Difference Between Ordinary and Triathlon Bikes
Everybody rides a bike once in their lives (I never learned how…no, really). You’ve probably enjoyed zooming down the streets when you were a kid, proud of how fast you’re going.
You: Wow! I just passed that grandma on her wheelchair!
Grandma: It ain’t over yet, sonny!
Sorry to say, triathlon bikes go much, MUCH faster than ordinary bikes do. Triathlon bikes were specifically designed for speed (well of course, it’s a race, after all). Triathlon bicycles were constructed to have optimal aerodynamics so you can ride your best. I don’t know if you’ve seen one before, but in some bicycle tournaments, riders use a technique called “drafting.” It’s the act of riding close together to minimize wind resistance. In triathlon events, this technique is rarely used. Hence, the need for an even more aerodynamic bike is high.
Every part of the triathlon bike is designed to minimize wind resistance. The characteristic “aerobars” is one of that. At the same time, anything which adds to the friction and slows down a rider is removed. The wheels, for example, have fewer spokes than normal to facilitate more speed. The seat angle degree is a severe 80 degrees and the front, the part of the aerobars, is situated lower than the seat, which means the rider would have to bend to ride. This position also helps reduce wind resistance. Other designs to help the cause are the carbon-fiver disks, teardrop-shaped bicycle frame and flat handlebars.
The first triathlon bike built to today’s standards is the Quintana Roo Superform. When it first came out, athletese doubted its potency in a race. However, when 7-time Ironman champion, Ray Browning, finished the bicycle race 30 minutes earlier than his nearest competitor, everybody wanted the then singular bicycle design. And thus was born the triathlon bike.
