Giro Air Attack
£119.99
giro.com
madison.co.uk

As worn by Ironman world champion Leanda Cave, the Giro Air Attack helmet is a favourable compromise between the practicality and light weight of a regular road helmet and the aerodynamic slickness of a long-tailed lid.

The helmet set new standards for aerodynamics in Giro’s testing – 17 seconds faster per 40km than their Aeon model – but it’s the feel on the road that makes it special. Swapping 15-minute bursts between the Air Attack and a normal road helmet, there’s a surprisingly palpable feeling of reduced wind resistance – and noise – while in Giro’s new helmet. Speed feels easier to hold while on the extensions and the lack of a tail means less drag is created when you must invariably move out of the fixed head-back position most aero helmets demand.

The fit is great too. Available in small, medium and large sizes, Giro’s always-comfortable interior cradle holds secure without the need to ratchet up the adjustment dial to headache-inducing tightness. The X-Static pads on the inside are also anti-bacterial for peace of mind on long, sweaty rides.

Despite falling short of offering the air-conditioned feeling of some gaping-vented road helmets, the Air Attack has surprisingly good air flow, and is much cooler than the majority of aero helmets. With four simple vents, it offers just the right amount of cooling on the flats and exhibited only mild steaming on lung-busting climbs.

We can’t deny that it looks a little goofy, but we’re more than willing to swap good looks for practicality in this case. There’s even a visor-equipped ‘Shield’ version for £149.99.

Not quite ready to take the plunge and invest in a full-on time trial/triathlon bike? But like the sound of an aerodynamic advantage when you compete? An aero road bike could be just what you’re looking for.

Lighter and better-handling than TT bikes, but quicker through the air than standard road bikes, they’re potentially the ultimate all-rounders.

Here you’ll find our archive of the top-scoring aero road bikes we’ve tested, with all receiving at least 4/5. They’re listed in alphabetical order, and were all still available to buy at time of publication.

You can find more bike reviews in our triathlon bike reviews archive.

BMC TMR01 Ultegra Di2 (2013)
£6,000
bmc-racing.com / evanscycles.com

BMC’s Time Machine Road is one of the fastest and most precise-handling aero road bikes we’ve ridden. With excellent performance and potential positions comparable to full-on triathlon bikes, it’s perfect for powerful triathletes wanting one racing bike for both draft-legal and non-drafting events.

Read the full BMC TMR01 Ultegra Di2 review

Pros
+ Cutting-edge aerodynamics, including brakes and battery
+ Awesome power delivery and handling

Cons
- Firm ride takes no prisoners
- Low kit levels for the high price

Performance 5/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

Boardman AiR 9.0 (2012/13)
£1,999
boardmanbikes.com

The AiR 9.0 is a great choice for those who don’t want the expense of owning separate tri and road bikes, giving an aero edge, comfort and great performance in a seriously good value package to satisfy both training and racing.

Read the full Boardman AiR 9.0 review

Pros
+ All the benefits of Boardman’s top aero road frame and outstanding kit for the price
+ Excellent handling and sublime comfort even in long sessions

Cons
- Wheels need upgrading for extra speed on race day
- Not the speediest of bikes when the gradients ramp up

Performance 4/5
Value 5/5
Overall 4/5

Boardman AiR 9.4 (2012/13)
£3,499.99
boardmanbikes.com

With an aero edge that invisibly massages your speed upwards the whole time you’re riding it, this bike’s not just an absolute bargain for the price but an effortless way to clock up startlingly fast mileage at any price

Read the full Boardman AiR 9.4 review

Pros
+Aero efficient frame delivers a speed, comfort and handling balance
+ Outstanding kit including race-ready lightweight tubular tyres

Cons
- Not everyone will want to deal with the potential hassle of tubs
- Frame is heavier and slightly softer than the lightest aero bikes

Performance 4/5
Value 5/5
Overall 4/5

Cervélo S5 (2012)
£5,871.68 (as tested)
cervelo.com / madison.co.uk

Cervélo started the whole aero road bike genre and they’re still very much at the forefront with the S5. The latest evolution of the species is spectacular in terms of raw aggression and savage speed.

