The Best Triathlon Bikes of 2023
Ranging from $3,500 to $17,000, we hands-on review and rate seven of the best triathlon bikes from 2023 and beyond.
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We’ve been super busy this spring, riding and reviewing all of the interesting new bikes on the market this year —parsing out the marketing hype from the real-world, on-the-road reality to determine the best triathlon bikes of 2023.
What makes something a good triathlon or TT bike? We base our best triathlon bikes of 2023 ratings off the following criteria (noted below): fit range, value, comfort, acceleration stiffness, handling tightness, stability, ease of assembly—and we let you know what distance we think that tri bike is best suited for.
| Criteria | Description |
| Fit Range | This is not only the number of sizes offered, but also the range from smallest to largest. Obviously tri bikes can (and should) be adapted by a good fitter, and a fitter should ideally be consulted even before purchasing a bike, but this rating details how much adjustment (I.e., aerobar spacers, alternate saddle positions, etc) from the frame’s baseline could be required to get an optimal fit. |
| Value | Here we look at the value behind the complete bike, looking mostly at components, but also frame quality as well. This is not just absolute price from low to high. |
| Comfort | This rating specifically judges the complete bike on vertical compliance, not fit or handling. Keep in mind that more than just a frame can affect comfort, and since we evaluate the complete bike as it’s sold, other components can come into play—wheels, tires, even bars. |
| Acceleration Stiffness | This is another rating that looks at the sum of the parts on the complete build. Here we’re evaluating how the bike responds under high torque (standing up over a hill or out of a corner) and high wattage (powering over a roller). Again, other components aside from the frame can come into play here. |
| Handling Tightness | Separate from stability, this is the rating that scores how sharp the bike cuts corners. This isn’t necessarily a positive thing if you prefer a bike that sweeps more reliably through corners, as opposed to a bike that can turn on a dime. 5/5 here is very tight handling; 1 / 5 is a bike that swoops out on corners but might be more consistent. |
| Stability | This rating looks at how stable a bike feels in the aerobars in crosswinds and on descents. A more stable bike will require less input from the rider to stay straight, but again, it looks at the complete bike as a whole—wheels included. |
| Best Distance | This is a quick look at which distance tri the bike will be good for, out of the box. Of course pretty much all the bikes we review work for almost any distance, but these distances are where each complete bike—as shipped—will shine. |
| Ease of Assembly | With so many bike brands using the direct-to-consumer model, we rate how easy the home build would be for the average triathlete. Here, we’re assuming a low level of mechanical skill—for instance, the person we’re rating for could change a tire, but maybe not adjust a derailleur. |
While the gear below was loaned out by the brands represented, all choices were selected independently by the tester without any promotional consideration or brand input. Also, unlike other “best triathlon bike review” websites, our testers actually build and ride each of the bikes ourselves—no glancing at spec sheets and rewording marketing terms!
Best Triathlon Bikes of 2023
Section dividerQuintana Roo X-PR
Starting at $5,000, 21lbs. 8oz. (size 56, no hydration), Shimano 105 Di2 12-Speed Build, Shimano RS171 Disc Wheels
| Best Triathlon Bikes Category | Rating |
| Overall Rating | ★★★★ |
| Fit Range | ★★★★★ |
| Value | ★★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★★ |
| Acceleration Stiffness | ★★★ |
| Handling Tightness | ★★★ |
| Stability | ★★★★ |
| Ease of Assembly | ★★★★★ |
| Best Distance | All distances |
Quintana Roo does what it does very well. Starting with a fantastic shopping experience with tons of build and very cool paint options (including the ideal tri 105 Di2 12spd build), and ending with a super easy-to-assemble delivery service, for around $5k you’re getting a nearly bespoke purchasing experience.
From there, the bike has tons of fit options—six sizes with lots of stack/reach overlap—and even fit assistance if you need it. The bike itself is exactly what you’d expect: a balanced, smooth ride that’s more “relaxed” than “scalpel-like” when it comes to handling. The good news is you can just set yourself in the bars and focus only on grinding, not making tons of adjustments at high speeds, over bumps, or in crosswinds (like some superbikes, for instance). Thanks to trickle-down tech from QR’s far pricier V-PR, the X-PR shares lots of the aero lineage of its older brother at almost half the price.
RELATED: A Deep Dive Into The New Quintana Roo X-PR
Section dividerFelt IA 2.0
Starting at $10,000, 21lbs. 6oz. (size 54, with hydration), SRAM eTap Red AXS (1x), Zipp NSW 454/858 Wheels
| Best Triathlon Bikes Category | Rating |
| Overall Rating | ★★★★ |
| Fit Range | ★★★★ |
| Value | ★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★★ |
| Acceleration Stiffness | ★★★ |
| Handling Tightness | ★★★★ |
| Stability | ★★★★ |
| Ease of Assembly | ★★★ |
| Best Distance | All distances |
Once you get over the sticker shock of a bike that starts at $10k and ends at $17k for the top-end Sram Red eTap/Zipp NSW 454/858 version, you’re left with one of the most well-rounded superbikes in the sport. Boasting a claimed 4% reduction in drag over the already-slippery previous version of the IA, this bike is fast and fully equipped with integrated tri goodies like integrated nutrition, hydration (30 ounces), and a toolkit cavity in the seat tube.
