Need for Speed: 2013 Time Trial and Triathlon Bike Preview

Raleigh’s Singulus is one of several very affordable triathlon bikes coming out for 2013. At just $1,600, you get a real multisport bike, with an aerodynamic aluminum frame, SRAM Apex drivetrain, and aero bars. There’s even internal cable routing.

Info: raleighusa.com

For all draft-legal triathlons, traditional multisport bikes with aerobars are illegal. But with bikes like BMC’s new TMR01, you can get a remarkable amount of aerodynamics in a conventional road bike. Integrated brakes, aero tube shapes borrowed from the TM01 TT bike, and an adjustable-offset seatpost make this one of the most versatile bikes going. The TMR line starts at $6,500 for this Ultegra-equipped model.

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Info: bmc-racing.com

Scuttlebutt was that Eddy Merckx lost the Omega Pharma–Quick-Step sponsorship in part because the company didn’t have a great TT bike. In 2012, U.S.-importer Gita didn’t even bring the company’s model to this country. But Merckx responds for 2013 with the new ETT, a joint partnership with Toyota, using its wind tunnel in Cologne, Germany. The new bike features an integrated aero stem, hidden direct-pull brakes, and chip-style internal cable routing that can fit either mechanical or electronic shifting systems. The price hasn’t been set yet, but you can bet it won’t be cheap.

Info: eddymerckx.be

Apologies to Focus, but the most important name on the Izalco Crono frame might be the small “Walser” decal on the seatstay—that’s Swiss fabrication specialist Andy Walser, who builds some of the fastest multisport bikes around and licensed his design to Focus. Why not just get a Walser? They’re at least 4,000 Euro for the frameset; the Izalco Crono 2.0 is $4,500 for the complete bike.

Info: focus-bikes.com

Focus has several multisport bikes featuring the same frame, but we like the Crono 2.0 because it’s the most affordable multisport bike we know of with electronic shifting. The Crono 2.0 gets Shimano Ultegra Di2, a full Vision aero cockpit and the frame even has dedicated cable routing for electronic shifting.

Info: focus-bikes.com

Kestrel’s Talon Tri might be the best deal we’ve seen in a genuine multisport bike. Its carbon-fiber frame and fork were designed at North Carolina’s A2 wind tunnel, and includes a versatile geometry that features three degrees of adjustment on the seat tube angle with the EMS Pro seatpost. As a sub-brand of Advanced Sports, Kestrel benefits from house brands, with Oval Concepts providing brake levers, wheels, and the full aero cockpit. With Shimano 105 derailleurs, the price, $1,450, seems like a misprint, but it’s not—that’s $700 less than last year’s nearly identical model.

Info: kestrelbicycles.com

Lots of companies have excellent triathlon bikes at $6,000. The hard part is delivering a solid bike at a far lower price. Jamis’ Xenith T1 is one of the best deals we know of: a carbon composite frame from the same mold as the $8,000+ T2. You get the same fork and an incredible parts kit with SRAM Force drivetrain, Profile aero cockpit, and American Classic 420 aero wheels; even the Vision Trimax crankset has an aero profile. It’s race-ready out of the shop. Cost? $3,500.

Info: jamisbikes.com

BH’s striking new multisport frame is called simply the Aero, and it’s aptly named. Aside from aerodynamics, the single most striking thing about the Aero is its user-friendliness. The frame is set to accommodate almost any braking system, from traditional calipers to post-mount designs. The BB386EVO bottom bracket accommodates any crank except BB30, and the chip-style cable stops work with cable and electronic shifting. Downside? Cost—the SRAM Red and Zipp 808 version shown here is $10,900.

Info: bhbikes.com

BH paid special attention to the range of fit on the Aero. The aero seatpost features one of the widest ranges of fore-aft seat position we’ve seen. BH says the effective seat angle on any size can range from a relaxed 74 degrees to a very aggressive 80 degrees. The integrated stem comes in 80-120mm extensions, and can be flipped to adjust stack height.

Info: bhbikes.com