Annual Kona Bike Count Reveals Triathlon’s Leading Brands

Each year, when all the competitors’ bikes are racked in the transition compound at the Ironman World Championships, a group of bike industry members then study every bike in detail and record the brand, not only of the frame but of many other components.

It’s not a perfect market survey, but it gives a good indication of what the ‘top end’ triathletes are riding. It also reveals trends from one year to the next as to which brands are rising, steady or falling in their market shares.

This year there were 2,377 bikes checked in for the following day’s race.

Here’s a summary of the top ranked brands:

Bikes

1. Cervélo – 489
2. Trek – 258
3. Felt – 190
4. Specialized – 184
5. Canyon – 179
6. Quintana Roo – 122
7. Argon 18 – 117
8. Scott – 103
9. Giant – 84
10. BMC – 77

Wheels

1. Zipp (including FlashPoint) – 1,596
2. ENVE – 460
3. Other – 455
4. HED – 259
5. Bontrager – 215
6. Aluminum (unbranded) – 209
7. Reynolds – 200
8. Roval – 185
9. DT Swiss – 176
10. Mavic – 148

Groupsets

1. Shimano – 1,927
2. SRAM – 430
3. Campaganolo – 19
4. Vision – 1

Aerobars

1. Profile Design – 613
2. 3T – 291
3. Bontrager – 261
4. Felt – 148
5. Vision – 143

Pedals

1. LOOK – 676
2. Shimano – 654
3. Garmin (power) – 400
4. Speedplay – 314
5. PowerTap – 130

Power Meters

1. Garmin – 400
2. Quarq – 367
3. PowerTap – 177
4. Power2Max – 177
5. Stages – 117

Saddles

1. ISM – 857
2. Specialized – 312
3. Fi:zi’k – 269
4. Cobb Cycling – 203
5. Bontrager – 166

Chainring Shape

1. Round – 2,199
2. Oval – 292

For a more detailed article, visit www.triathlete.com