Two out of every three bikes in the transition area in Kona had dual 700c wheels. This is a continuation of the inexhorable move toward larger wheels, starting two Konas ago. Prior to 2000 the race had an almost equivalent number of 650c wheels, and it was that way throughout the late 90s. Over the last four years the percentage of dual 700c wheels in the race has risen from 51.6% to 53.8% to 56.8% to 66.7%.

Why is this? I figure the reasons to be threefold. First, quite a few tri-specific companies have gone from 650c throughout their lines to 650c at 53cm or 55cm and below, and 700c from there on up. Second, standard road bikes continue to make up as much as half the field.

Finally, I think both manufacturers and end-users forgot the premise behind 650c wheels. In the beginning the resistance to the smaller wheelsize was due to skepticism over the speed value and whether it would be easy to obtain spare parts and consumables. I no longer think that triathletes are overly concerned about whether the wheel is fast, as there has been as much or more success generated on these wheels as on their larger cousins. Rather, I think people have just forgotten why 650c wheels are used. More on that subject will be written in later articles.