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Cannondale briefly outdueled Trek in last year's race, but Trek reclaimed the top spot by one bike in this year's event. Softride continued to gain ground, and although Zipp was a decliner, and Specialized was worse, dropping from 36 bikes to 16, Vitus took the biggest percentage fall, with 9 bikes to last year's 24. Beams in general seemed to decline other than in Softride's case. The total number of beams is the same or slightly increasing, and Softride makes the clear favorite among Ironman competitors in this category.
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Last year's trends continue. One year ago 38 percent of all bikes in the Ironman had dual 26" wheels, now it's virtually a dead heat. Use of a seat angle at or steeper than 77 degrees increased from 58 to 68 percent. The biggest turnaround, however, was apparent in frame materials. Last year carbon outperformed aluminum 39 to 31 percent, this year aluminum bikes made up 43 percent of the bikes to carbon's 35 percent.
There were 20 percent fewer titanium bikes than the year before, and a third fewer steel bikes (we don't see how steel bikes can fall below 12 percent, it is too good a frame material for that). Sixteen percent more riders used a saddle cover than last year, 78 percent were QR saddle covers, as opposed to 79 percent last year.
There were 20 percent fewer titanium bikes than the year before, and a third fewer steel bikes (we don't see how steel bikes can fall below 12 percent, it is too good a frame material for that). Sixteen percent more riders used a saddle cover than last year, 78 percent were QR saddle covers, as opposed to 79 percent last year.
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Unless trends change dramatically and immediately, next year the "triathlon bike", as defined by a steep seat angle and 26" wheels front and rear, will be the dominant bike at Hawaii, and the standard road bike will be in the minority. Interestingly, Trek is both the Number-1 bike in the race, and the champion of a variety of ideas which are in decline, with regard to wheel size, geometry, and frame material.
It is not statistically possible for Trek to maintain its top advantage without either changing its mind about what a tri bike is, or changing the minds of its potential customers. Its job will be made that much more difficult by the fact that at the Hawi turnaround on the bike course, 14 of the top 15 pro riders were riding dual 26", steep-seat-angle bikes.
It is not statistically possible for Trek to maintain its top advantage without either changing its mind about what a tri bike is, or changing the minds of its potential customers. Its job will be made that much more difficult by the fact that at the Hawi turnaround on the bike course, 14 of the top 15 pro riders were riding dual 26", steep-seat-angle bikes.
