We survey the bikes at Kona each year, and the value in the Kona Survey is in the ability to consider the results year after year—to detect changes—and to see what the best of the best ride. But the Kona Survey is not as accurate a barometer of overall buying trends as are perhaps the other Ironman North America races. That's especially the case if it's North American sales one wants to specifically consider.
We therefore have a new category to consider, one we've never before published in the 13 years we've been dong the Survey. At right is a list of the top-10 bikes at all the Ironman North America races during the 12 months leading up to Kona.
Trek is the leader in Kona, but its lead in Ironman races throughout North America is somewhat more impressive. That is to be expected when one considers that Trek's strength is strongest in North America, and its penetration weaker in other continents. Furthermore, one of the Ironman races is in Madison, Wisconsin, Trek's back yard.
Cervelo keeps its relative spot, from just barely below second place in Kona to barely into second place in North America. But the brand it ran neck and neck with in Kona was Kestrel, and Kestrel is back in fourth throughout American IM races. It was Cannondale, fifth in Kona and a barely beaten third in the much larger venue.
This makes sense, as Kestrel is less out of reach for the high-flying athlete, yet is a pricey brand for the more terrestrial athlete competing in a mainland race. Cannondale, on the other hand, is a bike built for the masses.
Litespeed was fourth in Kona and fifth in North America, probably for the same reason Kestrel slightly fell. It's a pricier bike. It's sister brand Quintana Roo was sixth on both surveys. If you combine QR and Litespeed you realize this Chattanooga company had 1030 total bikes in North America (not counting Merlins) and this makes American Bicycle Group probably an even match with Trek (which owns LeMond and Klein). There are the two biggest corporate players in the world of triathlon bikes, in the U.S. and certainly worldwide.
