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Do you need a triathlon bike? Well, that depends. Do you want to go as fast as possible?
When Quintana Roo created the world’s first triathlon bike, the Superform, 35 years ago, we changed the sport forever. The Superform was built “from the aerobars back” to make riders more aerodynamic (i.e. faster), and with a steep 80-degree seat angle, it reduced leg fatigue for the run (which also makes you faster).
We’ve learned a lot in the years since the Superform, and modern triathlon bikes are better than ever. Here at Quintana Roo, we’re creating triathlon bikes that push the envelope of performance, comfort, handling, features, and value.
Whether you want to compete, chase personal records, or just perform your best, choosing a purpose-built triathlon bike like the Quintana Roo X-PR, V-PR, or V-PRi will give you an extra edge on race day and help maximize your potential. We’ll explain why.
A road bike (maybe with clip-on aerobar extensions) vs. a purpose-built tri bike. Both good options. One is faster...
Bottom Line:If performance and personal records are your top priorities, then a purpose-built triathlon bike is the best choice.
We all enter the sport of triathlon through different paths. Some of us are swimmers, some are cyclists, and some are runners. For some, triathlon itself might be their “first sport.” No matter your entry point, the bike is the most expensive piece of equipment. For many, even experienced cyclists, the idea of buying and riding an “aggressive” tri bike can be pretty intimidating.
New triathletes certainly don’t need a dedicated tri bike. If you choose to train and race on a traditional road bike because you feel more comfortable on one or want to save money, that’s great! If a traditional road bike lets you participate in this amazing sport, then it’s a good bike.
If you want to take your triathlon racing to the next level, however, then upgrading to a purpose-built triathlon bike will produce massive performance gains. Triathlon-specific frame design and geometry work together to improve your finish times (we’ll explain how down below).
Best of all, modern triathlon bikes like the X-PR, V-PR, and V-PRi are designed to be much easier to ride, more comfortable, and more practical. In the case of the X-PR, they can be surprisingly affordable too.
Bottom Line: A bike that is purpose-built for triathlon is better for triathlon racing than a road bike or UCI-legal time trial bike because it isn’t bound by UCI rules. The frame can be designed to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and to incorporate integrated hydration and nutrition features that will make staying fueled on race day easier.
A purpose-built triathlon bike is a lot more than a bike with a set of aerobars slapped on the front. Triathlon bike frames have been tweaked and perfected to be more aerodynamically efficient than ever and many will include clever triathlon-specific features.
If you’re shopping for a triathlon bike, one important thing to note is that a time trial bike is NOT the same as a purpose-built triathlon bike, even though they look similar.
Time trial bikes are restricted by the rules of cycling’s governing body, the UCI, which dictate legal frame shapes and tube dimensions. As a result, time trial bike engineers can’t take advantage of extreme or out-of-the-box frame designs.
Drinking without moving out of the aero position. Only on a triathlon bike.
The UCI doesn’t govern triathlon, however, so dedicated triathlon bikes can use frame designs that are often more aerodynamic and include features that improve aerodynamics even more or make on-the-bike fueling more convenient. Unless you plan to use your bike in triathlons AND UCI time trials, choosing a true, purpose-built triathlon bike is better. It will be faster and better equipped.
A time trial bike will work if that’s your only option, but a true triathlon bike is much better suited to the specific rules and demands of triathlon events. Keep an eye out for this distinction. Quintana Roo is one of the few brands fully dedicated to triathlon, so our triathlon models are all triathlon-specific.
Note the extreme tube shapes. Shift+ and LEA create a massive smooth aerodynamic surface not possible on non-tri bikes.
Decades of CFD and wind tunnel testing have allowed top brands like Quintana Roo to develop the fastest bikes on the market. Let’s dive a bit into the aerodynamic technology used on our purpose-built triathlon bikes. With no limitations on tube depth and shape, our designers can create frames that reduce drag to save more watts than standard road bikes or UCI-approved time trial bikes.
Quintana Roo in particular uses two key triathlon-specific aero technologies in its frame designs: our Shift+ downtube and Leading Edge Absent chainstay.
The Shift+ downtube is offset toward the bike’s drivetrain to minimize the wind resistance created by the drivetrain. It does this by diverting (or shifting) airflow onto the cleaner non-driveside of the bike.
Shift+ is paired with our Leading Edge Absent (LEA) non-drive chainstay. This chainstay is oversized and designed to minimize air resistance by creating a smooth, uninterrupted airflow around the rear wheel, essentially eliminating a "leading edge" that could cause turbulence. This creates the longest seamless surface possible. Airflow moves more smoothly across the bike, and then it’s vented off cleanly, resulting in significant aero gains.
