I have assembled this list of my favorite tri bikes under $2,500. I chose the $2,500 price point because it is roughly double that of the least expensive tri bike on the market. My other price categories are $2,500 - $4,000 and over $4,000. I will prepare a top ten list for those price categories in the very near future. However, since the under $2,500 price category is the most popular, I am starting with it.
This list is based on the following criteria: (1) quality construction; (2) proper geometry; (3) good tubing; (4) quality components (those suitable for extensive training and racing); (5) reasonable weight (while minimal weight differences are insignificant, light and quick bikes are more fun to ride); and (6) good looks (everything else being equal, I'll choose the better looking bike). While I have referenced ride quality in my descriptions below and there are differences between the framesets on this list, it is not the most important characteristic when selecting the best inexpensive racing bikes. Remember this golden rule, though, if you are trying to decide between bikes on this list, buy the one that fits you best!
I have intentionally limited each manufacturer to only one slot on the list even though several could have competed for multiple entries (Cervelo’s Dual Ultegra 10 at $1,700 comes to mind). The difference between models from the same manufacturer is usually only the component selection, the framesets are often identical. Therefore, I have chosen the model from each manufacturer under $2,500 that represents the best overall value. Finally, while I had started out to make this a top ten list, I ended up with 11 bikes, but they all deserve to be on a short list of the best tri bikes under $2,500.
The bikes are listed in alphabetical order.
BLUE T-12 - approximately $2,300 w/ Ultegra 10
This bike is beautiful in person (just like its carbon road bike) and, with the Aerus Composites Halo™ seat clamp system, it can be effectively ridden anywhere from 74 – 79 degrees. I am a big fan of less experienced triathletes having the option to ride at different effective seat tube angles to determine which is best for them. This seat post does that and can be used on any bike that uses a standard 27.2mm seat post. The T-12 is built from aluminum with Aerus Composites' carbon seat and chain stays, fork and seat post. We are expecting Blue to send us one in the near future to do a full review.
CERVELO P2K - $2,099 w/ Ultegra 10
If you want to ride one of Cervelo’s beautiful tri bikes, the P2K Ultegra 10 is its best buy. You get a gorgeous, aero frameset made from Cervelo’s stiff but reasonably comfortable Smartwall 2 tubing in a full aero design including aero and reversible seat post (74 – 79 degree virtual seattube angle), rear wheel cutout and horizontal dropouts with set screws and slick internal cable routing. Yes, it’s a mouthful, but that’s what you get with the P2K – lots of bike and proven performance for your dollar.
I have a friend who’s put 10,000+ miles on a P2K and it’s still going strong. See Mark’s review of the 2003 P2K here.
FELT S22 - $2,399 w/ Dura Ace 10
If you like sleek and extraordinarily well equipped bikes, then the S22 is your ticket - as long as you can handle the burnt orange/brown paint. I’ve seen this color in person on a regular occasion and think it’s pretty cool. Others, though, don’t care for it. Nevertheless, you get Felt’s Superlite 7005 aero frameset with a Profile Carbon X aerobar, Dura Ace 10 drive train, FSA carbon cranks, carbon aero seat post and Velomax Circuit wheelset. That means you get lots of goodies with your tri specific frameset. See Tom’s review of the 2005 S25 here.
FUJI ALOHA - $1,650 w/Dura Ace 9 speed
The Fuji is a really slick frameset and component grouping for the money. It includes quality aluminum tubing in a very well executed and aero frame with proper geometry, integrated headtube and sleek paint scheme. Add to that a carbon aero fork, Dura Ace 9-speed shifters and rear derailleur, Syntace C2 Ultralight aerobars, Truvativ cranks with tri specific 55/42 chainrings, FSA integrated headset and Velomax Vista wheels and sell it all for only $1,650. If you're unfamiliar with Fuji bikes, don't think that the only way it can provide this much value is too use lesser construction standards than its competitors. Fuji builds quality framesets with proper geometry resulting in a stiff bottom bracket and reasonable comfort. Fuji has also been building tri specific frames longer than several well known competitors whose bikes are on this list (and like others have gone from 78 degree seat tubes to 76). The Fuji Aloha may well be the best buy in this price category for new triathletes.
GURU CRON’ALU – approximately $2,200 w/ Ultegra 10
The Cron’Alu is the only bike on this list that you can get custom made and then have custom painted. Moreover, Guru builds all of its bikes itself in its Montreal factory, has outstanding construction quality, customer service, paint quality and tubing choices. The Cron'Alu is also the only frameset built from name brand aluminum tubing (Easton, Columbus, Dedacciai and the like) – it uses Dedacciai Force 7003 tubing which is light, stiff and has a super smooth ride. You can equip a Cron’Alu any way you like from 105 to Dura-Ace 10 with Zipps.
Importantly, this high quality frameset ($1,400 base price) is suitable for both the beginner and the pro level triathlete. The aero fork mounts in an integrated headset and all three of the front triangle's tubes have teardrop profiles including a 68 mm x 30 mm down tube. The new seat tube design continues the bladed, airfoil shape all the way to the top, finished off by an integrated seat post binder bolt. The new super thin aero seat stays and massive 35mm chain stays result in a more comfortable, more aero and much stiffer bike than last years. It is also quite attractive in person and is available in a variety of colors and paint schemes for a minimal up-charge. Guru builds all of its bikes in-house and its aluminum tri bikes are remarkably fast and comfortable; see my review of Guru’s 2005 TriLite here.