Read the full Cervélo S5 review

Pros
+ One of the most explosive, responsive muscle bikes available
+ Aerodynamic assistance creates excellent speed sustain

Cons
- Hard rear-end comfort and front-end wander under power
- ‘Basic’ frame tested is heavy for the price

Performance 4/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

Ridley Noah FAST (2012)
£8,100 (as tested)
ridley-bikes.com

Ridley takes the concepts of braking integration and improved airflow management to whole new levels on its super-light and super-fast all-rounder.

Read the full Ridley Noah FAST review

Pros
+ Super-stiff and silly-fast frameset with neat integrated brakes
+ Relatively light for an aero bike if you go for the frameset build-up

Cons
- Extremely expensive as a complete bike
- Unforgiving ride and needs better wheels than the standard issue

Performance 5/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

Scott Contessa Foil (women’s model, 2012)
£2,800
scott-sports.com

Head-turning looks with aerodynamic credentials, aggressive angles and clean, sharp lines make the Scott Contessa Foil a serious bike for contenders on the road.

Read the full Scott Contessa Foil review

Pros
+ Truly aerodynamic design throughout
+ Super responsive, especially for explosive changes of speed

Cons
- Not the most laid-back ride for those who like to mix sportives with races
- Internal cabling might put off keen home mechanics

Performance 5/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

Scott Foil 10 (2013)
£5,999
scott-sportsbikes.com

Scott’s Foil is one of our benchmark bikes; its combination of aerodynamic gain, super-surefooted handling and effortless climbing makes it an outstanding all-rounder.

Read the full Scott Foil 10 review

Pros
+ Excellent aerodynamics, yet lightweight and sweet-handling
+ New SRAM Red is far sharper than before

Cons
- Posers and windy day riders will miss last year’s Zipp kit
- Definitely on the firm rather than soft side

Performance 5/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

Scott Foil Team Issue (2012)
£6,499.99
scott-sports.com

Scott’s Foil Team Issue combines state-of-the-art aerodynamics with conventional race bike responsiveness and super-friendly handling to produce an outstanding all-round performer.

Read the full Scott Foil Team Issue review

Pros
+ Super-light and responsive aero frameset and complete bike
+ Excellent handling frame and wheels make it an easy speed ride

Cons
- Not quite as rigid as the stiffest bikes in its category but not as painful either
- Expensive

Performance 5/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

ALSO TESTED

Look 675 (2013), £3,799

Scott Foil 20 (2012), £2,799

This article was orginally published on BikeRadar.com.

Mavic claims its new Cosmic Carbone CXR 60 wheels can beat out aero titans like the Zipp 404 in the wind tunnel at certain yaw angles. The CXR 60 follows on the design of the Mavic’s first aero wheel, the CXR 80, which was introduced last year as part of a wheel-tyre system.

As with the CXR 80s, the 60mm-tall CXR 60 wheels feature snap-in ‘blades’ that smooth the transition between the tyre and the wheel. The blades’ function is purely aerodynamic. However, while the 80s are tubular-only, the 60s come in clincher and tubular options.

The first wheels are expected to begin shipping in July with full availability by September.

The €2,000 CXR 60 clincher set will include including the wheels, Mavic tyres, blades, skewers and bags. Claimed weight is 1,800g with another 195g for the tyres. The €2,200 CXR 60 tubulars have a claimed weight of 1,600g for the pair, and the tyres are 240g a piece.