Thanks to these aero technologies, Quintana Roo bikes have an instantly recognizable silhouette, with extremely deep lower frame tubes that are only possible on a bike designed specifically for triathlon.
Beyond aerodynamics, another major advantage of our modern purpose-built triathlon bikes is added integration. For tools and spares, Quintana Roo designed an aerodynamic storage box— the QBox—that integrates cleanly with the bike’s rear end. It actually acts as a fairing, smoothing turbulent air coming off the rear of the bike to reduce drag.
An X-PR equipped with the Profile Design Aeria and top tube nutrition storage. Aerodynamic, and easy to access while riding.
Perhaps more importantly, purpose-built triathlon bikes have gotten much better at integrating hydration and nutrition storage into the frame. The X-PR and V-PR can both fit integrated between-the-aerobars hydration options—Profile Design’s Aeria or the XLAB Torpedo Versa—or Profile Design’s HSF/Aero HC 800+ extension-mounted between-the-arms bottle.
They also use an integrated aero top tube nutrition box, which can hold several gels, a gel flask, or bars. These systems keep your hydration and nutrition close at hand, without negatively affecting aerodynamics. In fact, by filling the space between your cockpit and head/torso, they often improve aerodynamic efficiency.
Integrated storage, like the FuelBay of the V-PRi, make it much easier for triathletes to take in their hydration and carbs during races and training. Plus, it looks cool.
The V-PRi takes things a step further with FuelBay hydration and nutrition storage integrated into the frame itself. This creates an extremely sleek and clean silhouette, for even more aero gains.
These features make it much easier to stay on top of your fueling, especially while riding in the aero position or on long bike legs. It’s a major step up from what is possible with a traditional road bike or time trial bike.
Matt Hanson is one of the best runners in IRONMAN. His V-PRi allows him to maintain a super aero position while saving his hamstrings to crush competitors on the run.
Bottom Line: Your riding position is a big part of the performance equation. Good, purpose-built triathlon bikes use geometry that helps you adopt a more aerodynamic position. They also allow you to comfortably stay in that position for longer and reduce hamstring fatigue for the run. The best triathlon bikes have large fit windows and are easy to adjust so athletes can dial in their fit to maximize performance and reduce injury.
Air resistance is the most powerful force athletes work against on the bike. That’s why aerodynamic efficiency is the biggest focus of triathlon bike design. The frame shape plays a major role, but it’s the rider who actually produces the most drag. Optimizing your riding position to reduce your CdA (coefficient of aerodynamic drag) provides some of the most substantial time and speed gains.
A major advantage of a purpose-built triathlon bike over a traditional road bike is the riding position. Traditional road bikes have geometry optimized for all-around riding. Triathlon bikes, however, are optimized for riding in the aero position, where your trunk is relatively flat and your hands and elbows are resting on the aero extensions. They use a steeper seat angle (generally in the 76-80 degree range), which helps roll your hips and center of gravity forward to lower your trunk. The aerobar pads act as armrests which allow you to support your weight on your elbows using your skeletal system instead of your muscles. This makes it easier to maintain the low and aggressive aerodynamic position for much longer.
This aggressive aero position also helps preserve your legs for the run leg. Rotating your hips forward puts more of the pedaling load on your quadriceps. This reduces the load on your hamstrings, which are your main mover during the run. So the aero position not only makes you faster on the bike, but it allows you to enter the run fresher, improving your overall performance.
Another key aspect of maintaining an aero riding position is bike fit. Finding the optimal riding position means finding the ideal compromise between keeping your trunk as low and flat as possible for efficiency while maintaining enough comfort for you to maintain that position for the majority of your training rides or races. Not only will this maximize your speed, but it will make riding your bike more pleasant and reduce the chance of overuse injuries.
Easy adjustment and large fitting windows make it easy to dial in Quintana Roo triathlon bikes. We were able to fit Lu Debin on a borrowed V-PRi at IRONMAN Kona with a couple quick sessions.
Proper fitting requires a lot of tinkering and X-PR, V-PR, and V-PRi all have very large fit windows. They are designed with a lot of adjustability and use cockpits from Profile Design, Vision, or our own Intelligent Integration Carbon cockpit that are easy to adjust so it’s simple for you to dial in your bike fit at home or with a bike fitter.
Also, despite using geometry optimized for the aero position, Quintana Roo designers also put a lot of thought into handling. For the X-PR, V-PR, and V-PRi, key geometry figures like head tube angle, fork rake, trail, chainstay length, wheelbase, and bottom bracket height have all been carefully considered and tuned for confident handling. They don’t feel sketchy like older triathlon bikes often can. They inspire confidence when riding through corners, and on climbs, descents, and rough roads, so you can focus more on staying in the aero position and pedaling hard.
