So my 2007 tri season is basically over, and I'm limping around the office on a slow day and I started to think about the future of UCI- legal tri bikes and where forward thinking companies will go. It has been a really slow day :)
I am of the non-expert opinion that we are nearing the limit of frame/fork aerodynamics. I think any future bike will be a melding of current designs.
-i.e the extreme frame cutout on the P3c
-the rear brake placement on the felt DA
-the smooth integration of fork and top tube on the BMC TT01.
What else needs done? The front brake could be hidden inside the fork. But it would likely have to be a brake especially made just for that bike. NO Zero G or DA. Also the cable routing needs to become fully internal, though that would require a new type of aerobar/fork/stem combination that to my vastly limited knowledge doesn't exist yet. Electornic shifting would be huge there-though I'm not ready to trust electronic brakes. Perhaps one could also shield the chainrings and cassette--but I don't think that would be legal.
I figure with carbon molding any shape is possible so then the last realm where improvement can advance will be weight. Even though aero trumps weight, weight does makes a difference.
What are your thoughts? What will the future hold? Should I buy a P2c for my birthday or hold off for the P4c?
I am of the non-expert opinion that we are nearing the limit of frame/fork aerodynamics. I think any future bike will be a melding of current designs.
-i.e the extreme frame cutout on the P3c
-the rear brake placement on the felt DA
-the smooth integration of fork and top tube on the BMC TT01.
What else needs done? The front brake could be hidden inside the fork. But it would likely have to be a brake especially made just for that bike. NO Zero G or DA. Also the cable routing needs to become fully internal, though that would require a new type of aerobar/fork/stem combination that to my vastly limited knowledge doesn't exist yet. Electornic shifting would be huge there-though I'm not ready to trust electronic brakes. Perhaps one could also shield the chainrings and cassette--but I don't think that would be legal.
I figure with carbon molding any shape is possible so then the last realm where improvement can advance will be weight. Even though aero trumps weight, weight does makes a difference.
What are your thoughts? What will the future hold? Should I buy a P2c for my birthday or hold off for the P4c?