Why wouldn't they?
Especially, if they bought a 3T Enduro. It's hardly the budget option. If you're not bothered about optimisation you'd surely have gotten yourself one of the other, much less expensive but equally functional options?
Personally, I can't see myself ever spending that sort of money on an all-rounder. But if I did it would be because I wanted the best of all worlds. I can't see how any prospective customer would think as you do and still be interested in the bike!

Like I said, maybe I'm misunderstanding what the bike is intended for. I don't care if I make it to work/coffee shop/fun trail ride, 10 seconds faster than usual.

I don't do gravel races, but if I did - I'd want the fastest bike I could get.

Right now - this and the UP are probably it.

And if I were going for the 1 bike "quiver" for cx, gravel, and road - I'd definitely prefer the more aero option.

All things being equal, why *wouldn't* you want to save watts where you can?

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float , hammer , and jog

Then why buy this bike?

Those considering buying this bike will most likely care. And those are the only opinions that count to 3T!
Regardless whether they plan to race on gravel/trails or just want the fastest most versatile all-rounder they can get, aerodynamics almost certainly count to some extent for the majority of potential customers.

I'm trying to answer your question, but I don't think you're getting me..

OK - why would I personally buy this bike - because I think it is a very cool looking bike, and probably a blast to ride.
For ME PERSONALLY, if I were shopping for an adventure bike, which this is basically marketed as on their website, aerodynamics would be pretty much the bottom of my list of priorities.

But everyone is different I guess. Again, I do think it is a very cool bike, would love to have one.

Gravel races can be blisteringly fast in spite of conditions. This not a thing for leasurely bike path rides

I have a lot of experience doing mixed condition races where a bike like this would be the ideal tool for the job. Like others have mentioned, aerodynamics certainly would be an advantage for these type of races. Some of these races are very long (4+ hours) and the likelihood of riding solo for the majority of the time is much higher compared to a road race.

The Exploro also has a decidedly road leaning geometry, which in my opinion, makes it quite the mixed condition race bike under the right rider.

This doesn't mean the bike is for you personally, but it's an amazing bike for it's intended purpose and the intended rider.

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Correct, but it is also great for the leisurely rides too. With big tires and low pressure, this bike is SO smooth over chattery asphalt.

At the 200 mile Dirty Kanza race, Mat Stephens averaged over 19mph, and that is based on elapsed time, so it includes his pit stops. At Gravel Worlds a few weeks ago the leaders averaged over 20mph based on elapsed time.

So gravel racers are typically riding over 20mph for a LONG time. Most gravel roads have 2-4 relatively smooth lines to ride on, with the rest of the road having chunkier gravel. Smooth is fast, chunky is slow. If you are riding in a cross wind, drafting is not effective. On a paved road, you would echelon out in a cross wind to get maximum draft. On gravel, if you echelon out you'll be riding in the chunky gravel, which is slow. So while riding single file in a cross wind, you want your bike to be as aero as possible. (and i don't understand why you wouldn't want it as aero as possible everywhere else)

There's a reason why the fastest gravel racers also use aero bars. Mat won DK with aero bars. Colin won GW with aero bars. Actually, i think the top 7 at GW all had aero bars (front door brag, i was 7th). A lot of these races get thinned out quickly and you spend a lot of time in a very small group or by yourself, chasing or being chased. Aero matters.

The 3T Exploro is a very fast bike, even on the road. With Panaracer Gravel King SK (knobby) tires in any width (32, 35, 38, or 40) my 3T seems about equal to my Tarmac with 700x25 training tires (bontrager AW3s, gatorskins, specialized turbos, etc). I can't tell you for sure if it is the frame aerodynamics or just that the tires aren't as slow as they look, but I have no problem crushing dreams on every group ride whether I'm on my 3T or my road Specialized :)

There are so many problems with 3T'S claim and test that it is sad:

1- Having round bottles on blunt tubed frames is commonly known to improve aero dynamics because of the well known aspect ratio elongation. Only putting the bottles on their 3T Exploro frame instead of also on the test frame is being dishonest here.

2- What gigantic round tubed frame are they even talking about? No one makes a round down tube that big. Seems like it is their own test frame with the worse design they could build.

3- Where are the error bars on their results showing the measurement variability? And how many measurements were taken? Looks like their numbers jump up and down and the difference between the worst frame the Exploro is within the margin of error. Did 3T only show the data for a single test run where they got the numbers to make it look good? And why only up to 15 degrees yaw instead of the expected 20 degrees that Flo has shown that tests should be carried out to?

