FELT B Performance Ultegra Mix

$2,800 Felt has a long history in the sport – Jim Felt was the man behind many of Paula Newby-Fraser’s bikes in the ’80s and ’90s when she dominated the world of Ironman racing and has continued that legacy with numerous champions, including Daniela Ryf and Mirinda Carfrae. That legacy shines through in the B-series – you get an impressively well-equipped, tri-specific, carbon-fibre bike that features impressive aerodynamics and lots of fit customization. Like the company’s flagship IA series, the frame features an aerodynamically optimized oversize downtube and seat tube with cut outs that provide aero benefits and improve handling. There are lots of fit options thanks to the road stem attached to Felt’s Bayonet basebar, and you get a solid component mix – Shimano Ultegra derailleurs with a 105 crank. Add a set of race wheels to all this and you have only one problem – you won’t have any excuses out on the bike course.

$4,000 (FRAME); $7,000 (BIKE WITH SRAM FORCE 12 speed); Japan’s triathlon-specific bike brand, Ceepo, has been steadily gaining in popularity in the triathlon world over the last decade. While the Shadow-R garnered lots of attention thanks to the space-age-looking front wheel faring, you’ll see many athletes on the Katana, one of the lightest frames geared towards fulldistance racing on the market. The Katana is the perfect bike for those who’s riding isn’t limited to long, flat straightaways – the geometry lends itself to a variety of riding including climbs, descents and, when needed, fast efforts down in the drops. In 2020 the already-impressive handling characteristics appear to be set to improve even more thanks to the addition of disc brakes. We can’t wait to try one out.

$8,600 When the flagship P5 Disc was launched last year, there was a collective groan around the world from all the triathletes who were desperate to be on the super-speedy bike, but couldn’t afford the whopping 15 grand price tag. Christmas came early last year for all those folks with the arrival of the P-Series. This new series replaces the company’s popular P2 and P3 models – it’s stiffer, lighter and more aero than the P3, while incorporating disc brakes and a lot of the handling characteristics that make the P5 so popular with roadies. It’s not the P5, but it’s not far off. The P-Series starts at $4,300 for the Shimano 105 version. The Ultegra Di2 version we reviewed came with speedy Vision 55TC wheels, Vision’s Metron Hydration System, the Smartpak 400 for nutrition, the Aerobottle 500 and a Rear Hydration Mount, making it race-ready right from the store.

$11,800 Launched in Kona last year, the E118 Tri+ was an instant hit with riders like Heather Jackson, a former track rider who, even when it comes to a tri bike, wants a ride that can capture her bike handling skills. She got it – the E118 Tri+ features aggressive fit and position options sure to please elite age group athletes and pros. You can dial in a lower front profile, in part, because of the updated ONEness system that drops both the arm rests and the grip position. Designed to be UCI legal and with elite cyclists in mind, the stiff frame provides excellent power transfer and excellent climbing and cornering characteristics. Add disc brakes to the mix and you get a bike that will hammer in and out of corners, but can also serve as an aero wonder when it’s time to just push hard in a tuck.—TMC