CLASSIC T RIB IKE S

Plenty has changed in the bike industry since 220’ s first issue in 1989, as these three superbikes from Boardman, Cervélo and Quintana Roo demonstrate. But which one is the best for tri? Jack Sexty finds out

If you want to see just how much triathlon bikes have evolved in three decades, head over to our Windsor Triathlon feature on p40 to see Cervélo’s P3X (appearing in this test) compared to a late 1980s-style beam bike. It’s fascinating how two bikes can have the same rough design concept but differ so wildly, with Cervélo’s latest tri superbike featuring electronic gears, a wind-cheating carbon monocoque frame and enough aero-optimised storage solutions to carry breakfast, lunch and dinner without affecting the aerodynamics.

Our test bikes from Boardman, Quintana Roo and Cervélo all feature an electronic groupsets, and there isn’t a cable on show between them. On a modern tri superbike these credentials are pretty much standard fare, whereas a decade ago even very high-end tri bikes might be equipped with mechanical shifters, or have some exposed brake cables.

In what would’ve been unthinkable even five years ago, two of the three bikes in this test are equipped with disc brakes. Cervélo were one of the first to go disc on a tri bike when they revealed their P5X back in 2016, and now numerous bike brands are following suit. In fact, Steve Dunn of Quintana Roo told us last year that their internal testing revealed discs make for a faster bike thanks to the cleaner airflow at the front, with no rim brake caliper causing turbulence.

Each of the three bikes on test have credentials that make them truly modern triathlon/TT bikes, from the clean integration to the tunnel-tested tube shapes, and we’ve been riding them extensively to see which one would be our top recommendation for multisport race day.