Something to salivate over with what bikes are Pro Triathletes using.  Giving us all something to smile about I have compiled a list of the best triathlon bikes money can buy.  This is very much a wish list rather than a best buy table.  All of the bikes are top end and needing deep pockets.  

List of what bikes Pro Triathletes are using

  1. Specialized S-Works Shiv Disc Limited Edition 
  2. Cervelo PX Series
  3. Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 Ltd  
  4. Pinarello Bolide TR+ 
  5. Ceepo Viper R8050 Ultegra Di2 TT Bike 2020
  6. Trek Speed Concept 
  7. Scott Plasma 5
  8. Felt IA 
  9. BMC TM01 

Specialized S-Works Shiv Disc Ltd Edition

Specialized-S-Works-Shiv-Disc-Limited-Edition-Triathlon-Bike

Specialized

S-Works Shiv Disc Limited Edition

FRAMESpecialized S-Works FACT 11r carbon, FACT IS construction, crosswind-optimized airfoils, OSBB, Fit System, Integrated Nutrition and Hydration Fuelcells, disc brakes
FORKSpecialized S-Works FACT 11r carbon, integrated Fit System, flat-mount disc, 12x100mm thru-axle
BOTTOM BRACKETOSBB, CeramicSpeed bearings
STEMIntegrated
HANDLEBARSpecialized Shiv Aerobar, carbon, variable stack adjust
FRONT BRAKEShimano Dura-Ace Di2 9170, hydraulic disc
REAR BRAKEShimano Dura-Ace Di2 9170, hydraulic disc
BRAKE LEVERSShimano Dura-Ace Di2 9170, hydraulic disc
FRONT DERAILLEURShimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150, braze-on
REAR DERAILLEURShimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150, 11-speed
SHIFT LEVERSShimano Dura-Ace Di2 9170
CASSETTEShimano Dura-Ace 9100, 11-speed, 11-28t
CRANKSETSpecialized S-Works Power Cranks, dual-sided power measurement, +/- 1.5% accuracy
CHAINRINGS52/36T
FRONT WHEELRoval CLX 64 Disc rim, Roval AFD1, Center Lock™, CeramicSpeed bearings, 21h
REAR WHEELRoval CLX 64 Disc, carbon, tubeless-ready, Win Tunnel Engineered, 64mm depth, DT Swiss 240 internals, CeramicSpeed bearings, 24h
FRONT TYRESpecialized Turbo Cotton, 320 TPI, 700x24mm
REAR TYRESpecialized Turbo Cotton, 320 TPI, 700x24mm
SADDLESpecialized Sitero Pro, carbon rails
SEATPOSTSpecialized Shiv Carbon, 0mm offset

Who rode this at Kona? Braden Currie
Braden-Currie-New-Zealand-ironman-triathlete
Bike Split time
4hrs 16mins 18 secs

If you are a budding pro triathlete and interested in your training data read about Vo2 max data.  Why it is important for triathletes and a key data point for pro triathlete training.  

Cervelo PX Series Dura-Ace DI2 Disc

Cervelo-PX-Series-Dura-Ace-Di2-Disc-TT-Triathlon-Bike-2020

Cervelo

Cervelo PX-Series Dura-Ace Di2 Disc 

FRAMECervélo PX, carbon fibre
FORKCervélo All-Carbon, PX Fork
BOTTOM BRACKETCeramicSpeed bearings
STEMIntegrated
HANDLEBARCervélo P5X Basebar with Cervélo ski bend extensions
FRONT BRAKEShimano Dura-Ace 9170 hydraulic disc
REAR BRAKEShimano Dura-Ace 9170 hydraulic disc
BRAKE LEVERSShimano Dura-Ace 9180
FRONT DERAILLEURShimano Dura-Ace Di2 9150, 11-speed
REAR DERAILLEURShimano Dura-Ace Di2 9150, 11-speed
SHIFT LEVERSShimano Dura Ace Di2 9160
CASSETTEShimano Dura-Ace CS-R9100, 11-30 11-speed
CRANKSETShimano Dura-Ace 9100 
CHAINRINGS52/36T
FRONT WHEELDT Swiss ARC 1100 62mm carbon clincher
WHEELDT Swiss ARC 1100 80mm carbon clincher
FRONT TYREVittoria Corsa Speed TLR G2.0 25c, clincher
REAR TYREVittoria Corsa Speed TLR G2.0 25c, clincher
SADDLEISM PS01
SEATPOSTCervélo Carbon, SP21
Who ride this at Kona? Ben Hoffman
Ben-Hoffman-Ironman-Triathlete
Bike Split time
4 hrs 24 mins 01 secs

Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 Ltd

Canyon-CF-SLX-9.0-Ltd-triathlon-bike

Canyon

Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 Ltd 

FRAMECanyon Speedmax CF SLX carbon fibre
FORKCanyon F32 CF carbon fibre
BOTTOM BRACKETShimano Pressfit BB92
STEMCanyon V19 AL
HANDLEBARCanyon HB0048 Basebar Flat
FRONT BRAKECanyon B11-16 TT Front
REAR BRAKECanyon B12-16 TT Rear
BRAKE LEVERSCanyon
FRONT DERAILLEURShimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150
REAR DERAILLEURShimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150 SS
SHIFT LEVERSShimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9160 TT 11s
CASSETTEShimano Dura-Ace R9100 11-25 11s
CRANKSETShimano Dura-Ace R9100
CHAINRINGS52/36T
FRONT WHEELZipp 858 NSW
WHEELZipp 858 NSW
FRONT TYREContinental Grand Prix 5000 / Attack 23 mm
REAR TYREContinental Grand Prix 5000 / Attack 25 mm
SADDLEFizik Mistica
SEATPOSTCanyon S31 TRI CF
Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Jan Frodeno
Jan-Frodeno-Kona-2019
Bike Split time
4 hrs 16 mins 02 secs

Power ratings from meters give critical data but what is normalized power?  Read our article explaining what normalized power is and how it is calculated.  

Pinarello Bolide TR+

Pinarello-Bolide-TR-Plus-Triathlon-bike

Pinarello

Bolide TR+  Dura-Ace DI2 Disc

FRAMEPinarello Bolide TR+ carbon Torayca T1100G UD with NANOALLOY technology
FORKPinarello Bolide TR+ carbon Torayca T1100G UD with NANOALLOY technology
BOTTOM BRACKETCeramic Sealed
STEMPinarello Bolide TT Flat
HANDLEBARPinarello Bolide TT Flat
FRONT BRAKEShimano Dura-Ace BR-9170 hydraulic disc 160mm
REAR BRAKEShimano Dura-Ace BR-9170 hydraulic disc 140mm
BRAKE LEVERSShimano Dura-Ace
FRONT DERAILLEURShimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150
REAR DERAILLEURShimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150-SS 11-speed
SHIFT LEVERSShimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150
CASSETTEShimano Dura-Ace R9100 11-speed 11-28t
CRANKSETShimano Dura-Ace R9100 
CHAINRINGS53/39T
FRONT WHEELN/A
WHEELN/A
FRONT TYREN/A
REAR TYREN/A
SADDLESelle Italia Iron
SEATPOSTPinarello UD carbon aero straight
Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Cameron Wurf
Cameron-Wurf-Ironman
Bike Split time
4 hrs 14 mins 44 secs

Ceepo Viper R8050 Ultegra Di2 TT Bike

Ceepo-Viper-R8050-Ultegra-Di2-TT-Bike

Ceepo

Viper R8050 Ultegra Di2 

FRAMECeepo Carbon Fibre
FORKCeepo Carbon Fibre
BOTTOM BRACKETCeramic Sealed
STEMIntegrated
HANDLEBARVision Trimax Full Carbon J-Bend Aerobar
FRONT BRAKETektro R531
REAR BRAKETektro R541
BRAKE LEVERSShimano Ultegra
FRONT DERAILLEURShimano Ultegra Di2 R8050
REAR DERAILLEURShimano Ultegra Di2 R8050-SS
SHIFT LEVERSShimano R671 Di2
CASSETTEShimano Ultegra R8000
CRANKSETShimano Ultegra R8000
CHAINRINGS53/39T
FRONT WHEELFulcrum R400
REAR WHEELFulcrum R400
FRONT TYREContinental Grand Sport Race 25mm
REAR TYREContinental Grand Sport Race 25mm
SADDLEPrologo Zero-Tri 
SEATPOSTCeepo Carbon Aero
Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Bart Aernouts
Bart-Aernouts-Ironman-Triathlete
Bike Split time
4 hrs 19 mins 47 secs

