From what I can gather.
Felt DA, Cervelo P3C, Walser, new Specialized, New Cannondale seem to be the concensus amongst currently available bikes These are in no particular order and i suspect I may have missed some. Amongst the five I picked I don't think ther is a huge amount of time to be picked up or lost. I'd also include the latest Trek TTX.

Styrrell

I wonder if the Kestrel KM40 with it's seat-tubeless design is up there?

Hmmm...I'm thinking the new Specialized and Cannondale models should be left off that list until somebody actually has some wind tunnel experience with them.

For currently available bikes, I'd put the list at Walser, P3C, Felt DA/B2, P2C, and TTX....in no particular order.

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http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/

No.

See Toms Answer

P3C, P3C, P3C, P3C, P3C. OK, so I'm showing a little bias. Tim

P2C and not the P3C?

Umm...they're both in my list...

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http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/

The Felt website says, "You are looking at the fastest UCI legal Tri / TT bike built today. Developed over two years, with careful use of NACA aerofoil profiles, CFD flow modeling and wind tunnel experimentation, the DA frame system delivers unsurpassed aerodynamic advantage with incredible drive-train and steering stiffness."

Are there frames faster that aren't UCI legal? Does that include frames like Zipp, Softride, and Lotus?

Sigh...here we go again...

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/..._string=UCI;#1445242

Short answer...according to SuperDave, the Lotus is slightly faster...but it weighs 3 pounds more than a DA.

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http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/

I put specialized on because of Cobbs input, and Cannondale because it looks good ;-), Dan has praised it, and I suspect that Cannondale has the $$ to spend on tunneltime. Frankly given their resourses I'm surprised that it took them this long to come up with a top contender. All in all we didn't differ by much.

Styrrell

Weel Zipp, Softride and Lotus aren't made anymore, and you asked currently available. All of them have reported good numbers but most recent work has been done on UCI legal frames. Also it seems like most of the odd designs are very dependant on which wheels are used. Supposedly ZIPP and Softride are very good with a disk and no so much without.

Styrrell

I didn't think that Mr. Cobb had any input into the new Transition...I thought it was just the MIT folks (including one Mr. Cote).

Don't know much about the Cannondale...however, experience has shown that just because something looks fast, or seems intuitively fast, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is. So, I prefer to not speculate about frames that don't have some sort of measurements made on them (and reported) when someone asks "What's the fastest?". YMMV ;-)

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http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/

"I put specialized on because of Cobbs input,"


I think you're confusing the Specialized with the Willier....


(and yeah, ditto - here we go again...)



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Tech writer/support on this here site. FIST school instructor and certified bike fitter. Formerly at Diamondback Bikes, LeMond Fitness, FSA, TiCycles, etc.
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Just Triing
Triathlete since 9:56:39 AM EST Aug 20, 2006.
Be kind English is my 2nd language. My primary language is Dave it's a unique evolution of English.

I could swear that Cobb's name was mentioned, but now that you mention it, was it one of the euro bikes that looked a lot like the transition?

Styrrell

The simple answer is: There is no definitive data on this. Various companies cite various "tests".

With that said, using some logic let us look at 5 that have a good chance at being high on the list:

1. Cervelo should be included as their wheel cutout design appears to have been copied by numerous companies and as noted in the recent Kona bike count, the vast majority of those who go fast (virtually all competitors in Kona except lottery slots, media slots, industry slots, etc.) go with Cervelo.
2. Felt's DA/B2 bike is extremely thin and they seem to be able to discuss the finer points of aerodynamics (and I believe some engineers from both Cervelo and Felt have shared a past history back at GT?)
3. Walser - although are these available in mass production? (I thought they were more custom)
4. Trek TTX - have spent alot of time over the past 10 years in the wind tunnel with Steve Hed, Lance, John Cobb (in the early days)

The number 5 slot could go to any number of companies. I have not included Zipp, Softride, Hooker, Lotus, etc. as none of them are in production any longer. Some of these companies could include:
- Kestrel - if we include the rider ON the bike, a lower head tube puts Kestrel towards the theoretical end of reducing frontal area
- Wilier - pretty much anything designed with the help of John Cobb - who arguably has spent as much time (if not more) as anyone in the bike business in wind tunnels over the years. I am just not sure how "production" they are at this point, although I know Rich at the Bike Shop in Glen Ellyn has been selling these frames for over a year
- Specialized - new entry, not much data available on the Transition. Are these readily available yet either?
- Cannondale - same as above - although still awaiting delivery on the new tri frame?
- Jamis - state that their frame received the lowest ever drag reading at the San Diego wind tunnel?

I am sure there are others I have temporarily forgotten, but the reality is that different bikes with different geometries may react differently with riders on top. Going with any of those named (and any others) will put you into the negligible range where it probably is not the equipment that cost your race, slot to kona, etc. For every person who buys a very aerodynamic bike, I have seen as many buy the same bike, have crappy cable routing (long enough to dry your clothes on), or riding styles (bow legged), having your numbers flap in the wind, loose clothing, etc. that will all negate the amount of money just spent.

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Pretty much agree (and Wilier, thats the one I was thinking of), but I don't agree with your reasoning for the Kestrel. Most people are higher than possible on their bikes anyway. Just because a bike might allow a lower position doesn'r mean it will be used.

Styrrell

No BMC? The Time machine TT01 seems pretty fast to.



Or am I wrong?

I've never seen a road-going version of a Hooker with a cut-out, but I have seen pics of a Hooker track bike with a shallow one.

This is heresy, and no, I am not an engineer, but wind tunnel data is over rated.

I did a quick scan of bikes getting on the podium for 10 IM's this year (got boring) and counted more than 20 different brands!!! Also pretty sure that the P3C did not make the top 10 on the mens side at Kona, though had 2 or 3 on the womens side.

If anyone bike was truly faster in real life conditions, a lot more would ride that brand.

The fastest bike is the one with the best rider in the saddle.

How could we all forget the Cheetah

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Just Triing
Triathlete since 9:56:39 AM EST Aug 20, 2006.
Be kind English is my 2nd language. My primary language is Dave it's a unique evolution of English.

The fastest bike will always be the one with the best engine.

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Frank,
An original Ironman and the Inventor of PowerCranks

Bike's don't propel themselves, therefore you cannot qualify "fastest".