“Balanced” is the name of the game on the IA 2.0, with one of the smoothest rides over all types of bumps—from high-frequency chatter to sphincter-clenching low-frequency bounces—incredible straight-line handling (and surprisingly decent cornering), and a light weight for what’s included on the bike. The only asterisk on this bike is the way the IA 2.0 “pulls” slightly in heavy crosswinds. While it’s not enough to lose confidence—and it’s preferable to the unpredictable movement on some superbikes—it’s worth noting and takes some getting used to.
RELATED: What Do You Get For $17,000? Our Hands-On Review of the New Felt IA 2.0
Section dividerCadex Tri
$7,000 frameset only, 4576g for frameset module
| Best Triathlon Bikes Category | Rating |
| Overall Rating | ★★★ |
| Fit Range | ★★★★ |
| Value | ★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★ |
| Acceleration Stiffness | ★★★ |
| Handling Tightness | ★★★ |
| Stability | ★★★★ |
| Ease of Assembly | ★★★★ |
| Best Distance | All distances |
The new Cadex Tri is the definition of superbike: all-out aerodynamics at almost any cost. Utilizing a rare non-double-diamond frame with an ever-rarer sans-top tube design, this bike combines a unique double-crown fork with horizontal seat stays to drive clean air over the rider’s “dirty” legs. The result is a crazy-fast straightline bike that flies on flats and in low- to mid-speed winds and has tons of tri-specific features that long-course triathletes would love: storage for up to 10 gels, between 600-1000ml of internal hydration storage, and a built-in toolkit.
Elsewhere, this is a surprisingly simple bike to travel with and fit—using a mostly modular front end atop that unusual fork design. However, when it comes to handling predictability, ride smoothness, and cornering, this is a bike that takes a little getting used to, particularly if you’ve spent most of your tri life on a traditional “diamond” design. If you want to go fast, and you’re willing to put in the work, you won’t find a better, more aerodynamic, design.
Section dividerA2 Bikes SP1.2
$3,500, 22lbs. 2oz. (size XL, no hydration), Ultegra Build, Vision Team 30 Wheels
| Best Triathlon Bikes Category | Rating |
| Overall Rating | ★★★ |
| Fit Range | ★★★ |
| Value | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★★ |
| Acceleration Stiffness | ★★★ |
| Handling Tightness | ★★★ |
| Stability | ★★ |
| Ease of Assembly | ★★★★ |
| Best Distance | All distances |
A2 Bikes began with a mission to cut out the middleman and connect triathletes (almost) directly with bike manufacturers overseas. At the time it was pretty revolutionary thinking: direct sales. But now, there are many brands skipping the bike shop, and even a few—like A2—who go low marketing, low overhead in an effort to cut costs to the very bottom. A2’s first bike, the Speed Phreak, was a result of this, and as such it was a fine bike—albeit a little raw in terms of handling, stability, and fit flexibility. The good news with the new SP1.x line is that A2 has fixed most of those issues and kept the price in check.
The result with the SP1.2 is a hydraulic disc brake-equipped bike, with decent components for under $4k. In terms of ride, it’s a much smoother bike than the first iteration with much better adjustability—particularly when you consider this setup technically falls in the superbike category. However, when it comes to ride stability, we struggled with handling, as the frame seemed to wander slightly during our testing. It’s possible that this was a one-off on an early model, but it was present.
Feature-wise, the bike has some serious aero pedigree, as the new frame was designed by former Cervelo engineer Kevin Quan and his team—the same group responsible for the head-turning Diamondback Andean. It also features frame bosses for water bottles in the frame, nutrition on the top tube, and a first—Bontrager SpeedBox-compatible bosses on the rear of the seat tube.
RELATED: An In-Depth Look At A2 Bikes’ New SP1.2 Superbike
Section dividerVentum One
$7,500, 23lbs. 15oz. (size 56, no hydration), Ultegra Di2 Build, Vision Team 30 Wheels
| Best Triathlon Bikes Category | Rating |
| Overall Rating | ★★★ |
| Fit Range | ★★★★★ |
| Value | ★★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★★★ |
| Acceleration Stiffness | ★★ |
| Handling Tightness | ★★★ |
| Stability | ★★★★ |
| Ease of Assembly | ★★★★★ |
| Best Distance | 70.3 and over |
Over the last few years, Ventum has slowly “optimized” its line of tri bikes from the wildy flamboyant, all-in One that broke all records with its $29,000 dream bike to a more affordable (and actually quite capable) Z, and now back to a more middle-of-the-road One with disc brakes. With competing non-double-diamond brands like Dimond slowly losing market share and Cervelo keeping its P5X well out of reach of mere mortals, Ventum’s One remains the most viable solution to those looking for an aero-at-all-costs, non-UCI rig.