JAVELIN VARESE - $1,800 w/ Campy Veloce
Javelin is a small, innovative high performance frame builder with an impressive dedication to multisport bikes and framesets. With 8 quality bikes/framesets to choose from, you could spend weeks just deciding which Javelin to buy. However, if you're on a budget and looking for something not so common at races, then the Varese, along with its Campy Veloce 10 speed drivetrain, may be your ticket to distinction. The Varese has a 76 degree seat tube and is built from aero 7005 tubing with a carbon fork, Oval A700 one-piece aerobar, Truvativ cranks, Selle Italia Trimatic Gel saddle and Velomax Vista wheels. At only $1,800, distinction is a relative bargain.
KESTREL TALON - $2,499 w/ Ultegra 10
The Talon is the only full carbon frame on this list. I’ve put 3,000+ miles on a Talon and have used it both as a road bike and a tri bike. It is an outstandingly comfortable frame and is well made, lightweight and good looking. Please note though that the Talon has a 74 degree (road geometry) seat tube and can be ridden, via a forward offset seat post, at 76 degrees as the steepest effective seat tube angle. If you like steep seat tubes, the Talon and the Talon SL are not for you. See my full review on the Talon here and Mark’s review of the Talon SL here.
ORBEA ALETTA - $2,299 w/ Ultegra 9
Mark and I are riding the Dura Ace 10 version of this bike and have prepared detailed reviews of the same referenced below. Just a few months ago, the only Orbeas I had seen were at Interbike and, very sporadically, in some races. Today we are riding the Orbea Orca (which Iban Mayo uses in the Tour de France) and the Aletta. We are very impressed with the quality and ride of these bikes for the dollar. The Aletta is beautiful, packaged very effectively and comes in my personal favorite design – aluminum front triangle mated to full carbon rear and fork with a 76 degree seat tube. This design is fast, comfortable, stable and successfully preserves your hamstrings for the run. The Aletta is a very exciting, comfortable and fast bike. This fine frameset is packaged with American Classic 420 wheels, Michelin Pro Race tires, FSA SLK Carbon Mega Exo crankset and Mega Exo bottom bracket, Profile Aero carbon seat post, Selle Italia Nova Tri saddle, Profile Alumin X bar and Shimano 9-speed drivetrain all for just $2,299.00.
See Mark's review of the Aletta Dura Ace 10 here. See my "second opinion" review of the Aletta here. You can also see my review of the Orbea Orca road bike here.
QUINTANA ROO TEQUILO - $2,000 w/ Ultegra 10
QR has been building tri bikes longer than any other manufacturer on this list and its Tequilo has gone through several variations. Its latest, though, is certainly the best. It is a properly designed (78 degree seat tubes in the smaller 650c frames and 76.5 degree seat tubes in the 700c frames), has aero aluminum tubing with integrated head tube and radiused seat tube with adjustable rear entry dropouts (700c only) made popular by Cervelo on its P2K and P3 frames. It also incorporates an aero carbon seat stay and fork, Ultegra 10 drivetrain, FSA cranks, Vision Tech aerobars and FSA wheels. The Tequilo is quite a nice bike for $2,000 from a company steep in tri bike tradition.
SPECIALIZED TRANSITION ELITE - $1,600 w/ Ultegra/105 mix
Yes, Specialized is a giant bike company, but its bikes are remarkably well made and designed. In fact, most everything it makes is of good quality and value for the dollar. I have owned several Specialized bikes over the years as well as helmets, shoes, gloves and the like and have always been satisfied with my purchase of the same. I am also very impressed with its new carbon road bikes and since Mark just obtained a new S-Works Tarmac in the Gerolsteiner team colors, we will be able to review it in the near future. (Gerolsteiner is the German cycling team featuring American, Levi Leipheimer riding Specialized bikes.) Tom is also anticipating the delivery of a Transition Comp ($2,600) in the next few weeks which he will review ASAP.
Specialized’s aluminum frames are well made and reasonably comfortable. The transition frame includes aero shaped tubes in a user friendly 76 degree seat tube angle which allows you to ride anywhere from 75 – 77 degrees by sliding the saddle back and forth on its rails. The Elite also comes with the tested and proven performance and reliability of an Ultegra/105 9-speed drivetrain, an aero carbon seat post, FSA aluminum cranks and semi-aero wheels from Alex. The Elite is the least expensive tri bike on the list, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the weakest performer. Expect solid, steady and reliable performance with just enough of a financial cushion to possibly buy a fancy set of race wheels.
See Tom's review of the Transition Comp here.
TREK EQUINOX 7 - $1,650 w/ 105
At only $1,650, the Equinox 7 may be the best buy on this list. Like many others, Trek seems to be copying Guru’s geometry and building bikes to be ridden at 76 degrees instead of 78+ degrees. My legs just don’t like riding at 78+ degrees for long periods; it may be due to how much road bike riding I do (like most avid cyclists, I spend more time on a traditional road bike than on a tri bike). I prefer to set my saddle at 76 degrees and move forward and back on the saddle during a race to remain comfortable; moving around on your saddle allows for slightly different muscle combinations, thus keeping your legs fresher, and relieves pressure spots on your bum.
Trek, like Specialized, builds good value aluminum frames that are both reasonably stiff and comfortable. The Equinox 7 comes with the well made and good performing 105 9-speed drivetrain, aero tubes, proper geometry, decent aero bars and great wheels (Bontrager Aeros are an outstanding value on a bike at this price point). The Equinox 7, right out of the box, is likely to be as fast as most bikes you will see at a triathlon.
KDG
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