Cannondale has done multisport bikes for
years, and the 2000 Multisport 800 and Multisport 2000
are the culmination of several years of evolution. New
for 2000 is the CAAD 4 Aero rear triangle that minimizes
shock and provides excellent ride comfort. The "S"
bend rear seat stays smoothes rough roads and makes long
training rides more comfortable. In 1999 the Cannondale
Multisport 800 was the #1 (most common) bike at Ironman
Hawaii according to the Quintana Roo Bike Survey.
Availability on Multisport 800 and Multisport
2000 bikes has been excellent throughout the first quarter
going into the second quarter. However, Cannondale has
already previewed their 2001 road bikes, meaning supplies
on 2000 model year bikes may dry up by first week of June.
Kestrel KM40 Airfoil.
The new 52cm size of the Kestrel KM40 airfoil
was worth the three year wait. With a top tube length
of 53cm the bike’s geometry is best suited for riders
with an inseam around 80cm between 5’7" on the
low side and 6’ tall on the high side, subject to
body measurements. This frame size alone accounts for
almost 45% of triathletes. This is absolutely the most
comfortable riding bike short of a beam bike. It is an
ideal Ironman bike.
Availability has been good to excellent
for 52cm KM40s during the first quarter, but very poor
for the 56cm KM40 size due to redesign and maintenance
of the 56cm mold used for building the bike. Production
capacity for Kestrel on the KM40 series frames is approximately
1 bike every 12 hours.
Litespeed Saber.
A
substantially fortified version of the older Tachyon,
the Saber is a more comfortable riding bike than the Tachyon
but stiffer at the bottom bracket for improved climbing.
One of the most attractive features of any Litespeed is
durability. Another is the excellent ride comfort from
the gently curved radial seatstays. This bike is slightly
lighter than either the Cannondale Multisport 800 or the
Kestrel KM40 Airfoil, making it a good choice for hilly
terrain. The understated, slightly bladed tubing of the
Saber is a good choice for riders under 5’9"
using smaller frame sizes.
Availability has been good to excellent
on the Saber throughout January, February, March, April
and into early May.
Softride Rocketwing.
There
is simply nothing faster on a flat to rolling course on
pavement that is less than perfect. This is the perfect
bike for courses like Domino’s Pizzaman Ann Arbor
and Chicago Mrs. T’s. The new 2000 version features
enhanced frame design and construction. It is also sold
as a frame, and can be built with any component group,
offering a variety of price points.
Availability on medium size frames is good,
other sizes are poor (4-8 weeks).
Principia
We
are very excited to have access to Principia bikes. I
have admired the Principia bikes of European professional
triathletes at races like Ironman Canada. Until this year,
the bikes have unavailable in the US. Principia is one
of the only bike manufacturers to extrude their own aluminum
tubing. The 7005 series, heat treated tubing is exceptionally
strong- almost 15% stronger than 6000 series tubes. The
bikes are basic, tough and climb like rockets. Each bike
is handmade in Denmark. Workmanship is excellent, and
the ride even better. These are the perfect bikes for
a hilly course.
Availability is spotty since the bikes are
imported from Denmark and the US distributor is small,
but growing. We take customer’s measurements, call
Principia US, and buy from existing inventory. If it is
here in the US, it is usually under 2 weeks. If not, lead
times are very long. These bikes are unique, not everyone
can own one.
Quintana Roo.
The
good news on Quintana Roo is their 2000 line-up is a tremendous
improvement over 1999, and even the 1999 models were very
good. New tubing designs, better component specs, lower
prices, the proven Quintana Roo geometry (that the rest
of the industry has tried to copy) and even better colors
for 2000 have reconfirmed Quintana Roo’s position
as the number one triathlon bike builder. The technical
improvements alone account for much better front derailleur
performance, stronger wheels and a more comfortable ride.
Additionally, the company has added several 700c wheel
diameter tri bikes to the line, including a titanium model.
The bad news on Quintana Roo is availability.
Greatly increased demand and different manufacturing techniques
from 1999 have caused almost all models to be sold out
in early January. Back-up orders sold out quickly too,
resulting in very poor supplies throughout the early season.
The bottom line on Quintana Roo: The bikes are worth the
wait, but you’ll have to wait.
Seven.
If you
want the best, this is it. Workmanship and materials are
better than most other titanium bike manufacturers (look
at their welds and the dropouts). The thing that sets
Seven apart from other companies by an enormous margin
is the way the bikes are designed: To your measurements.
Tubesets, geometry, tubing lengths and every other aspect
of the bikes construction are designed specifically for
you. There are almost no compromises. This is as close
to the perfect bike as you can get. Frame materials include
several types of titanium tubing, a titanium/carbon fiber
mix, and cro-moly.
Lead times on Seven are excellent, considering
everything is built to order. We interact with Seven on
a daily basis, reviewing outstanding custom orders and
provide you with e-mail updates when they are available.
In every respect, these bikes are the ultimate. If you
never want to buy another bike, and you want the best-
Make an appointment to be measured for a custom Seven.