Mavic’s wind tunnel

Mavic do their wind tunnel testing in the cmefe-hepia aerodynamics wind tunnel in Geneva. The University of Geneva operates the tunnel for a variety of tests, from optimising the French downhill skiing team to modelling pollution fallout across cities. Mavic are the only cycling company with access though, and provide their own engineers, aerodynamicists and even a force measuring balance to keep costs down. As a result, they were able to spend 18 days in the tunnel in 2011 and 28 in 2012 – around 1,000 hours of tunnel time – to develop and test their wheels.

Mavic also used a bicycle mounted weather vane to measure and record wind direction during any given ride. The wind direction changes a lot and Mavic wanted to get an idea of the distribution of yaw angles. They gathered plenty of data and came up with a weighting law in order to clump the aero savings at the various yaw angles into a single number that’s easier to understand, and hopefully realistic.

We have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more from Mavic in future as they have quickly closed the gap to their competition thanks to the convenience of having a wind tunnel almost on their doorstep.

Some top-line figures and judgements

While Mavic claims the CXR 80s outperform every wheel they have tested, the CXR clinchers and tubulars are close to each other. Like many wheel makers, Mavic measured the drag of the wheel at a variety of yaw angles. Interestingly, the CXR 60 C (clincher) is better than the CXR 60 T (tubular) from 0 yaw (head-on wind) to about 10 degrees. This is due to the slightly different tyre and rim shapes of the clincher and tubular.

When considering a weighted average of yaw angles based on what a rider will typically experience, all three wheels within 1.5 watts of each other.

Mavic found that the Zipp 404 Firecrest wheel did bit better than CXR 60 at 5 degrees but not at 0 or at 10 degrees.

At a glance, we think the CXR 60 C seems like a good bet over the CXR 60 T because:

• The metal Exalith braking is better than the carbon surface on tubulars
• They are cheaper by 200 euros
• The tyres have better rolling resistance by 3-4w with a standard butyl (not lightweight latex) tube. Rolling resistance savings could be even greater with the latter
• They are about the same weight as tubulars when you include the tyres
• They have slightly better aerodynamics between 0 and 10 degrees
• No glue required!

A pro triathlete’s perspective

Mavic had Ironman World Championship bronze medalist Frederik Van Lierde on hand for the wheel launch to talk about his experience on the CXR 80s, which he rode at Kona last year to his best-ever bike split (4:35) and position (4th) last year on a windy day.

“Last year in September I was here [in the Geneva wind tunnel] to do some testing with Mavic,” Van Lierde said. “I tested a couple of things, including position. One thing convinced me when I did the setup with only one wheel, the CXR80, at a certain yaw angle into a headwind: the wheel kept spinning. That was good technically and mentally.”

Van Lierde choose to ride the CXR 80 front and back at Kona, which can be notoriously windy. “I could stay in the bars the whole time, something I didn’t have with other wheels,” he said. “For a course like Hawaii these are great wheels for all those kind of windy conditions. Previously I was 10th-15th in the bike; now I was fourth.”

Van Lierde said that while he will always race a set of 80s, the CXR 60 is a great alternative for “people who are not sure about 80s.”

Aside from the handling aspects of a 80mm wheel, there is also the fact that the 80s are tubular-only.

The numbers and the claims

When considering resistive forces acting on the rider and bike, aerodynamics is quite important. While rolling resistance doesn’t increase with speed, aerodynamic drag goes up with the square of speed. The power you need to overcome rolling resistance increases linearly with speed but goes up with speed cubed for aerodynamic drag.

For their comparisons, Mavic ramped up the speed to 50km/h. For reference, the fastest-ever stage of the Tour de France was won by Mario Cipollini at an average speed of 50.355km/h, and David Millar won the fastest-ever Tour de France time trial longer than 40km with an average speed of 54.361km/h over 49km.

Taking into account a weighted average of yaw angles, Mavic say their CXR 60s save 6.3 watts, or 19 seconds, over 40km when going 50km/h, when compared on average to the Zipp 404s, the HED Stinger 6 and the Enve 6.7.

