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Triathlon season may be winding down, but the all-important holiday gift-giving period
lies dead ahead. Though Interbike’s primarily a cycling show,
we uncovered plenty of cool tri bikes and accessories. Check out this hot half-dozen:
Cannondale Bike
’Dale’s line of trusty tri bikes remains virtually unchanged for 2000, but the company
added an aero-frame road bike that might be perfect for fledgling multisport types who
don’t want to be locked into a tri-specific bicycle (whose forward rider position isn’t
so comfy for normal road riding). The R1000 Aero sports a CAAD4 aluminum frame with aero
tubing; aero carbon fork; 700C Mavic 28-hole rims; and a mix of Shimano 105 and Ultegra
components. Now all you need are an aero bar, running shoes, and swimsuit. The R1000 goes
for $1,840.
Northwave Shoes
This Italian company’s stylish road and mountain bike shoes have caught on quickly with
cyclists. Now Northwave has introduced a triathlon shoe called the Evolution Multi.
Features include a stiff carbon sole; heel tab so can pull them on fast in the transition
area; two big, easy-to-grab Velcro straps with locking system; and uppers designed to drain
water from wet feet. Cost: $245. http://www.northwave.com
Profile Aero Bars
You can break the bank on a flashy aero bar, but luckily good bargain bars are
out there. We’re excited about Profile’s new, sleek-looking Aerolite, a bolt-on bar that
costs just $100. This 530-gram unit boasts a split design (two unlinked supports instead
of a single U-shaped tube), length and hand-angle adjustment, and variable arm-rest width.
But if only the fanciest bar will do, try Profile’s new CarbonX, a full, one-piece aero
bar with carbon threadless stem, wing section and aero-bar extensions. Lots of
adjustability, too. Looks way cool and weighs about 750 grams. Cost? $350. Profile also
launched a carbon bolt-on bar, the Carbon Stryke, for $120.
(http://www.profile-design.com)
Quintana Roo Bike
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to win a million bucks from Regis to get a
competitive tri bike. Quintana Roo knocked $100 off the price of its Kilo, which now costs
just $1,295. For that you get: a 7005 aluminum frame with tri-friendly 78-degree seat-tube
angle; aero carbon fork; 650C wheels; Shimano 105 drivetrain with Dura Ace shifters; and
an aero bar. Heck, you’ll even have money left over for a wetsuit.
(http://www.rooworld.com)
Shimano Wheels
They may not have been designed strictly with triathletes in mind, but we predict these
light, aerodynamic hoops will prove popular with the multisport crowd as well as other
cycling speed demons. At first glance, Shimano’s wheels (the
first hoops from cycling’s component kingpin) look similar to Trek’s excellent Rolf
wheels. Both feature an eye-catchingly small number of spokes arranged by pairs.
But unlike the Rolfs (and conventional spoked wheels), Shimano’s wheels sport spoke
nipples at the hub and the curved spoke head in the rim sidewall-reverse of traditional
wheel design. Shimano says this design permits the use of a lighter rim—for a 50-gram
weight saving over other aero wheels. This design also is said to produce a more compliant
wheel—which means a more comfortable ride, so your legs feel fresher for the run.
The Shimano wheels should be fast, too: Front and rear each feature 16 bladed spokes, versus
28 or 32 in a conventional wheel. The 7700 Dura Ace model costs $700 per pair and is
available in clincher or sew-up versions. The 6500 Ultegra model goes for just $525 per
pair and comes in clincher only. Initially wheels will be available only in 700C size, but
a 650C version is coming. (http://www.shimano.com)
Trek Bikes
The bike biz’s Big Kahuna finally figured out that triathletes buy bicycles, too. Trek
introduced its first triathlon bikes—the Hilo 1000 and the Hilo 2000—and they look good.
Both models feature a tri-specific 78-degree seat-tube angle for better positioning on
aero bars; double-butted aluminum frame with aero downtube; aero 650C Rolf wheels; aero
Kinesis carbon fork; and Syntace bolt-on aero bar. The Shimano 105-equipped Hilo 1000 goes
for $1,860 and the Shimano Ultegra-equipped Hilo 2000 costs $2,730.
(http://www.trekbikes.com)
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