon, you need to remember the main requirement for it – the ability to develop maximum speed and maintain it for a long time. This is achieved only when the bike has a light and weightless frame, large and rolling wheels, as well as an advanced transmission that maximizes the torque transmitted to the rear wheel. The second characteristic is braking efficiency: given the extremely high speeds, the athlete must be able to stop the bike if necessary, while avoiding injury and even death.
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The bike frame must have the maximum rigidity and strength with the minimum weight. Classic steel frames are not used for such a purpose; frames made of titanium or carbon fiber are considered the best. A kind of budget alternative to the above materials is aircraft aluminum – a strong and lightweight metal that can withstand significant dynamic loads;
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The steering wheel has a classic shape for all 'road bikes' and represents the so-called 'ram's horns', providing maximum aerodynamics;
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Wheels are of great importance in driving efficiency. The most suitable bikes for triathlon are equipped with lightweight aerodynamic wheels made of titanium or carbon fiber, and the tires installed on them have tread and parameters similar to those used on racing cars;
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An important design of a triathlon bike is the so-called 'sun loungers' – special structural elements designed to comfortably place the rider on the bike. Loungers should have an ergonomic shape and a wide range of adjustments;
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The pedal assembly has a special design and assumes rigid fixation of the pedals to the cycling boots. Some manufacturers have gone even further: for their models, they produce cycling boots with integrated attachments to the pedal assembly – in fact, the pedals and boots in this case are a single whole;
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The brake system, taking into account the high speed of movement of the athlete, has a special design. The brakes used in triathlon have not a disc, but a rim structure. In conditions of high speeds and almost complete absence of adverse factors, such a design shows maximum efficiency and is able to stop the bike quickly enough, regardless of its initial speed.
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The saddle of these bicycles has a special, rigid and short design. Unlike all other models, in this case the saddle is not the only point of support for the body (there are also sun beds), but it needs to be paid close attention to. There is no point in advising anything here because of the individuality of the anatomy of each of us. The best advice from experienced athletes is to go to the store and choose the model that suits you most from the variety of assortments.
In the following articles, our experts will tell you how to choose a bike for an adult, the secrets of choosing a bike for the city and the peculiarities of choosing a bike by height.
Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.