Tyres and NACA profiles

Mavic considered tyre and rim in developing their wheels because the tyre is what sees the air first and affects the airflow.

The CXR 60 C and T use different sets of NACA airfoils. There are two profiles because each wheel hits the air twice, once in front (60% of drag) once at trailing edge (40%). The CXR 80 uses NACA profiles 0024 and 0011; the CXR 60 T uses 0029 and 0017; and the CXR 60 C uses 0027 and 0012.

The tyre tread pattern is also optimised for aerodynamics to help keep flow laminar around the rim and tyre.

While the spokes and hubs are as slender as possible while maintaining high stiffness, Mavic use their normal hubs, and didn’t try to optimise them for aerodynamics.

What’s next: First ride review

BikeRadar will be test riding the CXR 60s Wednesday, and will post a first ride review following that.

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SiS GO+ Nitrates Gel
£1.90 (60ml)
scienceinsport.com

we’ve always been fans of SiS GO gels, the drinkable isotonic energy pouches. This new high-tech formula shares the same easygoing consistency but is designed to be a dietary supplement rather than an energy-delivery product (there are just 34kcal per portion).

Since researchers first found a clear link between consumption of nitrates and endurance performance a couple of years ago, a few companies have launched products aiming to satisfy the new market for this magic ingredient. Taste can be a problem though, and unfortunately this suffers on that front.

We used it as instructed, taking the gels for four days before a big ride. The riding itself felt easier, though improved spring fitness could have been as much a factor as the nitrates. However, no matter how quickly we downed the gels, or mixed them with juice (as suggested), the difficult taste meant we’d need a very special event to warrant taking these again.

Mavic R-Sys SLR wheels
£1,600 a pair
mavic.com

The Mavic R-Sys SLR wheelset has been revised for 2013 and is packed with tech. ISM 3D machining keeps the rim weight low; the Exalith 2 graphite-colour coating on the machined brake tracks increases stopping power; and the Tracomp carbon tubular spokes offer exceptional stiffness.

Claimed weight is now 1,295g for the wheels and 1,835g including the Mavic Yksion tyres, though we weighed these at 1,361g and 1,911g respectively. Despite the difference, these are very light wheels and it really shows when heading uphill.

The Tracomp spokes create incredible lateral and drive stiffness, meaning sharper responses to steering and especially acceleration. This sensation is most tangible on a steep climb out of the saddle but it helps whenever you’re putting a lot of torque through the drivetrain or making big steering inputs. Only the likes of Lightweight come close.

Braking is fantastic, the machined rims hauling your speed down reliably in all conditions. The tyres, with front- and rear-specific designs, are also brilliant. They have excellent cornering grip, so they descend as well as they climb.

Triathlon Plus Gold Award, issue 54

Bont sub-9
£175
saddleback.com

These triathlon-specific Bont sub-9 bike shoes arrived too late for our recent grouptest, but use the same ‘bathtub’ style carbon fibre outsole as the company’s top road shoes, which wraps the sides of the foot and heel in carbon. It’s incredibly stiff, with each shoe feeling snug, protected and supported like no other cycling footwear we’ve used.

The carbon and upper materials are heat mouldable – as many times as you need in your home oven. It takes a bit of force to effect changes, but taking time to tune them to your feet pays dividends. The man-made microfibre uppers are tough and though they don’t have any mesh, Bont has added a perforated section over the toes to draw in some drying air.

The Bont signature cut is low around the ankle, making them feel open and airy. Getting into the sub-9s is easy and fast, with a massive rubber heel pull-tab and only a single ‘Z’ style Velcro strap to draw the tongueless upper together. The shoes feel secure and comfortable on, and if you’ve got to trot your bike in or out of transition you’ll be glad of the thick rubber heel pad on the carbon outsole to give you a little grip.

An aero bike is probably the most important piece of gear you’ll buy on your Ironman / long-distance triathlon journey. Here you’ll find our archive of the top-scoring TT bikes we’ve tested, with all receiving at least 4/5. They’re listed in alphabetical order, and were all still available to buy at time of publication.

