Compare
A2 Bikes SP vs BLUE Competition Cycles Triad Elite
Pick up to 4 bikes. Rows line up component by component. Highlighted rows differ, and green marks the best value where lower or higher is clearly better.
Key differences
- The A2 Bikes SP starts $1,074 cheaper ($3,115 vs $4,189 for the BLUE Competition Cycles Triad Elite).
- Our verdict scores the A2 Bikes SP higher overall: 73/100 vs 65/100.
- The A2 Bikes SP comes in 4 sizes, the BLUE Competition Cycles Triad Elite in 5.
A2 Bikes SP
BLUE Competition Cycles Triad Elite
| A2 BikesSP | BLUE Competition CyclesTriad Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | A2 Bikes | BLUE Competition Cycles |
| Build | SP Shimano 105 | Triad Elite Shimano 105 |
| Build notes | Drop #1 (fall 2026) build, sold in Matte Black only; the product page lists the shifters as Shimano Dura-Ace 11-speed (bar-end) and the wheels as Vision Team 30 alloy, tubeless-ready. Claimed complete weight 21.0 lb (size not stated). A2 says this build comes with black bar tape and a fully black chainstay area, unlike the photos. Sold out in Drop #1; Drop #2 opens on 12 October 2026. | BLUE web price. Mechanical Shimano 105 with bar-end shifters. |
| Price (MSRP) | $3,115$3,115$3,115 | $4,189$4,189$4,189 |
| Bike weight | 9.53 kg21 lb | — |
| Model year | 2026 | 2026 |
| Generation | SP (launched 2022, replaces the rim-brake Speed Phreak) | — |
| Launched | 2022-03 | — |
| Discipline | Triathlon | Triathlon |
| UCI legal | Not stated | Not stated |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 73 | 65 |
| Aero | 64 | 56 |
| Frame | 68 | 58 |
| Components | 72 | 58 |
| Hydration & storage | 45 | 48 |
| Fit | 82 | 62 |
| Practicality | 78 | 76 |
| Price | 100 | 95 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Hand-laid Toray T700 carbon fibre | BLUE-TECH high-modulus T-800 UD carbon fibre |
| Frame weight | 1,250 g2.76 lb | — |
| Weight measured on | Size M, painted (A2 claim) | — |
| Frame sizes | S, M, L, XL | XS, SM, MD, ML, LG |
| Colours | Oswego Blue, Summit Gray, Matte Black (fall 2026 colour drop; the Shimano 105 build only in Matte Black) | Black/Blue/Silver, Blue/Green, Red/White/Black, Black/Black, Black/Silver, Black/Yellow, Black/Blue, Red/Black/Silver |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Disc | Rim brakes (FSA Vision aero centre-pull calipers) |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Bottom bracket standard | PF30 | PF30 (86x46 mm) on complete bikes; the frameset page says BB386 |
| Front axle | 12 mm thru-axle | — |
| Rear axle | 12 mm thru-axle | — |
| Drivetrain compatibility | Sold with Shimano 105 mechanical 11-speed or SRAM Rival, Force and Red AXS wireless 12-speed | — |
| Mechanical shifting possible | Yes | — |
| Cable routing | Fully internal cables and hoses | Internal, through the Aerus FA-Aero stem |
| Hydration & storage | ||
| Behind-saddle mount | — | Seatpost compatible with Richey rear hydration mounts |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Aerobar system | A2 SAGS (Super Adjustable Gooseneck) stem, set to 70, 90 or 110 mm with A2's spacers, with a Vision TriMax SI-013 carbon aerobar (Force and Red builds) or a Zipp Vuka Alumina aerobar (105 and Rival builds) | Standard stem with clamp-on base bar and extensions (FSA Vision, Vision TriMax or Zipp Vuka depending on build) |
| Pad stack adjustment range | Riser spacers up to 70 mm on the Force and Red builds; a 25 mm and a 50 mm spacer (up to 50 mm) on the 105 and Rival builds | — |
| Pad reach adjustment range | 140 mm of fore/aft pad adjustment (A2 states 120 mm on the Rival build page) plus the 70/90/110 mm stem settings | — |
| Extension options | Ski-bend extensions with tool-free angle adjustment | — |
| Seatpost type | A2 SASP (Super Adjustable Seat Post) with a sliding head | Aerus aero carbon seatpost with sliding saddle-position adjustment |
| Saddle position range | Up to 120 mm of saddle travel on the SASP head | — |
| Effective seat angle range | — | 77° frame seat angle; saddle position adjustable on the post |
| Fit notes | Product pages give a rider range of about 155-193 cm (5'1" to 6'4"); the size guide's cards run from 160 cm (S) to 196 cm (XL). A2 offers a free remote fit call and free size exchanges within 30 days. | — |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Manufacturer aero claims | A2 says the disc-brake SP saved 5 W in the wind tunnel against its rim-brake predecessor, the Speed Phreak | — |
