If there’s a piece of unsolicited advice that I can give if you’re eyeing to join a triathlon (and this is also applicable to veterans): it’s that you need to prepare for it 110%. And even with more than enough preparation, nothing can take away the fact that it will be one of the hardest and most challenging things you’ll do.
I’ve had my share of positive and negative experiences in my years of joining and training for marathons and triathlons in half ironmans. One aspect that I think will make an impact, in your performance training and the actual race itself, is having the right equipment. Besides your body as your engine, in a triathlon, you’d need a reliable road bike.
A Road Bike is the perfect blend of balance, aerodynamics, support, and handling. It’s intended to perform very well on any kind of surface. And are usually the bike of choice for many triathletes (including myself). Below is a stab at some of the best road bikes you can pick up for triathlon, and not at the cost of an arm and leg.
Best Road Bikes For Triathlon Compared and Reviewed
| Image | Name | Brand | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | Eurobike EUR XC550 Road Bike | Eurobike | Check Price on Amazon |
| Vilano Diverse 3.0 Performance Hybrid Road Bike | Vilano | Check Price on Amazon | |
| Tommaso Imola Endurance Aluminum Road Bike | Tommaso | Check Price on Amazon | |
| SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike Windwar5.0 | SAVADECK | Check Price on Amazon | |
| Schwinn Fastback Carbon Road Bike | Schwinn | Check Price on Amazon |
#1 - Eurobike EUR XC550 Road Bike
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Eurobike is actually a host of the global fair trade in the bike business– the leading and most undisputed one at that (so they claim). They advocate for new trends and networking within the bicycle industry itself. They generate continuous value for the industry through the balance of innovation and thinking outside the box.
The XC550 may be a fair testament to that. This bike is made of a sturdy and steel frame that speaks of its durability despite not being as light as carbon and aluminum frames. It has an iron casting handlebar for an easy-to-control, and relaxed ride.
One of the things that determine the performance of a bike is its gear system and speed ranges. I like how the XC550 comes with a 21-speed Shimano shifting system, with Shimano TX-30 shifters and Shimano A050 21-speed gear. Besides the fact that this is rare to find in other bikes, even high-end ones, this will also provide you with a lot of adjustment room when you control your speed.
The aluminum brakes and 160-diameter steel discs contribute to the lightness of the bike and the look of it. As a fan of bigger wheels, I like how this is equipped with wider ones that will allow you to use it on different terrains.
It’s also equipped with an ergonomic saddle seat and handlebars both adjustable for your most comfortable riding position— a critical component that will affect your riding performance. Most buyers used this bike to train for their triathlons but have expressed that assembly was quite hard for them.
PROS
- Durable
- 21-shifting gear system
- Includes Shimano parts
CONS
- Hard to assemble
- Not for advanced riders
#2 - Vilano Diverse 3.0 Performance Hybrid Road Bike
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While you wouldn’t see many stories about Vilano, one thing I know from research is that it’s a fairly new brand. It has a sleekly designed website powered by Shopify. Aside from that, they tell their story through their bikes.
The Diverse 3.0 is the hybrid entry for this article. At a great price range, the frame is constructed with a lightweight 6160 aluminum frame. These come at 53 and 57 inches that will fit a good 5 feet 5 inches tall to about 6 feet tall.
Equipped with a Shimano EF 51 ⅜ Speed Shifter, this will provide you sufficient control and options of 24 gears, including the disc brakes. With this addition, I’m pretty sure that on any terrain you’ll be able to ride flawlessly and keep your focus on the road.
Speaking of brakes, I’m comforted by the fact that this comes equipped with Shimano disc brakes that will ensure great stopping power even in both wet or dry conditions.
The 3.0 has flat upright handlebars and a seat that can be adjusted to your appropriate height. You’ll also find a nice bottle mount at the back of the seating area for more convenience.
At a very competitive price range, this bike is a bike for all terrains, which makes it perfect for your triathlon training and during the competition. While it is not as lightweight as I prefer, it is still something that you can consider.