You can find more bike reviews in our triathlon bike reviews archive

Argon 18 E-112 105 (2013)
£2,399.99
argon18bike.com; i-ride.co.uk

The Argon 18 E-112 is sharp, instantly engaging and more forgiving than we expected – but still takes a toll over long rides.

Read the full Argon 18 E-112 105 review

Pros
+ Naturally fast and clean ride, with excellent position and handling
+ Surprisingly forgiving for such a precise and power-friendly frame

Cons
- Crying out for an aero wheel upgrade to unleash its full potential
- Expensive for this spec – but the frame is worth it

Performance 4/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

Argon 18 E-80 (2012)
£1,699.99
i-ride.co.uk

The entry-level Argon 18 E-80 is a strong complete bike with an appealing pricetag that comes with massive speed and great upgrade potential for those who are willing to invest in the frame.

Read the full Argon 18 E-80 review

Pros
+ Frame balances long-haul comfort and precise handling really well
+ State-of-the-art aerodynamics with serious upgrade potential

Cons
- Wheels are good, but it’s begging for deep-sections to reach its full potential
- Direct-sell bikes edge it on spec, but local shop support can be priceless

Performance 4/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

BMC Timemachine TM01 (2013)
£8,499.99
evanscycles.com

One of the world’s fastest frames matched with arguably the fastest wheels and the most efficient aero transmission makes the BMC Timemachine TM01 a genuine time traveller.

Read the full BMC Timemachine TM01 review

Pros

+ Efficient speed with a responsive,  powerful and confident character
+ Adjustable cockpit adds optimum positioning to serious aerodynamics

Cons

- Definitely on the stiff and unforgiving side
- Limited steering lock, time-consuming stem and brake set-up

Performance 5/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

Boardman AiR TT 9.2 (2012/13)
£2,799.99
boardmanbikes.com

The Boardman AiR TT 9.2 is so well balanced and composed it’s almost boring. The fun comes when you see what this can do to your split times, while still leaving you fresh for the run.

Read the full Boardman AiR TT 9.2 review 

Pros
+ Light, fast and comfy aero frame with excellent cockpit
+ Composed and balanced handling, and excellent aero efficiency

Cons
- Needs deeper-section wheels to fully realise its potential
- We’d love to see a Di2 electric shift version in the range

Performance 4/5
Value 5/5
Overall 4/5

Cervélo P2 (2012)
£3,999.99
madison.co.uk

Cervélo’s bikes have topped the Kona bike count for years and many of the tallies on the Ironman bike sheet are built on the evergreen P2 frameset. While the P2 is now a little way behind the Canadian brand’s flagship bikes such as the Cervelo P5, its confident, user-friendly and naturally speedy ride mean its classic status remains very much intact.

Read the full Cervélo P2 review

Pros
+ Lightweight frame with good handing and a comfortable ride
+ Standard brakes, BB and fork allow a range of upgrade options

Cons
- Aerodynamics are good but lack the latest integrated component tweaks
- Decent rather than dramatic power delivery and steering precision

Performance 4/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

Cervélo P3C (2012)
£2,199.99 (frame and fork)
cervélo.co.uk, madison.co.uk

If there’s any bike that doesn’t need an introduction it’s Cervélo’s P3 Carbon. Officially the most successful aero bike ever built, it’s the choice of thousands of pros and privateers alike. Though it’s expensive and behind the aero curve, the P3C is still a blisteringly quick, accurate, surefooted, and insatiably predatory ride.

