Weightless and yet connected to the earth? No contradiction in a triathlon! Lying in the cockpit of an aero handlebar, the landscape just whizzes by. Of course, it's even better if the bike is actually fast and not just a mirror for self-confidence. This test aims to find out whether bikes that are perceived as fast are actually fast: Seven top time trial bikes have been presented that are designed solely for the purpose of experiencing furious weightlessness. As these bikes are usually customised, we only evaluate the frame kits - i.e. the combination of frame, fork and seatpost. However, as we can't ride frame kits alone, we asked the manufacturers to send us complete bikes.
SHORT & SHORT
The Scott "Plasma LTD" is the clear test winner - but it is also the only one of the top frames that performs better aerodynamically than the best of the inexpensive time trial bikes. The majority of the expensive frames are all on a par with the better €2,000 bikes - both aerodynamically and in terms of suspension design. The geometry of the top frames is also comparable with the cheaper bikes. Therefore, the exciting look and the approximately 250 gram lower weight are the main arguments in favour of the expensive bikes.
You can find these time trial frames in the PDF download:
Cannondale Slice
Carbonsports Total Exlipse
Focus Izalco Chrono
Giant Trinity Advanced
Kuota Kueen-K
Scott Plasma Ltd
Storck Aero
Text: Robert Kühnen, Manuel Jekel
Photos: Daniel Kraus, Markus Greber
Downloads:
download
