Triathlete magazine senior editor Aaron Hersh studied the Giant Trinity Triathlete magazine senior editor Aaron Hersh studied the Giant Trinity Advanced SL, the Specialized Shiv and the Trek Speed Concept 9 Series to see how they perform not as time trial bikes, but as triathlon bikes.
Key excerpts from Hersh’s review are below. Read the complete article at Triathlete Magazine to get all the details on how and why the Speed Concept is the best bike.
The bottom line:
“I don’t know which of these bikes is most aerodynamic and I’m not going to guess, but the Trek Speed Concept is built around versatile, triathlon-specific geometry and is decked out in multisport-friendly accessories. The other two cannot accommodate some common triathlon fit preferences. The Speed Concept 9 Series’ combination of fit, adjustability, aerodynamics, drop-dead good looks and usability make it the best triathlon bike on the road today.”
Why a great bike fit is critical for triathletes:
“Our race is only just starting at T2 so a triathlon bike needs to fit comfortably to allow the athlete to run fast off the bike. No matter how aerodynamic, a tri bike must fit the rider, and these three machines all fit differently.”
Fit and adjustability:
“Traditional stems come in a variety of lengths and angles, which allow a single bike to accommodate many different fits, but the unique front-ends on the Shiv, Trinity Advanced SL and Speed Concept are not compatible with conventional stems. This means that each bike’s fit characteristics are determined only by the components its manufacturer provides.
The Shiv was designed as a TT bike, not a tri bike, and Specialized makes no apologies for that. It has a slack seat tube angle and a long reach from the saddle to the handlebars. … These fit attributes mean that the Shiv is only appropriate for athletes that ride in an old-school position, similar to a road time trialist. The Trinity Advanced SL suffers from the same lack of reach adjustment as the Shiv…
…the Speed Concept can fit nearly any triathlete because of its versatile aerobar attachment system. The frame is built around F.I.S.T. approved, triathlon-specific geometry. Instead of offering only a single-length piece to attach the aerobars, like the Specialized and the Giant, Trek’s six different stems allow it to cover the complete spectrum of fit preference. The highly adjustable Bontrager aerobar that comes with the Speed Concept 9 Series allows the position to be tweaked to perfection. Trek’s system not only matches the adjustability of a typical tri bike, but it exceeds it.”
Triathlon specific application:
All three of these bikes are aerodynamic marvels, but the Trek is a triathlon bike, and the other two are TT bikes that can be used for triathlon.
Read the complete article in Triathlon Magazine here
