The best road bikes for triathlon

A road bike is essential for any triathlete. Even if you have a dedicated triathlon bike, you’ll still want a road bike for training, but you can also use it for racing.

In fact, it may even be preferable for hilly rides or technical bike courses with lots of tight turns.

This guide features bikes to suit every triathlete, and all have been tested by the team at 220 or by our colleagues at BikeRadar.

What to look for in a road bike for triathlon

Even the pros have been known to use road bikes with clip-on aero bars added for races with considerable elevation, and a road bike is almost always the best choice for beginner triathletes getting used to riding on the road.

So, what makes a good road bike for triathlon? That depends, and luckily there are numerous road bike sub-genres for multiple multisport scenarios.

If you’re just starting out, look for bikes intended for endurance rather than more aggressive, aero road bikes. Endurance or sportive bikes allow for more upright, relaxed positions and are designed for comfort, ideal for training rides to build mileage and not wreck your back when you’re ready to start running off the bike.

That’s not to say endurance bikes can’t be fast. Adding deep-section wheels and tri bars will make the bike much more aerodynamically efficient, while still affording you more comfort for longer triathlons like Ironman. We have a more in-depth guide on how to turn your road bike into a triathlon bike.

Simply want to go fast or targeting draft-legal triathlons? Look for a road bike that is aerodynamic, ideally with deeper carbon wheels and integrated cable routing.

The ride will be stiffer and not as forgiving as endurance bikes, but if you’re flexible and have high ambitions then a thoroughbred racing bike may serve you best.

Best road bikes for triathlon

Specialized Tarmac SL7 S-Works

• Price: £13,250
• Spec: SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset, Roval Rapide CLX wheels (The latest Tarmac SL8 S-Works costs £12,000 and is specced with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Red AXS and Roval Rapide CLX II wheels)

The Tarmac S-Works is Specialized’ flagship road racer, both aero-optimised and bang on the 6.8kg UCI limit. Our reviewer described it as extremely direct and stiff, urging you on with every pedal stroke.

A proprietary cockpit means you’re limited with fitting tri bars, but if you’re an age-grouper dabbling in draft-legal or a competitive cyclist, the Tarmac is arguably the pinnacle of modern road bike design. It also starts from £5,500 if this is beyond your budget.

Pros: Very fast, great spec, fully integrated
Cons: Proprietary cockpit makes fitting tri bars trickier, very expensive

Giant Contend SL Disc 1

• Price: £1,699
• Spec: Shimano 105 R7170 Di2 groupset, Giant P-R2 Disc wheels

The relaxed handling and smooth ride of the Contend will be ideal for triathletes just starting out who want something easy to get on with, yet fun to ride.

Our reviewer described it as a well-equipped entry into performance riding, with Giant’s D-Fuse seatpost and handlebar improving comfort.

Triathletes aiming for the top half of the results sheet may want to upgrade wheels and tyres, but for training and year-round riding the Contend is an excellent option.

Pros: Durable, good value, smooth ride
Cons: Cost-cutting with chainset and brakes, heavy wheels

Scott Addict 30

• Price; £2,349
• Spec: Shimano 105 R7000 groupset, Syncros RP2.0 Disc wheels

The Addict 30 is an endurance bike with a sensible spec. It would be ideal for a triathlete targeting long course who’d prefer a road bike and clip-ons for extra comfort and help on the hills.

Our reviewer described the ride as racy for an endurance bike, but the 32mm tyres deliver plenty of bump-taming comfort.

The fully integrated frameset is also ripe for upgrades if you want to add carbon wheels before your big race.

Pros: Great handling, decent spec
Cons: Deserves better wheels

Liv EnviLiv Advanced 1

• Price: £4,499
• Spec: SRAM Rival AXS groupset, Giant SLR 2 50 Carbon Disc wheels

If you need a speedy women’s road bike, the EnviLiv takes some beating. It’s race-ready with carbon wheels set up tubeless, 12-speed electronic gears from SRAM and fully internal cable routing.

Our reviewer said it struck a great balance between speed and comfort, springing to life on flats and rolling roads.

This would be an excellent bike for a budding elite triathlete or an experienced one looking to upgrade. It’s ready to go and very fast.

Pros: Highly aero-optimised, tubeless tyres, high specification
Cons: Fiddly integrated seat clamp

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 AXS

• Prize: £3,949
• Spec: SRAM Rival AXS groupset, DT Swiss ARC 1600 carbon wheels

Canyon’s Aeroad is a truly modern take on aero road bike design; super-fast, but also light enough to tame climbs and with a remarkably smooth ride compared to its predecessor, said our reviewer.

The spec is impressive, with deep carbon wheels and electronic shifting. The proprietary handlebars won’t take tri bars, but if you’re an elite or competitive short-course racer and dabble in road racing, the Aeroad is ready to go with all mod cons.

Pros: Great spec, clever design, very fast
Cons: Cockpit not compatible with tri bars

Triban RC 500

• Price: £649.99
• Spec: Shimano Sora groupset, Triban Tubeless-Ready 6061 aluminium wheels

If you’re just getting into triathlon and aren’t chasing podiums, the Triban RC 500 is a great place to start.

Geometry is easy-going, ideal for those just getting used to building up mileage on the tarmac, and the spec inspires confidence with disc brakes, 28mm tyres and reliable Shimano Sora 9-speed shifting.

While it lacks razor-sharp handling and speed, the Triban makes up for it in day-long comfort and reliability, which is ideal for first-time triathletes.

Pros: Great value, versatile, relaxed geometry
Cons: Quite heavy

Cube Axial WS Race

• Price: £1,699
• Spec: Shimano 105 R7000 groupset, Cube RA 1.9 Aero Disc wheels

This women-specific bike comes with Cube’s ‘high performance alloy’ frame, carbon fork and a decent finishing kit, with hydraulic disc brakes and 11-speed shifting.

Our reviewer praised the comfortable ride and relaxed geometry (contradicting ‘Race’ in the name somewhat) and wide gearing, with a 11/34t cassette to get up steep climbs. You also get 28mm tyres for extra comfort.

This is a great bike if you have a little more to spend on a first road bike.

Pros: Value, quality shifting and braking
Cons: Uninspiring paint job

Cannondale CAAD Optimo 1

• Price: £1,300
• Spec: Shimano 105 R7000/mixed groupset, RS2.0 wheels

Cannondale’s entry-level race bike has sharp geometry and feels fast, ideal for those just starting out in tri with high ambitions.

It’s fast with pin-sharp handling but also comfortable thanks to dropped seatstays and just the right amount of stiffness in the frame, said our reviewer.

There are mudguard and rack mounts if you want the bike to double up as a commuter, and the race-ready frame is ripe for upgrading with faster wheels and tri bars.

Pros: Fast handling, comfortable ride
Cons: Not a full 105 groupset, basic wheels

Top image credit: Specialized