Recently I purchased a new Triathlon/TT bike through Kuota called the "K-Factor Race which is on Dura-Ace. Last year I made a big step up in quality to an all carbon fiber road bike which was a "Kestrel Talon". It was a great bike I thought, it had a few slip ups with the gears slipping a bit but ignored it. I had heard a lot about Kestrel bikes being apart of Fuji as well as good "bang for your buck" so after working out a good deal I purchased it after I made duathlon worlds on a used bike I got the week of.
When I compare the 2 rides, there are some major differences, one being that the Kestrel was actually a "aero road bike" and the Kuota is an all out triathlon bike. The kuota is much more aggressive with its stance and positioning which I figured would effect my comfort level coming from a road bike last year. Kestrel's "Talon" got some good reviews as a great bike to throw some bars on and basically turn into a Tri specific bike because of its Geometry.
After worlds, I sold the bike because I needed the $ as well as I didn't have an interest in riding over the winter at all. After coming upon a great deal with the Kuota, I knew it was the right time to pull the trigger and step up. The kuota comes totally decked out with all Dura-Ace components and a better grade carbon fiver. I ordered some new lime green tires as well as double thick handle bar tape to make it more comfortable during the ride. So it's basically pimped out minus some race wheels and a surround sound stereo.
Upon my first test ride on my new Kuota, it felt so smooth and I thought maybe because I hadn't ridden in awhile, but that wasn't the case. I want to give a big shout out to Rob Morgan the bike guru at TrySports who fit me on the bike which I think made a huge difference. I seem to be able to generate more power more efficiently on this bike compared to the old kestrel. Even while in the aero position it feels like a Cadillac on the road in comparison. So to offer advice to anyone looking for an amazing bike, go with the Kuota for sure. It did cost a little more for the "race" version but its certainly worth it.
The only thing I would do if possible to the K-Factor is to add a carbon crank and a carbon aero bar system to help out with weight and aerodynamics. That being said the both of those are quite a bit of change, so I am going to have to stick with what I already have on there. any feedback from your road bikes in comparison to your tri bike? Kestrel vs kuota? Curious to see what people had to say in comparison to bikes and even if they thought certain things truly make a difference aside from the machine that is on top of the bike really pushing it.
t-minus 1 week before Rob M is going to put me into a more aggressive bike position, with the hopes that it won't effect my comfortability too much while assisting me with generating more power and becoming more aerodynamic.
Here is some info I found comparing the 2 types of bicycles:
http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/seatangle.html
"And finally, these tests only measured the physiological responses to the biomechanical change generated by a steeper seat angle. As this test was performed in a lab on stationary equipment, the aerodynamic benefit one derives from the ability to achieve a lower frontal profile with a steeper seat angle was not part of the equation.
Where in this 40km/10km exercise did the time savings occur? There were some time savings achieved during the bike leg. Average 40km times were 1:04:10 in the 73-degree configuration and 1:02:54 for the riders when at 81 degrees. But it was in the first half of the run that the big time savings occurred. It took riders 24:15 to complete the first 5km off the shallow set-up, and only 21:41 after riding the steep bike (and remember, these triathletes had never run off a steep set-up before)."
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