CADEX Tri Frameset

IMPOSSIBLY FAST

It’s not derived from a road bike, or even a time trial bike. It doesn’t play by those rules. The all-new CADEX Tri frameset is a no-holds-barred triathlon machine—no restrictions, no limitations. It’s designed, engineered and put to the test by the world’s fastest triathletes in a bold quest to push the sport forward. It rewrites the rules.There’s nothing conventional about this bike. The frame, with it radical monocoque design, unlocks a new level of aero efficiency. It gives triathletes an entirely new way to access nutrition, hydration and other essentials right from their racing position without the wind ever noticing. It’s all right there, tucked inside the aero down tube, invisible to the wind.

It’s not enough to be fast in a wind tunnel. To make real-world gains in an Ironman race, an athlete must hold their aero-optimized riding position for 180km. That’s why the CADEX Tri frame makes it easy to achieve a personalized fit. It offers nearly endless incremental adjustment options with more than 1,000 fit configurations. And because not everyone travels with a personal mechanic, there’s less hardware to fiddle with. Simple spacers and fewer screws. The cleanly integrated cables don’t need to be rerouted with every cockpit adjustment. That means it’s easier for riders of all heights and body dimensions to dial in a perfect fit that combines power, aero efficiency and comfort for hours on end.

Want proof? Look no further than the Ironman World Championships at St. George. That’s where Kristian Blummenfelt used his prototype CADEX Tri frame to win it all in his first-ever attempt at the Ironman Worlds. Kristian has played a major role in the development of this bike. He’s the perfect athlete to push things forward, known for his hard-charging race style, relentless training, and unwillingness to accept status quo. That’s how Kristian broke the Ironman 70.3 world record by five minutes and it’s how he became the first triathlete to win the Olympics and Ironman World Championship in a one-year span.

The CADEX Tri frameset was also a key factor in Kristian’s historic Sub7 victory, when he smashed the seven-hour mark for the Ironman distance. Working with a supporting cast of sports scientists, athletes and technicians including the CADEX engineering team, Kristian did what had been previously thought impossible, crossing the line with an astounding time of 6:44:25.

That’s what this bike was made for. To set new PRs. To smash records. To reimagine what’s possible in the sport of triathlon.

PERSONALIZED FIT

One of the most fundamental performance factors of a triathlon bike is how it fits the athlete. There’s a reason that pro triathletes and their coaches go to great lengths to get this right—a perfect fit allows the rider to produce maximum power in the most aerodynamic position possible while remaining comfortable over long distances.

A primary objective of the CADEX Tri frameset was to make it easier for athletes of all heights and body dimensions to achieve a perfect fit. The CADEX engineering team started by collecting real-world dimensional data from 150 pro and amateur triathletes. This process led to the creation of five frame sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, and L.

From there, the team looked at stack and reach data, then configured ways for any rider, no matter what frame size they choose, to easily adjust these critical fit factors with greater ease. It’s not just about height, leg length and body proportions. Athletes with similar body dimensions can have very different bike setups depending on variables such as flexibility, core strength and preferred race distance.

INDEPENDENTLY INTEGRATED

Beyond frame size, having a perfect fit comes down to adjusting the key contact points including the pedals, saddle, base bar, arm rests and bar extensions. The CADEX Tri bike makes it easy to adjust the cockpit components using simple hardware.

The overall structure of the cockpit is integrated, but the setups are independent. The arm extensions, designed in collaboration with leading components manufacturer Sync Ergonomics, can be moved forward and backward, and the angles can be changed without the hassle of removing any spacers. This system allows you to raise or lower stack height without moving the extension bars. And the quick-release spacer system allows the cable routing to remain in place while making these adjustments.

POWER POSITION

The effective seat tube angle can be adjusted by changing the saddle setback position. The rear clamp on the seatpost provides an independent fore/aft saddle adjustment range of 70mm. When the saddle is pushed all the way to the rear setting (red line), the effective seat tube angle is 76 degrees. In its most forward position (green line) the seat tube angle is 80 degrees.

For Ironman triathletes like Kristian Blummenfelt, all these adjustment possibilities add up to the winning formula. “We are constantly looking for ways to improve aerodynamics, pedaling efficiency and of course comfort,” Blummenfelt said. “Over the course of 180km, small changes add up. And sometimes what works in the wind-tunnel doesn’t work as well out on the road. Having the ability to make these adjustments quickly and easily is a game-changer when you’re trying to optimize your position and fit.”