| Testing method | CFD and wind tunnel (A2 statement; no figures published) | None published |
| Tube profile | Truncated-airfoil (kammtail) down tube, seat tube and fork | — |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Derailleur hanger | Proprietary (SP derailleur hanger sold by A2) | — |
| Maintenance | Ships 92% assembled: the buyer fits the seatpost and cockpit and adjusts the brakes with the included 5 Nm torque wrench and A2's video guide (A2 also recommends a 10 Nm wrench). A2 says most shops finish the build for USD 50-150. | — |
| Proprietary parts | SAGS stem, SASP seatpost and derailleur hanger | — |
| Frame warranty | Limited lifetime frameset warranty for the original owner (not transferable); crash damage is covered by a crash replacement policy giving 30% off a new frame | — |
| Sold via | Direct from A2 Bikes in Portland, Oregon (USD 99 flat shipping to the lower 48 states), sold in limited colour drops; a few preferred dealers and demo bikes | Direct from BLUE (rideblue.com) in the USA |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | Shimano 105 R7000 | Shimano 105 R7000 |
| Launched | 2018 · replaced by Shimano 105 R7100 (2023) | 2018 · replaced by Shimano 105 R7100 (2023) |
| Speeds | 11-speed | 11-speed |
| Electronic | No | No |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x11 |
| Shifters | Shimano Dura-Ace bar-end | Shimano 105 TT bar-end shifters |
| Position | Extensions (11-speed bar-end shifters) | — |
| Crankset | Shimano RS520 | Vision Gossamer Pro |
| Chainrings | 50/34 | — |
| Bottom bracket | PF30 | FSA PF30 |
| Standard | PF30 | PF30 (86x46 mm) |
| Front derailleur | Shimano 105 R7000 | Shimano 105 R7000 |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano 105 R7000 | Shimano 105 R7000 |
| Cassette | Shimano 105 R7000 | Shimano 6800 |
| Range | 11-30 | 11-25 |
| Speeds | 11-speed | 11-speed |
| Chain | Shimano 11-speed | Shimano HG 11-speed |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake levers | — | FSA Aero TT |
| Brake calipers | TRP Spyre | FSA Vision Aero Center Pull |
| Type | Mechanical disc | Rim caliper (centre-pull) |
| Rotors | Shimano 140 mm rotors | — |
| Front rotor | 140 mm | — |
| Rear rotor | 140 mm | — |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Vision Team 30 | Vision Team 30 |
| Front rim depth | — | 30 mm |
| Rear rim depth | — | 30 mm |
| Material | Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Tubeless ready | Yes | Yes |
| Tires | Vittoria Zaffiro | Goodyear Eagle Sport |
| Tire width | 25 mm | — |
| Cockpit | ||
| Aerobar system | Zipp Vuka Alumina | FSA Vision Alloy Triathlon Base Bar |
| Integrated with frame | No | — |
| Extension shape | Ski-bend, tool-free angle adjustment | — |
| Pad stack adjustment | 25 mm and 50 mm spacers included (up to 50 mm) | — |
| Material | Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Notes | — | Alloy adjustable J-bend extensions and arm rests with pads |
| Stem | A2 Bikes SAGS | Aerus FA-Aero |
| Stem length | 70, 90 or 110 mm with A2's spacers | — |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | WTB Rocket | BLUE Triathlon 2300 Center Groove |
| Seatpost | A2 Bikes SASP | Aerus Aero Carbon |
| Saddle position range | Up to 120 mm of saddle travel on the sliding head | — |
| Material | — | Carbon |
| Notes | — | Sliding saddle-position adjustment; compatible with Richey rear hydration mounts |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL | XS, SM, MD, ML, LG |
| Rider height min | 160–190 cm5–6′3″ | — |
| Rider height max | 167.5–196 cm5′6″–6′5″ | — |
| Stack | 460–560 mm18.1–22″ | 494–564 mm19.4–22.2″ |
| Reach | 371–439 mm14.6–17.3″ | 375–432 mm14.8–17″ |
| Seat angle min | 78° | 77° |
| Seat angle max | 78° | 77° |
| Head tube angle | 73° | 71.5–72.5° |
| Head tube length | 53–157.5 mm2.1–6.2″ | 85–155 mm3.3–6.1″ |
| Effective top tube | — | 489–562 mm19.3–22.1″ |
| Seat tube length | 500–580 mm19.7–22.8″ | 523–594 mm20.6–23.4″ |
| Chainstay | 410 mm16.1″ | 408 mm16.1″ |
| Wheelbase | 940–1,038 mm37–40.9″ | 965–1,035 mm38–40.7″ |
| BB drop | 70 mm2.8″ | 75 mm3″ |
| Fork offset | — | 45 mm1.8″ |
| Front centre | 540–638 mm21.3–25.1″ | — |
| Standover | — | 740–840 mm29.1–33.1″ |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
Geometry overlay
Pick a size for each bike to see frames and arm-pad ranges on top of each other.
Drawn to scale (how to read it).