Who Is Leading the Charge with TT Bikes Front Ends?

[philly1x]

Is Nice (or Kona) a valuable data set from a bike manufacturer perspective? What about a consumer perspective?

[Nick_wovebike]

Let’s say that frame makers provided everything except pedals, saddle, and aerobars, they would need to make mounting aftermarket aerobars to their basebar standardized, like pedals and saddles. Not saying it will happen, but it is a large cost savings that could be passed to the consumer. Leave everything but contact points as a ‘system’. But leave contact points alone so that consumers are not saddled with extra costs.

[philly1x]

Without a cockpit: what do you do about brakes? Shifters/drivetrain?

And a comfortable (not nec. aero) fit at the point of sale is also a marketing tool. How is this achieved?

ST is a tiny, unrepresentative segment of the multisport/endurance sport population.
We are the outliers, with unusual needs.

[Nick_wovebike]

There was a time in the mid 90s when I was working in shops when having bikes on the showroom floor without pedals was viewed with similar concern

[ABGJay]

That’s assuming all bikes that have frame-integrated hydration are using bladders. There is a different way to skin that cat, one that’s much easier to clean.

[stevej]

@Nick_wovebike

Let’s say that frame makers provided everything except pedals, saddle, and aerobars, they would need to make mounting aftermarket aerobars to their basebar standardized, like pedals and saddles. Not saying it will happen, but it is a large cost savings that could be passed to the consumer. Leave everything but contact points as a ‘system’. But leave contact points alone so that consumers are not saddled with extra costs.

I like the idea but think the masses still ride whatever is stock on the bike. Those of us who want better front end options are a small percentage. So do the mfg’s cater to the masses or the small niche market?

Though I hear your point on pedals. Eventually people would come around and get used to it. And bike shops could build the bikes with whatever front ends they partner with (zipp, profile design, etc) for the masses who buy bikes off the showroom floor.

[Hanginon]

A lot of the younger riders do not wrench on their bikes - they have almost everything done by their LBS.

As for the rest of us - we carry all kinds of stuff in our front hydration, which leaks all over, especially the headset. Eventually, those bearings will need service. If you wrench yourself, be prepared for a PIA with all the hidden wires/cables. If you pay to have it done, be prepared to dig deep.

[grumpier.mike]

I would say that the UK TT scene is the true driver of cockpit innovation. Darg2Zero, Wattshop, Aerocoach, Revolver and others were the ones who really pioneered the ideas that go into todays best cockpits. In the Tri space you might put TriRig in there as well.

[timbasile]

@Mulen

I´d say that:

1. Quite a few bikes brands has internal bladders, right? Canyon, Cube, Felt, Scott, Specialized, Ventum, CAT Cheetah… just to name a few.
2. Very few pros and FOP athletes are using these bladders today, due to obvious aero gains of strategically placed bottles… And the hazzle of cleaning that shit

@TheStroBro

More bikes should have integrated bladders, the fact that there’s like one choice right now is insane.

Doesn’t Specialized hold the patent for an internal bladder? IIRC, the patent was about the ribbed walls of the bladder.

I guess this means that everyone else found a work around…?

[TheStroBro]

Bladder, tank, whatever doesn’t matter. They are no longer using that patent, patents also expire and thus you end up with generics. BUT, QR now has an in-frame hydration solution. So does Canyon. So does Scott.