Read the full Cervelo P3C review

Pros
+ Outstanding propulsion transfer and locked-in ride position breed PBs
+ Impressively light, phenomenal handling and crisp controls

Cons
- Not as aero or comfortable as the best contemporary frames
- Cervélo’s uncompromising character comes at a price

Performance 4/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

Felt DA2 (2012)
£6,199
saddleback.co.uk, feltbicycles.com

This has long been one of our favourite bikes, with Felt’s multi-adjustable and impressively comfortable chassis always impressive. The DA2 comes with Di2 electronic shifting and is still a superbly comfortable bike, but frame and wheel flex are obvious in the handling if you’re a more muscular rider.

Read the full Felt DA2 review

Pros
+ Very comfortable, easily adjustable, aerodynamic chassis
+ Fully integrated Shimano Di2 shifting as standard

Cons
- Skinny tubes make it a frame of two halves when you start to push hard
- Wheels are fast, but less convincing when cornering and cranking

Performance 4/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

Moda Mossa (2012)
£1,199.99
eurobike.uk.com

The alloy Moda Mossa adds an even more affordable option to the British company’s Sharp and Interval TT bike line-up. The combination of light wheels and excellent rider position mean the component compromises are overcome to deliver a quick, upgrade-friendly starter bike for triathlon at a sensible price.

Read the full Moda Mossa Review

Pros
+ Aero position and low weight create an efficient ride
+ Good handling and comfortable to ride – very novice-friendly

Cons
- Softness in wheels, cranks and brakes dulls performance
- Microshift gears aren’t as good as big-name transmission kits

Performance 3/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

Planet X Stealth Pro SRAM Force (2012/13)
£1,599.99
planet-x-bikes.co.uk

The Planet X Stealth Pro time trial/triathlon bike has been on sale for years. Up-to-date specifications and an unbelievable set of wheels for the price continue to make this lively lightweight the go-to affordable aero bike in 2012.

Read the full Planet X Stealth Pro review

Pros
+ Lightweight, reasonably smooth and responsive aero frameset
+ Great value complete bike kit with quality tubs on aero wheels

Cons
- Flexy, gust-prone wheels can be unnerving for novices in bad weather
- Several testers didn’t like the shape and feel of the carbon cockpit

Performance 4/5
Value 5/5
Overall 4/5

Wilier Twin Blade (2013)
£3,699 (frameset)
wilierbikes.com

The Wilier uses a unique Twin Blade fork and smoothly flowing lines to create possibly the most charismatic but still rapaciously rapid aero bike we’ve ever had the pleasure of riding.

Read the full Wilier Twin Blade review

Pros

+ Distinctive but effective aerodynamics with powerful drive
+ Extremely poised ride feel that gets better the longer you ride

Cons

- Gear configuration isn’t as neat as some of its rivals
- Cockpit adjustment options are relatively limited

Performance 5/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

ALSO TESTED

Cervélo P5 Three (2013), £3,499.99

Felt DA4 (2012), £2,899

Forme ATT Carbon (2013), £2,899.99

Isaac Muon (2013), £4,880

Jamis Xenith T1 (2013), £2,380

Lapierre Aerostorm (2012), £3,099.99 (frame, fork, seatpost, stem)

Quintana Roo CD0.1 (2011), £1,999.99

Ribble Ultra TT (2012/13), £1,499.99

Trek Speed Concept 7.5 (2011), £3,000

In our four ride reviews, we take some of the world’s best bikes out for a spin over different terrains. View our full archive of bike reviews here including our head-to-head triathlon bike tests.

FIRST RIDE

Felt’s AR range features more aggressive aerodynamic features than most aero road bikes, borrowing details such as front and rear wheel-hugging profiles and internal cabling from the company’s DA time trial range. Out on the road, it’s immediately obvious that this is a bike that longs for speed and the semi-aero wheels and full Shimano Ultegra set-up make it a real race-day – as well as training – contender out the box.

FAST RIDE

The wind-tunnel-designed aero frame adores in-the-saddle power, rewarding an even threading of the cranks with momentum-fuelled pace that’s easy to hold onto. Such is the AR4’s fervour for flatline speed that it constantly compels you to push a little harder and up your pace. The hefty 30mm-deep Shimano RS30 wheels take a while to get up to speed, but once there, you really feel free to fly towards a new PB.

