Narrowing a bike purchase down. The Blue Triad comes in high on the list. I think it might fit, (to be determined). Any users out there with feedback. What body type, style of racing/riding etc.? Positives/negatives? Seems like it has the shorter top tube, taller head tube and potentially steep SA set up I’m in need of. Thanks for the responses in advance. Only problem I might have is no local dealers here in Portland.
I was really impressed with Blue at Interbike last year. It’s a well thought out bike. The geometry isn’t really for me, but it will work for some folks. The frame itself seems quite sound aerodynamically and well made. I’m impressed that they choose to do all their own molds, their own R&D (yes, they actually employ an engineer), etc. It’s great to see a little American company putting out a quality product. I can’t think of a good reason not to get one if it fits.
Jordan, what is it about the Geometry that doesn’t work for you. By the way, would you replay for me your opinion for AGers on tubulars vs. clinchers as a race wheel?
PS: Have you picked up a Canadaian accent yet?
It’s not terrible. I could ride a ML reasonably well, since it has a decent amount of front center, but it wouldn’t be ideal.
Ideally, I’d want to ride a bike with the reach and FC of the LG, but then the HT is way too tall for me to get low enough in front, even with an adjustable stem and low stack aerobars. So I’d have to ride the ML, but then I’d need a fairly long stem - probably a 12, which is pretty long for that amount of front center. It has the same FC as the Felt DA, but about 1cm less reach, So I’d end up with a really long steering lever. I could make it work, but it would be my first choice for geometry.
For comparison, I don’t have a problem riding a 12cm stem, but I need more FC and more trail. Look at the Cannondale Slice in 58, which has similar geometry (though it is 1cm lower and 3mm longer in reach), but then has an extra 1cm of FC (which is a lot). For a narrow-and-tall bike, I think Cannondale’s geometry is the best out there. I think if Blue slackened their HTA 0.5deg and kept the same fork rake as they are running now, that’d be a better front end for their bikes. Especially since the target for their bikes is triathlon, rather than a TT bike, so a more stable front end is better.
They still have learning to do about geometry, but they seem eager to do so. I.e., the three position seatpost is sort of stupid. You don’t need three positions. Bikes are built basically around one type of position. It’s like LOOK with their post - “you can ride from 70-80deg!” That’s great, except nobody really wants to ride at 70 - 75deg, so you basically have 50% of your range that is useless. I see the Blue being a bit similar. I think the geometry of the T14 was quite a bit better than the Triad. I think the Triad, unfortunately, was step backwards geometrically for them. If they’d make it exactly the same as the T14, I think it would have been a better bike in that it would have fit more people.
Apparently I have no picked up somewhat of an accent. I don’t know if I believe it… 
Thanks, very informative. How big a deal in your opinion is the benefit of a bottom bracket hidden rear brake? Say Blue with one vs. Cannondale w/o?
if it were me, i would not consider it. the integral seatmast is a very big disadvantage for auto travel, for air travel, for shipping, for storage, and (the biggie) for re-sale.
and a good number of great bike companies have shown that it is possible to make world-class aero TT frames (ones far better and more aero than the blue) without an integral seat mast.
I don’t think it makes nearly enough difference to warrant buying or not buying a bike. The seatmast is an obstacle. I had forgotten the Blue had a seatmast when I said I couldn’t think of a reason not to buy one if it fit. That is, to me, a reason. I hate seatmasts.
If you need a bike that fits similarly, check out the Cannondale. That bike should be sold in way higher percentages than it is. Aerobar spec is one obstacle (actually finding a store that stocks bikes is the big one). Unless you get the Slice Ultimate, you will need different aerobars than what it comes with. Probably HED.
Guys,
Thanks for looking at Blue and Jordan thanks for the positive comments (we are workign hard to make great bikes here). i wont address the geometry discussion becuase i think there a lot of different opinions out there about what makes a bike fit great…(if we had a dollar for every bike in transition we see with 50+mm of stack, a 70mm 45degree rise stem…)
on the seat mast. I think if you asked our staff as a whole about the seatmast we would agree that it is not the simplist or easiest solution. however, we didnt want a quasi seatmast…a lot of builders are using a seat post in a short mast…what is the point of that? However, we realized from the get go there would be some challenges with a seat mast bike. First is demo riding. How does someone test the bike to see if they even want to consider buying it. Second, what if i need to change position or want to resell it? Third, it is too hard to travel with.
I will address each of these below;
1.) we are luanching a new Triad SP this year. It comes built with Rival parts and retails for $2,770 and uses the same exact frame as the Triad from 09 but when we opened the second set of tools we made an adjustment to the seattube/toptube juncture and put a clamp on the bike so it can run a propritary seat post (very similar to the AC1 and AC1SL we are launchign this year as well). This will allow reatilers to have a bike with the exact same geometry on their floor as a Triad and customers can try it out, get a fitting on it and everything and the only difference would be parts spec.
