Aero test · Kiley Austin-Young, Brian Stover, Heath Dotson & David Bowden (via Slowtwitch)
Triathlon Bikes in the Age of Peak Aero
This test is 9 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 | CdA | Gap to fastest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cervélo P5-X | 0.2085 m² | fastest |
| 2 | Cervélo P5-6Rim brake (stock Magura hydraulic brakes) | 0.2103 m² | +0.0018 m² |
| 3 | Premier TacticalProprietary extensions, Profile Design between-the-arms hydration | 0.2134 m² | +0.0049 m² |
| 4 | Diamondback Andean | 0.2138 m² | +0.0053 m² |
| 5 | Felt B SeriesAftermarket Enve bar, TriRig centre-pull front brake, Torhans hydration unit | 0.2154 m² | +0.0069 m² |
| 6 | Ventum OneRim brake, integrated 1.4 l reservoir | 0.2186 m² | +0.0101 m² |
Test conditions
- Publisher
- Kiley Austin-Young, Brian Stover, Heath Dotson & David Bowden (via Slowtwitch)
- Published
- 2017-06 (9 years ago)
- Method
- Wind tunnel
- Facility
- A2 Wind Tunnel, Mooresville, North Carolina
- Speed
- 48.3 km/h
- Yaw angles
- -10° to +10° (0, ±5, ±7.5, ±10), weighted average: 30% at 0°, 20% at ±5°, 10% at ±7.5°, 5% at ±10°
- Measured
- CdA
- Independent
- Yes
Setup
Same pedalling rider (Kiley Austin-Young) on every bike, fitted to identical coordinates (pad width, stack, reach, saddle). Enve SES 7.8 wheels (disc-brake version for P5-X and Andean, rim-brake version for the rest) with 23 mm Continental Grand Prix TT tyres; drivetrains and saddles held constant. At least one round bottle between the arms (Ventum used its integrated 1.4 l reservoir, Premier Tactical a Profile Design between-the-arms system).
Crowdfunded by 120+ contributors; tested 18 April 2017. Bikes were loaned by Ventum, Premier and shops. Values are rider-on weighted-average CdA; the same weighted values in grams at 30 mph were 2,352 (P5-X), 2,372 (P5-6), 2,407 (Tactical), 2,411 (Andean), 2,430 (Felt) and 2,465 (Ventum). The authors estimate about ±20 g (±0.002 m²) of run-to-run variability and conclude there are really two groups: the two Cervélos, then the rest. Ventum's drag was notably asymmetric, unlike two other rider-on tests of the same bike at the same tunnel. Bike-only runs for the P5-X and Tactical were flagged as corrupt by the authors. The Premier Tactical used proprietary extensions with lower cockpit rise; the P5-6 kept its stock Magura brakes; the Felt B Series had an Enve bar, TriRig front brake and a Torhans hydration/storage unit. The report also modelled race splits (e.g. Chattanooga 70.3: P5-X 2:15:01, Ventum One 2:16:47). Summary article: https://www.slowtwitch.com/industry/triathlon-bikes-in-the-age-of-peak-aero/
Read the original test