HILLY RIDE

No mountain goat, the AR4 isn’t as sprightly up the hills as dedicated climbing bikes, but remains inexorable up shallow inclines and flex-free when the gradients pick up. There’s no compact option available though, so be prepared to make your quads work with the 53×39 front set-up. On the downhills, handling is superbly assured, no matter how far forward the saddle is for a TT position.

LONG RIDE

The AR4’s relatively short top tube length and TT-inspired geometry makes it ripe for clip-on aerobars without scuppering handling. This, combined with the beautifully-engineered frame, compliant fork and carbon aero seatpost to dissipate road sting, makes long-course riding a pleasure. Only the Prologo saddle, which isn’t TT-position friendly, mars the AR4’s amazing training and racing versatility.

BIKE SPEC

Price £2,599.99
Contact feltbicycles.com, saddleback.com
Weight 8.44kg
Size tested 54cm
Sizes available 51cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 61cm
Frame Felt Aero Road UHC Advanced MMC Carbon Fibre
Fork Felt Aero Road UHC Performance Monocoque
Seating Felt Aero UHC Advanced Carbon Fibre post, Prologo Zero T2.0 saddle
Handlebars/stem Felt VS Aero 2014 bars, Felt SL 3D forged 6061 alloy stem
Gears Shimano Ultegra
Brakes Shimano Ultegra
Wheels Shimano RS30
Tyres Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick, 700c x 23

Triradar.com is the online home of Triathlon Plus – the best source of triathlon training advice, triathlon gear reviews and triathlon news.

Log your training for free at the TriRadar.com Training Zone.

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Join the conversation on the Triathlon Plus Facebook page, follow us on Twitter @TriathlonPlus.



Bryton Cardio 60T
£259.99
brytonsport.com
zyro.co.uk

Undercutting Garmin’s Forerunner 910XT by an impressive £70, the Bryton Cardio 60T multi-sport GPS watch comes with speed/cadence and heart-rate sensors and is packed with triathlon-friendly features.

Its running and cycling modes allow you to set up to four different screens to each display four different data displays. In triathlon mode it’s a case of switching ‘transition’ on or off, but for swimming, it’s open-water only. You can set your own workouts, use some decent pre-programmed ones or download sessions from the BrytonBridge2 web portal.

The watch is intuitive to use and looks sleeker and is lighter than chunkier Garmin Forerunner models. Sixteen hours of battery life is enough for most Ironman races too. The Cardio 60T charges and uploads to the website via USB.

The BrytonBridge2 software is easy to use, provides plenty of numbers to crunch and even uploads direct to Strava with one click. Make sure that you connect to BrytonBridge before using the watch, though. We charged up and started using it without doing this and encountered frustrating glitches – lost GPS signal and incomplete route details.

The latest of our triathlon bike reviews focuses on aero bikes suitable for Ironman races

Finishing your Ironman bike leg fast is fine, but only if you’re still in good shape to run your marathon. Unless you’re a mahogany-bodied masochist, the race is going to be tough enough without having a bike that batters you brutally over every one of the 112 miles. It’s not just a case of stiffness versus comfort, either – even if you’ve got £2,300 to £3,000 to spend, you’re still going to be working out your ideal bike balance from a range of different compromises.

The bikes tested here range from adequately equipped, advanced carbon aero frames right through to value bikes with fancy wheels. That immediately opens up a world of different ride characters and upgrade potential. Do you want a buy-it-and-forget-it bike that’s as fast as it can get, or one that’s fizzing with latent speed to be unleashed with a bit more spending? We’ve got four bikes here that offer very different ways to take you from your wetsuit waddle to the first stumbling steps of your marathon, but which is the best one for you?