Quintana Roo pro athlete, Arthur Horseau, has the confidence and control to perform stoppies thanks to his hydraulic disc brakes.
Bottom Line: Disc brake triathlon bikes are here to stay, and they’re generally considered to be significantly better than rim brake triathlon bikes. While rim brakes have a slight advantage with lower weight and better aerodynamics, they sacrifice the braking power, handling improvements, and safety that hydraulic disc brakes provide. We believe all riders will be faster on a disc brake bike.
If you haven’t kept up with the most recent advancements in bike technology, well, you may notice that nearly all bikes on the market are equipped with disc brakes. There are still rim brake diehards out there, but it’s extremely rare to find a new bike available with rim brakes. For triathlon bikes, this is a good thing! In fact, it’s one of the best reasons to purchase a new or modern triathlon bike over an older pre-owned rim brake bike.
One of the features that made triathlon and time trial bikes of years past less approachable was sketchy handling. Geometry and aero improvements have made our modern triathlon bikes much more stable and confidence-inspiring in a wider variety of conditions. But the other half of the handling equation is braking.
Older triathlon bikes equipped with rim brakes were notoriously bad at braking. This is due to a combination of many factors. The brake levers mounted to aero basebars often didn’t provide enough leverage to make cable-actuated rim brakes feel powerful. Many triathlon bikes also used post-mount or center pull rim brakes that sacrificed braking power for aerodynamics. If you used carbon wheels, which don’t provide the same bite or friction as alloy wheels, braking power was reduced even more. Bad braking affects not only your confidence but your safety as well.
Aero flaps like those found on the V-PRi can help offset any potential aerodynamic drag from disc brake calipers.
The power and consistency of hydraulic disc brakes have solved all these problems. Now, triathlon bikes can brake just as well as any disc brake road bike. This means athletes can brake later into corners and maintain higher cornering speeds. Disc brakes also provide significantly more braking power and a more consistent braking feel in wet conditions. Anyone who's ridden rim brake carbon wheels in the rain can attest—they’re terrifying.
Disc brakes also have the advantage of removing the braking surface from your rim. This means you don’t need to worry about replacing rims or preserving expensive carbon wheels. Whatever wheel you choose can now be used in training and racing, saving you money in the long run.
Rim brake calipers are lighter than hydraulic disc brakes, and due to their design, they can also be slightly more aerodynamic, but overall, this is far outweighed by the benefits disc brakes provide. If you choose a high-end triathlon bike like the V-PRi, we even added aerodynamic features that help shield disc brake calipers from the wind. With more braking confidence, better handling, and a higher margin of safety, mental stress is reduced too, which will have positive effects on your performance.
As a brand fully committed to triathlon, we believe a purpose-built triathlon bike is the ultimate tool for improving your race performance and maximizing your potential.
If you’re shopping for a new triathlon bike, here’s a quick rundown of the triathlon-specific models we offer:
The X-PR is Quintana Roo’s high-performance entry-level triathlon bike. It features the same class-leading aerodynamic performance as the V-PR, but it reduces cost with slightly heavier carbon construction. With a set of aerodynamic carbon wheels, it can compete aerodynamically with the best triathlon bikes. In terms of performance per dollar, the X-PR is the best value in triathlon.
The V-PR is Quintan Roo’s triathlon superbike. It was designed with class-leading aerodynamics and has won multiple IRONMANs and national championships. Beyond aerodynamics, it was also designed to reduce weight and increase comfort as much as possible, to increase its speed on climbs and hilly or rough courses. It’s the ultimate, no-compromise triathlon bike.
The V-PRi is the latest iteration of Quintana Roo’s successful V-PR. The major design goal of the V-PRi was integration, with hydration and nutrition storage built directly into the frame rather than as external attachments. It is the sleekest triathlon bike silhouette Quintana Roo has ever created, and it’s ideal for athletes who want the ultimate integrated race package.
For triathlon first-timers, choosing between a road bike with clip-ons or a triathlon bike is a big question. We explain the benefits of racing on a dedicated tri bike.
Size Chart
View our size charts to see what frame size is best for you. After purchasing a new QR bicycle, our team will reach out to you to confirm your order and sizing information to be sure you have selected the optimum frame size.
V-PR + X-PR SIZE GUIDE
Find your frame sizes for the following bikesV-PR | X-PR
V-PRi SIZE GUIDE
Find your frame sizes for the following bikes
V-PRi
PRSERIES SIZE GUIDE
Find your frame sizes for the following bikesPRsix2 | PRsix | PRfive2 | PRfive | PRfour
SRSERIES SIZE GUIDE
Find your frame sizes for the following bikesSRsix | SRfive