4- Mud on the Exploro but not on the test frame? WTF? Did they sculpt the mud into aerodynamic shapes or something? Have something rough like mud on blunt shaped tubes like on the Exploro is widely known to improve aerodynamics because of the dimpled golf ball effect. Again, another incredulous action by 3T.

You should disclose if you are a 3T shill because your post is incredulous and looks like an ad they would put out.

Shill - an accomplice of a hawker, gambler, or swindler who acts as an enthusiastic customer to entice or encourage others.

I wouldn't call 3T a hawker, gambler, or swindler. They create great products that are loved by many many people. I don't think I've ever met somebody who had a problem with the quality of 3t stems or handlebars.

3T is a sponsor of our team, and through that I received a good deal on the frame. That doesn't change the fact that the bike is fast on road and gravel. I've used 3T products on many of my bikes for many years without sponsorship. I was already a believer in what they were making, and also a believer in Gerald and Super Dave. My TT bike is a p3c and my previous cx/gravel rig was a Felt.

I don't feel like it is necessary to list every sponsor of me or my teams in every post. Sorry if I lead you astray by not doing that.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means (and don't bother citing the now obsolete 17th century usage equating it to "incredible").

-Eric

Incredulous means unbelievable.

You are incredulous.

No, it means unbelieving. It hasn't meant unbelievable for a solid 300 years. But, by all means, continue to misuse it, as it adds quite a lot to the general picture painted by your statements :)

-Eric

no. it means unbelieving. not unbelievable.

You are incredulous of 3T's claims. The claims themselves are not incredulous.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

Perhaps the claims are incredulous that they're being misrepresented like that! LOL

-E

I particularly like how he used the exact definition that you informed him was obsolete.

Maybe he's really really old...

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

It's like the people who says "supposably" instead of "supposedly". Supposably actually IS a word, but ignorantly fumbling into an odd or obsolete usage is not the same as knowing you've misspoken or conceiving the difference between the two. :) :) :)

-E

SBRcanuck wrote:

Like I said, maybe I'm misunderstanding what the bike is intended for. I don't care if I make it to work/coffee shop/fun trail ride, 10 seconds faster than usual.

Race the Lost and Found 100mi ----- as Specialized says Aero is Everything

http://www.lostandfoundbikeride.com/

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Want: 58cm Cervelo Soloist. PM me if you have one to sell

Vintage Cervelo: A Resource

I'll leave you two to have a gay, old time.

Yet another improper sentence. Inconceivable!

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

Most of you are missing the point. It's not just whether the tube shapes are aero. There are other questions that this bike answers that make it a bike worth buying and owning and riding. Does it fit? What is the geometry? How does it ride? Handle well? What kind of use cases make sense for where you live and train and ride? Does it compare favorably in price to others that meet the same need? Is it beautiful (i.e. do you love looking at it and taking pictures of it)? Is it being sold by a company that doesn't treat customers like shit? All that is important, and if this thing is even a few watts more aero than the closest competitor -- which I think is possible given the pedigree of the guy behind it, even if we have no real data to say so other than some guy on an internet message board that swears it's as fast as his Tarmac -- then why wouldn't that little bit of extra speed be great icing on the cake?

I have a flat Zipp race bar on my Exploro, and that's just because I like to go fast. I do want to go where I'm going faster, whether it's a "fun trail ride" or crushing it on my commuter weaving in and out of cars and shit on my way to swim practice. That's not the most important element of every bike or this bike, not by a long stretch, but the aero aspect is a plus.

One other related data point I will add that may or may not be meaningful. My peak speed both this year and last year is the same on my TT bike as it is on my Exploro (on gravel) (~56 mph). There is no way in hell that's because either my position on these bikes or the bikes themselves are equally aero. It's because the thing rides amazingly. There is no bike I feel more confident across more conditions, including on the road. That's a big plus too.

Not badmouthing 3T (they definitely aren't swindlers) - I have a 3T cockpit on my BMC Time Machine, and it's great. The wheels though? 3T Orbis II C50 Teams, to be precise, are pretty damn mediocre. They make some great stuff, and some not great stuff. Is the Exploro some of the "great stuff"? Maybe, but I think there's cause to question that until I see/ride one.

Wow, your post is even more of a 3T ad than the previous shill.

yes

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Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
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