Trek Speed Concept

Trek-Speed-Concept-Triathlon-Bike

Trek

Speed Concept 

FRAME500 Series OCLV Carbon, KVF (Kammtail Virtual Foil) tube shape
FORKSC full foil carbon
BOTTOM BRACKETTrek BB90
STEMBontrager Speed Concept
HANDLEBARBontrager Speed Concept KVF aero bar
FRONT BRAKEBontrager Speed Limit integrated brakes
REAR BRAKEBontrager Speed Limit integrated brakes
BRAKE LEVERSBontrager Race Lite aero
FRONT DERAILLEURShimano Ultegra R8000
REAR DERAILLEURShimano Ultegra R8000
SHIFT LEVERSShimano Dura-Ace
CASSETTEShimano Ultegra R8000, 11-28, 11-speed
CRANKSETShimano Ultegra R8000
CHAINRINGS50/34T
FRONT WHEELBontrager Aeolus Comp, OCLV Carbon
REAR WHEELBontrager Aeolus Comp, OCLV Carbon
FRONT TYREBontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite
REAR TYREBontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite
SADDLEBontrager Hilo Comp
SEATPOSTBontrager Speed Concept Race Lite
Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Timothy O'Donnell
Timothy-ODonnell-Ironman-Triathlete
Bike Split time
4 hrs 18 mins 11 secs

Scott Plasma 5

Scott-Plasma-5-Triathlon-Bike

Scott 

Plasma 5 

FRAMEHMX Carbon Mainframe, HMX Carbon fork, compatible for Di2 and mech. Shifting
FORKHMX Carbon fork
BOTTOM BRACKETN/A
STEMPlasma 5 stem
HANDLEBARPlasma 5 handlebar / aerobar, 
FRONT BRAKEPlasma 5 front brake
REAR BRAKEN/A
BRAKE LEVERSN/A
FRONT DERAILLEURN/A
REAR DERAILLEURN/A
SHIFT LEVERSN/A
CASSETTEN/A
CRANKSETN/A
CHAINRINGSN/A
FRONT WHEELN/A
REAR WHEELN/A
FRONT TYREN/A
REAR TYREN/A
SADDLEN/A
SEATPOSTPlasma HMX seatpost
Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Sebastian Kienle
Sebastian-Kienle-Scott-Plasma-5-Ironman-Triathlete
Bike Split time
4 hrs 15 mins 04 secs

Felt IA

Felt-IA-FRD-Disc-triathlon-bike

Felt

IA FRD Disc 

FRAMEFelt Integrated Aero Tri Disc UHC Ultimate + TeXtreme carbon fibre
FORKFelt Dagger Disc UHC Ultimate + TeXtreme carbon fiber monocoque construction
BOTTOM BRACKETCeramicSpeed BSA threaded
STEMFelt Dagger Integrated
HANDLEBARDevox Dagger UHC Ultimate + Nano base bar with Devox ƒ-Bend carbon fiber 3-position extensions
FRONT BRAKEShimano BR-R9170
REAR BRAKEShimano BR-R9170
BRAKE LEVERSShimano Dura-Ace BR-R9170 TT/Tri hydraulic
FRONT DERAILLEURShimano Dura-Ace R9150 Di2 braze-on
REAR DERAILLEURShimano Dura-Ace R9150 Di2 11-speed short cage
SHIFT LEVERSShimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9160 TT/Tri 11-speed
CASSETTEShimano Dura-Ace, 11-28T
CRANKSETShimano Dura-Ace R9100
CHAINRINGS52/36T
FRONT WHEELZipp 454 NSW Disc carbon front
REAR WHEELZipp 858 NSW Disc carbon rear
FRONT TYREContinental Grand Sport Race folding
REAR TYREContinental Grand Sport Race folding
SADDLEISM PS1.0 Ti
SEATPOSTFelt VariMount Aero Aero Tri UHC Advanced carbon fibre
Who ride this at Kona? Philipp Koutny
Philipp-Koutny-Ironman-Triathlete
Bike Split time
4 hrs 15 mins 14 secs