2.) in addition to the re-sell issue is the two or three times a year we get a call from a shop with a "you wont believe the *&$%^ mistake i made when i cut the steet tube/seatmast…so we developed a retro fit. a consumer can send the frameset back to us and we will cut the seatmast down and place a clamp on the remaining 5cm of mast. Then you can use our Halo seat post which has been extremly popular for several years (three holes or two…a lot of people buy that seat post). This clamp is currently being used on a demo fleet we have floating around the US and anyone who test road a Triad at USAT AGN saw them.
3.) i am not the most traveled guy in the world, or even the bicycle world for that matter, but i have flown with my Triad (size MD) more than 10 times this year. I have two more flights with it before the year is out…Kona being one of them. and i have never had an issue traveling it. But then again i use one of the best bike bags in the world. The Aerus BioSpeed travel bag. Brent McMahon has raced all over the world this year on his Triad in his Aerus bag and has not had an issue. I know you are thinking “well you and he must be short” but we have Heather and Trevoe Wurtele, two six footers and they fly with their bikes and they have LONG, LONG legs and they use the Aerus bag and have no issues what so ever.
if anyone ever has questions about one of our products we would love to have you contact us. Pretty much as long as i am at Blue I promise you that you will enjoy your experience with Blue or I will personally make it right.
see you on the road.
Sounds like you have some great solutions to what people are complaining about. I can visualize what you are talking about, but perhaps others might like to see some pictures of these solutions.
Chris
Triad SP will be on our website this weekend. We will have a sample of the seatpost retrofit at the Interbike show and it will be pictured in our catalog as well, which you will be able to download from the web starting next week.
Hi,
Will you offer the Triad SP as frameset only? If so, can you share the MSRP?
Matt
Harken,
this year we will only offer the Triad SP as a complete build.
I have been on the Blue Triad since March and love it. I was a little skeptical of a seat mast bike but I have had absolutely no issues with it. I am on a Large frame and had no problems getting it into my small bike case by removing the fork.
As far as performance- the bike handles and rides exceptionally well. I raced it (to 4th place) at IMCdA earlier this year and the bike performs as well going uphill as many of the road bikes I have ridden, which I attribute to the compact rear triangle. Changing cable and assembly was a snap too. All the internal routing has guides so it isnt a pain in the a$$ to change a cable like some of the other bikes I have worked with.
All in all I would give Blue and the Triad two thumbs up. The A2 wind tunnel time was a nice perk as well.
A buddy here in Atlanta has one…Loves it!
Shameless plug here-
If you are at either the LA Triathlon or Toyota US Open in Dallas in the next few weeks, you can come check out the blue triad in the Toyota Engines of Change Zone. In addition, you can enter to win not only the Bike but also gear and prizes from all of Sarah Haskins sponsors.
Also- after having the bike on the road with us for the past 5 months, let me be one of probably many to say that not only does the bike look good and ride great but the overwhelming response is that Chance and the entire Blue team are fantastic and Blue’s customer service is top notch.
on a related matter, what’s the “Chance” of the SP coming out as a frameset only? I am sure I am not alone in liking the idea of a a less agressive frame geometry and am guessing a good number of us are also counting the pennies hoping to use exisiting group and wheels.
I own the 2010 Blue Triad SL with SRAM Red. I bought it at All 3 Sports in Alanta. I flew in for the Retul/FIST fit. When I walked in the door I told them I wanted a bike that would fit me. I was hoping for a cervelo P3. The fitter did his thing and told me I was “all legs” he said the Blue or the LOOK would fit. They also carry Cervelo, Scott, QRoo.
I told him to give me e blue. I never even rode any of the bike. I trusted the fitter.
I feel like the bike fits. I raced all season on it including Ironman Lake Placid and a local half. My complaints are the weaker rear brake which I hear they are fixing on the 2011 models. Also, I have never weighed it, but it seems heavy. I lifted my old aluminum Felt S22 (aluminum) it feels a little heavy. When I got the bike in the mail, the shifting was messed up. SRAM Red should shift like butter. I took it to my local mechanic who said there was crimping in the cables inside the frame. It is better now, not perfect. I dont know if that is Blue’s fault or All 3.
The 2011 paint scheme is gorgeous. My gold and white is ok, but the new blue paint is pretty!
American Made!
Oops. I just noticed this post is a year old. Sorry.
Jacob,
I am thinking of getting the Triad SL from All3sports. Any other advice you can provide? The SRAM Red kit they are offering seems like just too good of a deal. Cruddy wheels, but I’m just gonna train on those and race on good wheels.
If it fits you, I would say yes. Their fitter was really good, and a great guy. He didn’t talk down to me like some bike snobs. Didn’t try to sell me the most expensive bike in there. If you can, go to the store. The Retul fit came with the purchase and that way you are sure to get the right size. I have the M/L. I was riding a 58 cm 2005 Felt S22.
During the fit, they put these motion capture dots on your joints to dial in where your saddle height should be, and all that other stuff. I flew into Atlanta, and rented a car. Their shop is alot smaller than I thought it would be. And it was kind of hard to find. (in an industrial complex)