Jamis Xenith T1
£2,380
jamisbikes.com; evanscycles.com

Jamis’s smooth-riding Xenith aero frame is topped with a Cobb saddle and carbon kit to create a and lightweight Ironman triathlon option. It’s more of a Rolls-Royce steady cruiser rather than a Ferrari-style combative speed demon though.

Read the full Jamis Xenith T1 review

Pros
+ Smoothly comfortable, with size-specific geometry
+ Plenty of carbon parts keep weight to a minimum

Cons
- Soft frame means loss of acceleration and climbing potential
- Flexy wheels don’t help hustling or handling

Verdict
Smooth and easily adjustable. A lightweight package, but not for those who like to push the pace on descents or climbs

Performance 3/5
Value 3/5
Overall 3/5

Argon 18 E-112 105
£2,399.99
argon18bike.com; i-ride.co.uk

Argon 18’s entry-level E-80 really impressed us, so now we’ve moved up the range to the race-proven E-112 which provides an even more cost-effective steed for Ironman triathlon with excellent potential for upgrading at a later date.

Read the full Argon 18 E-112 105 review

Pros
+ Naturally fast and clean ride, with excellent position and handling
+ Surprisingly forgiving for such a precise and power-friendly frame

Cons
- Crying out for an aero wheel upgrade to unleash its full potential
- Expensive for this spec – but the frame is worth it

Verdict
Not cheap for the kit but a fast, aero machine. Surprisingly forgiving thanks to construction and great ergonomics

Performance 4/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

Boardman AiR TT 9.2
£2,799.99
boardmanbikes.com

The same frame ridden by Ironman World Champion Pete Jacobs, the new AiR TT will take some beating with its great drive stiffness, comfortable ride and the stable handling that add an element of relaxation that you’ll welcome as you stride out into the run with looser shoulders than normal.

Read the full Boardman AiR TT 9.2 review

Pros
+ Light, fast and comfy aero frame with excellent cockpit
+ Composed and balanced handling, and excellent aero efficiency

Cons
- Needs deeper-section wheels to fully realise its potential
- We’d love to see a Di2 electric shift version in the range

Verdict

Superbly composed and responsive aero ride that’ll handle mixed UK courses
with confidence

Performance 4/5
Value 5/5
Overall 4/5

Forme ATT Carbon
£2,899.99
formebikes.co.uk; todayscyclist.co.uk

Derbyshire-based Forme is new on the Ironman bike scene, but its two ATT bikes are an intriguing prospect for those wanting to go fast without breaking the bank. The ATT Carbon is light and comfortable bike good for long-course racing.

Read the full Forme ATT Carbon review

Pros
+ Efficient position and comfy, responsive ride character
+ Good price, particularly if you go for the conventional wheel option

Cons
- Front-end flex can be unsettling when ridden hard or in high winds
- Limp, inconsistent braking and limited frame sizing

Verdict
Some definite issues, but a naturally fast and efficiently comfortable long-haul aero bike at a good price

Performance 3/5
Value 3/5
Overall 3/5

OVERALL VERDICT

While some people think you need to throw £10,000 at an Ironman ride, £3,000 is still a hell of a lot of money and we’ve kept our expectations high to reflect that. Jamis’s Xenith looks promising in terms of spec and weight, and its smooth, relaxing character felt fast enough until the best bikes here left it floundering in their wake. In contrast the deep-wheeled Forme turned in surprisingly decent times despite its comfort on long and steady sessions, but winding descents and tight corners revealed its weaknesses.

That leaves two very impressive rides that are fast in stock form, and potentially really fast with the right wheels. The BMC is cheaper, but sharper and more instantly engaging, and more forgiving than we expected – but still takes a toll over long rides. In contrast, the Boardman is so well balanced and composed it’s almost boring. The fun comes when you see what this can do to your split times, while still leaving you fresh for the run. If you can’t afford the 9.2, the 9.1 comes with the same chassis and cockpit for £1,999.99.