FIT DATA CHARTS

Standard Tri Frame Fit Range

0 Degree Position CADEX Tri Fit Range

15 Degree Position CADEX Tri Fit Range

ENDURANCE AERO

Being aero for 40km or even 80km isn’t enough. To win an Ironman race or set a new PR, a rider must be able to hold the most aero position for the entire 180km bike leg. That was the guiding philosophy behind the CADEX Tri frameset: Aero performance goes beyond wind-tunnel data. It’s about achievable gains for real-world racers.

It starts with the shapes, lines and angles of the frameset itself. The tubing features AeroSystem Shaping Technology, which uses Computational Fluid Dynamics and wind-tunnel data to optimize each tube shape to create superior aerodynamic performance.

Looking at the bike from the front, the most striking design element is the fork. The wide-spread legs allow air to flow cleanly through and around their long, bladed profile, directing airflow past the rider’s moving legs toward the streamlined rear end of the bike. Extensive wind-tunnel testing showed that this design reduces airflow blockage at the front of the bike and minimizes the overall drag of the rider and bike.

The bladed fork legs are part of a dual-crown design, with the legs extending upward into the cockpit area. This offers the secondary benefit of creating an extremely stiff front end, reducing flex in the base bar and extensions to improve the overall handling of the bike.

The fork legs are part of a holistic aero system that includes similarly wide-spread and horizontal seat stays. These seat stays are aligned with the fork width. Traditional seat stays extend straight from the rear dropouts to the seat tube, but the CADEX Tri frame’s seat stays angle upward and slightly forward from the rear wheel axis in a near-vertical path, and then bend sharply toward the seat tube to form a horizontal line. This minimizes their contact surface as air passes freely through the rear end of the bike, reducing drag and boosting aerodynamic performance. This design also bolsters stiffness in the rear end of the bike, improving power transfer to the rear wheel.

RACE-READY INTEGRATION

FULLY INTEGRATED

Nutrition, hydration and self-sufficiency are critical factors for any triathlete. Over the years, triathletes have devised their own ways to deal with these needs, but the CADEX Tri frameset offers a complete solution that’s fully integrated into the frame. From the start of this project, race-ready storage was one of the key performance goals, and the end result is one of the primary factors that sets this bike apart from the competition.

BENTO BOX

The removable bento box is made to hold up to ten 32ml gel packs in the size L frame and is designed to be easily accessible while riding in an aero position. Located at the top of the down tube, it features an exclusive rubber cover that holds energy bars or gels in place while having a portion of the nutrition packaging stick out of the box for easier access.

HYDRATION SYSTEM

A removable bladder sits inside the down tube, featuring capacity adapted to each frame size, from 600ml in an XXS frame up to 1000ml in a size L. The fluid is accessed via a straw that extends from the aero cover at the head tube, allowing the rider to hydrate on the go without having to remove their hands from the bars or come out of their aero riding position. Likewise, the centrally located refill port makes adding more fluid quick and easy. The frame also includes bottle cage mounts on the front of the seat tube to carry extra fluids for training rides.

TOOLBOX

Whether racing or training, triathletes know that being self-sufficient on the road is critical. That means in addition to fueling, being prepared for tire punctures or other mechanical issues. This integrated toolbox is located down toward the bottom bracket area, accessible from the non-drive side quickly and easily. It comes with essential repair tools including a multi-tool, tire lever and CO2 inflator.

TOTAL EFFICIENCY

From the outset, the ultimate goal of the CADEX Tri project was to produce a bike with uncompromised efficiency for real world Ironman racing. Making the frame super aero, light and stiff just for the lab wasn’t enough. It had to win where it counts: on the course.

Engineered with the highest grade T1000 carbon fiber, as well as cutting-edge layup techniques, the CADEX Tri frameset features class-leading pedaling and torsional stiffness with a total weight of just under 4577 grams. This exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratio means zero watts wasted with each pedal stroke. When combined with ultra-adaptable fit, groundbreaking endurance aero technology, and a completely integrated hydration and nutrition system, the result is record-breaking total efficiency.

Frame Stiffness-to-Weight

Frame Weight

Frame Stiffness

Complete Travel Solution

Travel is a big part of any triathlete’s race routine. Streamlining the process of getting a bike to the start line can help reduce stress and improve the racing experience. The CADEX Tri frameset factored this into its overall design, minimizing the amount of disassembly and reassembly needed. The frameset also comes with a purpose-built Topeak travel case.

The base bar and extensions are designed to fold down easily into a compact size that can be loaded into the travel case without having to disassemble the parts. The travel case is made with a sturdy polycarbonate shell that provides high-impact strength and protection. It has wheels to make airport travel easier and complies with airline luggage restrictions.

The case includes interior protection sleeves, a drivetrain cover, and a frameset mounting system to keep the frameset protected and secure inside the case. The mounting system can also be used as a mini work stand.