The Best Selling Road and
Triathlon Bikes from 2000.

A look back at our best selling bikes from the 2000 model year and how they faired. The one theme that emerged from 2000: Growing demand for triathlon bikes made delivery slow for some models. The moral to the story: Order your bike early for 2001!

Cannondale lead the year on unit sales.

Cannondale. Cannondale’s Multisport 800 and 2000 models were the biggest sellers at Bikesport through 2000 on individual unit sales.  The 2001 model year versions, relabeled the Multisport 600 and Multisport 1000, are already leading in unit sales volume for this model year. Three factors lead to Cannondale’s domination.  First off, Problems throughout the bike industry caused weak supply from several major triathlon bike manufacturers.  Quintana Roo, Softride and Cervelo all had difficulty with meeting delivery schedules throughout 2000.  While some Quintana Roo deliveries stretched out to over three months, Cannondale customers rarely faced more than a two week lead time, with many bikes built and delivered in a week.  Regardless of how good these other bicycles may be, the quality and design are lost on consumers who can’t get timely delivery.  Cannondale’s excellent delivery record gave them an early lead in bike sales that only grew throughout 2000.

A second factor was the changes in frame design on the new Multisport CAAD 4 Aero frames.  The smoothly finished welds that strengthen the frame joints have been a selling point since Cannondale started building bikes.  In 2000 the wishbone seatstays added ride comfort to an already long list of frame features.  Customers who thought Cannondales had a rough ride were won over by the new, comfortable riding, seatstay design.

Thirdly, Cannondale was price-positioned well below other manufacturers.  Cannondale’s Multisport 2000 with Shimano Ultegra and an all-handmade, smooth joint frame sold for over $400.00 less than the new Trek Hilo and was lighter, had better wheels (Mavics as compared to Rolfs), brakes and a much nicer finish.  Although the Multisport 800 was $300 more than Quintana Roo’s Kilo, it represented a better value with a higher quality frame and better component kit.  Again, poor availability handicapped sales on all Quintana Roos during 2000. 

A trend that developed during the last part of the 2000 model year was a surge in sales of Cannondale’s R1000 Aero and R600 Aero bikes.  These bikes were being purchased by customers who wanted a bike for group rides but also were doing triathlons.  The Cannondale Aero “in between” geometry with its steepish 74.5-degree seat angle (in most sizes) gave people a stopping place between the 73-degree seat angle road bike and the 78-degree triathlon geometry bikes.  For people who can only own one bike, the Aero series became the answer.

Kestrel. Kestrel made an enormous impact on the market with the new 52cm KM40 Airfoil.  Three years passed between when this bike was announced and it first arrived in stores.  Once it did arrive, sales were extremely strong.  Considering the KM40 is only available in 2 sizes and most other triathlon bikes are sold in at least 6 sizes, it is remarkable how many KM40s were sold, with the majority being the new 52cm size.

The new Kestrel KM40 in 52cm sent Kestrel sales through the roof during 2000.

Apparently most triathletes are around 5’8” to 6’0”.  The three year wait was long but worthwhile as the new 52cm KM40 was not just a downsized version of the 56cm bike, but a complete redesign that has actually lead to re-tooling the 56cm mold for 2001.  After riding this new 52cm KM40 I have no reservations in saying this was the best triathlon bike money could buy in the 2000 model year.

 

For 2001 Softride's Rocketwing TT will be greatly improved with a hydroform frame and a carbon beam option.

Softride. Softride failed to carry sales momentum throughout the 2000 model year when an epidemic of frame cracks caused us to stop recommending the bikes.  The straw that broke our camel’s back was a frame supplied to local star athlete Todd Briggs.  Briggs trained on the bike (that was delivered late) for a week before his first race on it at the Domino’s Pizzaman Waterloo.  He was to use the bike at Ironman USA Lake Placid.  The frame cracked during Waterloo.  Due to the high incidence of cracked frames, Softride was slow to replace the frame, and Briggs rode his original bike at Lake Placid.

Softride did replace his frame with a new Hydroform version that is the latest version of the Rocketwing.  It is important to point out that there have been no frame failures to our knowledge on the new Hydroform frames.  For 2001, all Rocketwing and Rocketwing TT bikes use the new Hydroform construction technique that makes the bikes stronger and lighter.  Additionally, Softride has introduced a new carbon fiber beam option on the Rocketwing.  Although 2000 was a wash for Bikesport with Softride, the design concept remains excellent and the bikes are greatly improved for 2001.  For certain types of terrain, nothing is faster than a Softride.  2001 will certainly be a stronger year for Softride and we look forward to the arrival of the first Hydroform Rocketwing TTs

Litespeed. The venerable Litespeed Saber had a strong year again in 2000.  The bike was previously known as the Tachyon and featured a lower head tube and longer top tube.  The new Saber manifestation of the Tachyon featured better, geometrically enhanced, 3/2.5 vanadium titanium tubing.

The Litespeed Blade never caught on in 2000, but the Saber was a strong seller throughout the year.

The Saber was a strong seller throughout 2000 but did not approach the sales volume of the Cannondales (since they are substantially less expensive) or the Kestrel KM40 Airfoil (more expensive but sexier looking).  The Saber is a bike for customers who are immune to the sexy lines of the Kestrel and not sold on the concept of beam bikes.  Another huge selling feature of the Saber has been its incredible durability; probably stronger than any other triathlon bike, especially in a crash environment.  Litespeed’s Blade seemed lost in the 2000 model year.  The blade is 6/4 and 3/2.5 vanadium titanium mix bike with a stiffer down tube than it’s Saber cousin.  A good choice for large riders who need the extra stiffness, the Blade never caught on in 2000.  Sales of the Saber ran 7 to 1 over the Blade.  Many people who bought the Blade probably did so because they liked the appearance of the bladed down tube.  The technical advantages of the Blade seemed to be lost on most consumers.  For 2001 the Blade has been completely redesigned with a new bladed top tube and straight seat stays.

Prinicpia proved to be exciting in 2000 but didn't ship many bikes to their U.S. distributor, making supply tight.

Principia. Principia made a small impact on sales in 2000 with several models of their excellent triathlon bikes.  The huge Danish manufacturer is popular in Europe and especially Germany.  Bikesport sold only a handful of Principias in 2000 since supply was very tight through the single US distributor.  The bikes went together perfectly and rode beautifully.  Hopefully U.S. Principia Distribution will be even stronger in 2001.  Had distribution been better in 2000, Bikesport’s sales of Principia probably would have tripled.

The new 2001 Quintana Roos look great, the question is, when will they be ready to sell?

Quintana Roo. Quintana Roo died a slow death in 2000 as delivery times went from bad to worse.  Additionally, some models suffered front derailleur shifting problems that were the result of the front derailleur mount being brazed on incorrectly.  Due to short frame supplies Quintana Roo was slow to replace these bikes.  Quintana Roo’s owners, Hyde Athletic (Saucony Shoes) sold the company to Litespeed (or, more correctly, the company who owns Litespeed…).  For 2001 Quintana Roo has shown some exciting bikes but has not delivered a single production bike as of this date.  The challenge for Quintana Roo now is to be able to build the bikes and deliver them on time.  Time will tell.