If a Cervelo P3 and a Kestrel Airfoil Pro mated and had a baby, it would be the 4000. It is, stylistically, a fair representation of the heritage of high style that has distinguished the Kestrel brand.
by Dan Empfield, November 30, 2010
Felt correctly understands a trend and a truth the rest of the bike industry is slower to grasp: The more the price of a complete tri bike exceeds $5000, the more Di2 elbows its way to the forefront of the discussion.
This was essentially Andreas Raelert’s bike for the 09 Ironman. Except for the aerobar and stem, this version of the EX has the best parts spec of any tri bike made by any company for 2011. And the aerobar is okay too.
Cervelo is to tri what Colnago is to road: a storied headbadge with a tradition and a caché unmatched by any bike brand. But the cycling world is catching up, or has caught up. How does the P3 fare in 2011?
Like the resuscitated Dodge Challengers and Chargers, and Ford’s Mustang, the mid-price, $3500 Felt B12 is reminiscent of muscle cars of the 1970s. It’s all go and no show (well, there’s a little bit of show).
Quintana Roo’s Seduza remains a potent buy for 2011, maybe even more so as other manufacturers set their attention to tri bikes higher in price. But are the geometric changes for 2011 a plus?
This bike is further evidence that the most hotly contested price category in tri bike land is the $3300 to $3700 range. The big boys—Trek, Cervelo, Felt, Cannondale, Scott—have gone all-in here. How does the Transition Comp fair?
The industry has chosen pitched battle at a price range between $3300 and $3700. The Slice 3 sits right in the middle, and it holds its own admirably. Plasmas, Transitions, Speed Concepts, this is your worthy competitor.
The Plasma 2 frame was unobtainable during 2010 for a price below $5000. For 2011, this high quality frameset can be had in a bike selling complete, with a very nice gruppo, for $3300. Today we take a look at that bike.
Trek has finally come out to play in the sport of triathlon. They engage in every price range with a bike that’s imaginative and well conceived. The Speed Concept 7.5 is a strong entry in the mid-$3000 category.
It used to be that a brochure was enough. Not any more. A superbike without a white paper just doesn’t seem that super. Here’s the authoritative guide on the 2011 DA.
It’s been just 3.5 years since Felt remade its tri line-up, top to bottom. But you can’t stand pat these days. Here’s Felt’s new mold, the DA for 2011. Felt’s stab at a superbike hits its mark.
Never in 20 years of bike businessing have I ever seen a tri model so anticipated, and so artfully debuted by its maker. But how do you know if and when a Speed Concept is the right bike for you?