PROS
- Reliable brakes
- Aluminum frame
- Can be used on most terrains
CONS
- Recommended for taller people
- Some users say the seat is narrow
- No features to support aerodynamics
#3 - Tommaso Imola Endurance Aluminum Road Bike
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Tommaso Bikes revolves its mission around providing the best customer experience. All of their employees are also their customers, at least, that’s what they’re claiming on the site. The promise of a great bike backed with great customer service is their self-proclaimed unique selling proposition.
First and foremost, it is constructed with a lightweight 6061 aluminum frame that will provide minimum drag even at higher speed rates. The steel forks should be able to absorb most of the vibration when riding on different terrains. The Tommaso Corsa TC20 rims are a great addition to making this bike an all-around one.
While I haven’t tried it myself, a lot of buyers rave about how this entry-level bike is equipped with a full Shimano R2000 Claris groupset. This set is intended to give you a smoother and more flawless ride as it has been designed to work together.
You’ll be able to easily change your gears with the shifters while the brakes’ will be able to put you to a full stop at the shortest possible time. Personally, this is particularly important as it will help prevent accidents.
The 24 shifting gears are more than enough to get you anywhere you want comfortably. Usually, road biking will take you to different terrains and having a bike that is fully equipped to tackle hilly, wet, and dry roads. The frame also has various drilling points that will allow you to add mudguards or fenders and other carriers that will give you a more complete riding experience.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Superb shifting and braking systems with R2000 Shimano
CONS
- Some found the pedals needed replacing
- Lacks aerodynamic features
#4 - SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike Windwar 5.0
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Sava’s commitment is to produce advanced, technological, and high-end bicycles, and they have been doing so since 2005. Starting in Germany, they were the first ones to introduce the idea of using Titanium technology in bikes for both in Germany and Europe.
By 2014, they’ve invested in their own industrial bike park to cater the needs of their ever-growing market.
The first wow-er of this bike for me is how it is fully constructed with carbon fiber. The frame only weighs in at about 21 pounds. That’s a feature that’s going to be super helpful if you’re going to use this in your triathlon competition.
Additionally, this bike is intended to support aerodynamics as it was designed in a wind tunnel to minimize drag. It has the Continental Ultra Sport II (C304 SL) Wire 700x25C tire that has great traction power and doesn’t add any substantial weight to the bike.
For the shifters, it has 27 shifting options and is backed by a full Shimano 105 7000 set. You can also opt for a hydraulic or mechanical disc brake for this bike. Initially, this comes with a mechanical one, which is equally strong in terms of stopping power.
While the brand may struggle on having their bikes known with so many more expensive and high end bikes in the market, it has made a solid name for itself as the more affordable carbon fiber option.
PROS
- Full carbon fiber body
- Made for competitions
- Nice wheel set
CONS
- Not for bigger riders
- Parts are hard to find as claimed by most user reviews
#5 - Schwinn Fastback Carbon Road Bike
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Ignaz Schwinn is the man responsible for the brand. He founded Schwinn in 1895 when he met Adolf Arnold who also worked in a lot of bike enterprises. They set up their own bike factory and that was the start of the Schwinn.
Do not let Schwinn’s positioning as more of a casual rider bike fool you. The Fastback Carbon has seen many races including triathlons as shared by the many user reviews. This variant is also manufactured by the same owner of Cannondale.
The first thing that users noticed and caught my eye as well was how fast this bike is. Donning a full carbon frame with a 19-pound weight to boot, this bike will surely be a reliable ride especially if you’re trying to finish a race.
It has an 11-speed Shimano 105 drivetrain. For those who love to modify their rides, you’ll probably tweak a part here or there, in order to make it faster and lighter but I think it is fine on it’s own.
The carbon frame is very light and the geometry just adds to the sleek design. It comes with Alex Rims wheels and tires, which can probably use an upgrade but will be sufficient enough on its own anyway. If you want clipless pedals, you need to buy that on the side as well, as its stock comes only with standard ones.
Most reviews say they simply use as they received it and worked perfectly fine for them. Some have even ridden it in triathlon and completed on best time.