One glance at the specs, and you’ll see that the new One is no lighter than the old version, in fact, it’s got an extra pound on the old rim-braked Z—even with all hydration removed. But put that out of your mind: This bike is meant for flat to rolling tris, and if there’s a gnarly crosswind, all the better. The ride on this setup is incredibly comfy, and it comes fully set up with the most intuitive, hassle-free, and aerodynamic hydration system we’ve ever tested. The hydration system is expertly tucked into the top tube (in fact it is effectively the top tube, and as such the bike is faster with the hydration system installed), and you’ll find additional flat storage beneath the ample hydration compartment.
Furthermore, the front end has been redesigned, much like other brands (Orbea, upper-end Cervelos, Canyon, etc.) with a monopost front end that easily adjusts the aero bars, but also still allows space for front hydration as well (unlike some of the previously mentioned brands). Elsewhere, the disc brakes are well-hidden, the front fork is monstrously wide, and you still won’t win any town-line sprints on this frame, but you’ll likely shave minutes off your bike split and (more importantly!) hop off the bike less beat up from the road and the wind.
RELATED: A Deep Dive Into the New Ventum One Tri Bike
Section dividerArgon E-117 Tri Disc
$6,000, 23lbs. 15oz. (size 56), Force eTap AXS Build, Vision Team 35 Wheels
| Best Triathlon Bikes Category | Rating |
| Overall Rating | ★★★★ |
| Fit Range | ★★★★★ |
| Value | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★★ |
| Acceleration Stiffness | ★★★ |
| Handling Tightness | ★★★★ |
| Stability | ★★★ |
| Best Distance | All distances |
On its surface, Argon’s disc update to their E-117 line may not seem super exciting, but in fact with this bike, Argon got a lot right that it had previously been missing on. Their last disc model, the E-118 Tri+ was super light, super aggressive, and a little too much like a Ferrari for those of us riding far and long. The E-117 Disc, on the other hand, is a great middle-of-the-road effort that could be used at any distance, by any level rider. We found it to be both stable and smooth over all bumps, except for the biggest, and not as ginsu knifelike around corners—for better, not worse. While still not as stable as the new Ventum One or the new Trek Speed Concept, this is still a great option for long-course racing, which we could not have said about previous versions.
In terms of spec, $6,000 is a great value for a hydraulic disc brake bike with eTap, and the six sizes means you’ll find a fit that not only works, but will work as your fit needs change. The fork is a totally standard 1 1/8” steerer tube, so you can run any stem/bar combo you choose (further enhancing the fit options). Of course all of this points to the lack of an integrated “superbike” front end, but it also speaks well to its serviceability and compatibility in a time when that’s sometimes rare. Finally, while the eTap build is a good value, this frame’s sweetspot build is likely the $3,600 Force 22 setup, which is a crazy value for such a well-rounded frameset.
Section dividerTrek Speed Concept SLR 7 Gen 3
$9,500, 19lbs. 12oz. (size M, no hydration), Ultegra Di2 Build, Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 Wheels
| Best Triathlon Bikes Category | Rating |
| Overall Rating | ★★★★ |
| Fit Range | ★★★ |
| Value | ★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★★ |
| Acceleration Stiffness | ★★★★ |
| Handling Tightness | ★★★★ |
| Stability | ★★★★★ |
| Best Distance | All distances |
It took them long enough, but Trek finally added disc brakes to their well-loved Speed Concept line of tri bikes. The good news is they pulled it off well (and added some fun gimmicks to make it worth the wait), but the bad news is if you want in on a new Speed Concept, you’ll be parting with at least $9k of your hard-earned cash. Much like previous versions of the Speed Concept, however, Trek has put together a tight, stable, smooth, and nearly perfect tri bike that’s tough to find real faults with.
The most interesting feature on this new iteration has to be the IsoSpeed coupler/suspension system that reduces high- and mid-range road vibrations. The coupler has been present on many of Trek’s road bikes for years—to varying effect—but has puzzingly been left out of the tri line, where it could potentially do the most good. That said, it’s a good first try, but without any adjustability or way to tune the ride, your mileage may vary on its effectiveness. The bike is mostly smooth, but we were still surprised by larger bumps that took us out of our comfy zone in the super-stable and connected integrated cockpit. Elsewhere, we loved the built-in downtube hydration (and handy hidden tool compartment), and felt just as good cranking hard with our heads down in the aerobars as we did standing up and twisting the basebars up climbs.
RELATED: Trek Speed Concept SLR 7 Extended Review
Section dividerMore of the Best Triathlon Bikes
- A Deep Dive Into Quintana Roo’s V-PR Tri Bike
- Deep Dive: Scott Plasma 6 Triathlon Bike
- Deep Dive: Orbea Ordu M10iLTD Triathlon Bike
- Deep Dive: Canyon Speedmax CF SLX Disc
- Reviewed: Canyon Endurance WMN CF SL Disc 7.0
- Reviewed: Argon 18 E-118 Tri+ Triathlon Bike
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- Your Guide To Setting Up A Road Bike for Triathlon
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