BMC TM01

BMC-TM01-Triathlon-Bike

BMC

TM01 

FRAMEBMC Timemachine 01 Disc, aerodynamic 01 Premium Carbon tubing
FORKBMC Aero Premium Carbon Disc, Hinge Design
BOTTOM BRACKETPF86 bottom bracket
STEMBMC Flat Cockpit
HANDLEBARDevox Dagger UHC Ultimate + Nano base bar with Devox ƒ-Bend carbon fiber 3-position extensions
FRONT BRAKESRAM Force eTap AXS HRD
REAR BRAKESRAM Force eTap AXS HRD
BRAKE LEVERSSRAM Force eTap AXS HRD
FRONT DERAILLEURSRAM Force eTap AXS
REAR DERAILLEURSRAM Force eTap AXS 12-speed
SHIFT LEVERSSRAM Force eTap AXS 12-speed
CASSETTESRAM Force XG-1270, 10-28T
CRANKSETSRAM Force AXS 
CHAINRINGS48/35T
FRONT WHEELDT Swiss ARC 1650 DICUT DB Carbon
REAR WHEELDT Swiss ARC 1650 DICUT DB Carbon
FRONT TYREVittoria Corsa, 25mm
REAR TYREVittoria Corsa, 25mm
SADDLEFizik Mistica
SEATPOSTBMC aero post
Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Chris Leiferman
Chris-Leiferman-Ironman-Triathlete
Bike Split time
4 hrs 24 mins 20 secs

Pro Triathlete Bikes FAQ

What are triathlon bikes?

Triathlon bikes put simply are bikes used by triathletes racing in triathlons of varying distances.  It is not necessary to use a triathlon bike to compete in a triathlon and you are able to use road bikes as an alternative.  The thinking behind a triathlon bike is to enable a triathlete to complete the bike leg of a race and begin to run with enough juice left in their legs to reach the finish line.  Being able to transition from cycling to running without impact is key to triathlon success.   

Why are triathlon bikes different?

Triathlon bikes are profiled with an aerodynamic shape designed to minimise the footprint of the front of the bike.  The frame features a more upright seat tube to permit the rider to sit further forwards effectively over the bottom bracket.  The handlebars include aero bars to allow the rider to minimise resistance and ride in a more horizontal tuck position. 

What is the difference between a triathlon bike and a road bike?

Answering this is easiest using a picture to accompany any written details.  

The seat tube on a triathlon bike is typically between 76 and 78 degrees.  That is a  steeper than most road bikes that tend to be around 72 degrees.  

The result is a more compact bike in terms of length lower slung to the ground.  

Triathlon-vs-Road-Bike-Frame-Geometry

Why are triathlon bikes so expensive?

Ok so our list of triathlon bikes are very expensive options. You don’t need to spend this level of money on a triathlon bike with plenty around for a fraction of this. 

Compared to equivalent specced road bikes, triathlon bikes in fact are comparable in terms of price.  Yes you really can spend thousands on road bikes as well as triathlon bikes.  Triathlon bikes don’t have any low-end models with them starting at prices above comparable low-end road bikes which is why they appear more expensive.  It means you can buy a road bike for a much lower starting price. 

If you are looking for something more affordable check out our 2024 list of road bikes for under £1500.

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Billy Ferguson

Having founded Trivelo in 2015 after many years competing in triathlon Billy continues to enjoy training and triathlon. Founder Billy is strongest in the water but continues to try and convince his body that he is an ultra runner.

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