Aero test · Inside Triathlon / Triathlete
Four of the world's fastest triathlon bikes tested
This test is 13 years ago: the fastest bike here may not be fast by today's standards.
Launched since and not tested here: A2 Bikes SP, Argon 18 E-119 Tri+ Disc, Argon 18 E117, Argon 18 Nitrogen, Argon 18 Nitrogen Pro, Aurum Magma, Basso SV, Berria Belador BR, Berria Belador Essential, Berria Belador Pro, BH Aero TT, BH Aerolight, Bianchi Aquila RC, Bianchi Oltre RC, BMC Speedmachine 01, BMC Teammachine R 01, BMC Timemachine Mpc., CADEX Tri, Cannondale SuperSix EVO Carbon, Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD, Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71, Cannondale SuperSlice LAB71, Canyon Aeroad CF SLX, Canyon Aeroad CFR, Canyon Speedmax CF SLX, Canyon Speedmax CFR, Canyon Speedmax CFR TT, Ceepo Katana, Cervélo P-Series, Cervélo P5, Cervélo S5, Chapter2 KOKO, Cinelli Pressure II, Colnago TT1, Colnago TT2, Colnago Y1Rs, Corratec CCT EVO, Cube Aerium C:68X, Cube Litening Aero C:68X, Dare Velocity Ace (VA-AFO), De Rosa 70, Dimond Marquise, Eddy Merckx 525R, ENVE Melee, Factor HANZŌ, Factor ONE, Factor OSTRO VAM, Factor SLiCK, Felt IA 2.0, Felt IA 2.0 UD Carbon STD, Felt Nexar, Felt Nexar UD Carbon STD, Focus Izalco Max, Focus Izalco Max, Giant Propel Advanced, Giant Propel Advanced Pro, Giant Propel Advanced SL, Giant Trinity Advanced SL, Giant Trinity Advanced SL Time Trial, KTM Revelator Alto Exonic, KTM Revelator Alto Performance Carbon, KTM Revelator Alto Premium Carbon, Kú Cycle TF1, Liv Avow Advanced SL, Liv EnviLiv Advanced, Liv EnviLiv Advanced Pro, Liv EnviLiv Advanced SL, Look 795 Blade RS 2, Look 795 Blade RS 3, Look 796 Monoblade RS, Megamo Pulse SL, Megamo Pulse SLR, Merida REACTO CF3, Merida REACTO CF5, Orbea Ordu OMX, Pinarello Bolide F TT, Pinarello Dogma F, Polygon Helios A, Quintana Roo Service Course, Quintana Roo Service Course Tri, Quintana Roo Studio NEXT Service Course Tri, Quintana Roo V-PR, Quintana Roo V-PRi, Quintana Roo X-PR, Radon Vaillant, Ribble Ultra-Aero SL R, Ridley Dean Fast Disc, Ridley Noah Fast 3.0, Ridley Triton Fast, Rose Shave FF, Rose Shave FFX, Scott Foil RC, Scott Foil RC, Scott Foil RC TRI, Scott Plasma RC, Scott Plasma RC TT, Simplon Pride, Specialized S-Works Shiv TT Disc, Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9, Specialized Tarmac SL7, Specialized Tarmac SL9, Stevens Arcalis, Storck Aerfast.4 Comp, Storck Aerfast.4 Platinum, Storck Aerfast.4 Pro, Storck Aerfast.4 Red Edition, Storck Aerfast.5, Storck Aerfast.5 Pro, Swift Neurogen MK3, Time Scylon, Trek Madone SL Gen 8, Trek Madone SLR Gen 8, Van Rysel RCR-F Pro, Van Rysel XCR Tri, Van Rysel XCR UCI, Ventum NS1, Ventum Tempus, Wilier Triestina Filante SLR ID2, Wilier Triestina Supersonica SLR, Wilier Triestina Turbine SLR, Winspace T1550.
| # | Bike | Drag force | Gap to fastest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trek Speed Concept 9 Series | 435 g | fastest |
| 2 | Cervélo P5 Three | 495 g | +60 g |
| 3 | Specialized S-Works Shiv | 525 g | +90 g |
| 4 | Orbea Ordu GDi2 | 606 g | +171 g |
Test conditions
- Publisher
- Inside Triathlon / Triathlete
- Published
- 2013-01 (13 years ago)
- Method
- Wind tunnel
- Facility
- Faster wind tunnel, Scottsdale, Arizona
- Speed
- 37 km/h
- Yaw angles
- -20° to +20° (0, ±5, ±10, ±15, ±20), weighted for the yaw a rider sees at 23 mph in an 8.1 mph wind
- Measured
- Drag force
- Independent
- Yes
Setup
Bikes only, no rider or dummy. Zipp 404 Carbon Clincher front and Zipp Super-9 Clincher Disc rear on every bike; elbow pad height and reach standardised; stock aerobars and components as specified by each manufacturer.
Tunnel run at 30 mph (48.3 km/h) and scaled down to 23 mph with an 8.1 mph wind. The publication converted the gaps to time over a 70.3 bike leg: Cervélo +53 s, Shiv +81 s, Ordu +153 s behind the Speed Concept. The magazine itself calls the test imperfect, the lack of a rider being its biggest shortcoming. The web write-up calls the Orbea an 'Ordu GLi2' while the data digest says 'Ordu GDi2'. Web version with the setup details: https://www.triathlete.com/gear/bike/four-of-the-worlds-fastest-triathlon-bikes-tested/
Read the original test