

You’ll find hardtail and a few full-suspension tandems, like Santana’s El Conquistador de Montañas. Yep, people ride tandems off-road, even on technical singletrack. Top-shelf models feature carbon frames with striking wing-shape tube profiles, carbon fiber wheels with deep aero rims, and advances like electronic shifting with multiple shifter points on different parts of the handlebar. Price Range:īasic triathlon bikes start around $2,000, with metal frames with less aerodynamic shaping, and more conventional wheels. They’re not as versatile as road bikes the rider position and handling aren’t suited to long climbs or technical, twisty descents. Drafting behind other riders is not legal in most triathlons, so the bikes are optimized to reduce wind drag, and to go fast over the flat to rolling terrain found on most triathlon bike courses. Some companies offer women’s-specific models, with different saddle and handlebars, shorter crankarms and, sometimes, different frame geometry. Tires are typically narrow (25mm or less). Disc brakes are becoming more common, but adoption here still lags behind other road styles. At the high end, bikes are designed as complete, custom-integrated units parts are not easily swapped. Frames and wheels, especially, are designed with wing-style airfoil shapes for aerodynamic efficiency. The central features of a triathlon bike are frame geometry and special handlebars that allow the rider to maintain an aerodynamic tuck while preserving stable handling and aerodynamic frame and component design for reducing drag. Cargo bikes start around $1,500 for serviceable mid-tail designs, and go well past $5,000 for electric versions.Ī road-style bike that’s built for aerodynamic efficiency to help triathletes achieve their best performances. They start around $400 for the most basic models high-end, fully-accessorized commuters can run $2,000. Price Range:įixies and commuters are typically the most affordable. There’s no one “best” kind of urban bike just the right kind of bike for your needs, which can range from commuting and errands, to taking kids to the park or trips to the home and garden store. But small is still powerful: Folders can feature impressive cargo capacity and versatility, and there are electric-assist versions for a boost to natural pedal power. That’s ideal for commutes on crowded public transportation, carrying up stairways, or storage in smaller living and working spaces. Typically accompanied by smaller-diameter wheels, they feature fast, partial disassembly to make them far more compact. Designed for the tight spaces of urban environments, folding bikes feature frames that articulate via lockable hinges or couplings.
