Quintana Roo just may be the biking world’s best kept secret, or at least they seem that way to me. I am relatively new to the triathlon/duathlon word so didn’t have a lot of experience in triathlon bikes. I have heard of the usual suspects such as Cervelo, Specialized, and Trek but never really heard much about Quintana Roo. As it turns out, people really into the sport of triathlon are quite familiar with the name Quintana Roo. I only heard of them through their association with Running Free but I am glad I found them. I started doing research into tri bikes only after taking my wife’s Specialized transition out a few times. She had to have knee surgery which gave me more time to run and train. I took over her spot with friends doing brick workouts and 90 to 160k rides on the weekend. I had done a few rides with the same group before and always had a tough time keeping up on a second hand Cervelo road bike. Riding a tri bike made a big difference. I enjoyed the experience so much that I got hooked and when my wife wanted her bike back, I knew what had to be done. Even though we could use the same frame, I thought it would be better to have my own bike. As my wife will tell you, when I decide to make a major purchase, I analyze things to death. I am lucky enough to run out of the Ajax location of Running Free which not only has a lot of fast runners, they have the Ajax Pickering Tri Club that frequent the store as well. In asking around many people had Cervelo or Specialized along with a few Trek. I quickly learned that just like cars, everybody is partial to the manufacture they ride. I knew I would have to get some unbiased reviews so I started looking to articles and the web. I honestly didn’t give Quintana Roo much thought until everything I was reading was so positive. Running Free put me in contact with a guy named Rick who is responsible for bringing Quintana Roo bikes to Canada. I have met people that know bikes before, but this guy was on an entire different level. What impressed me the most was his knowledge of the industry. Not only did he know QR bikes, he knew the competition’s as well. He could tell what each manufacture did well and also what weaknesses they had. It wasn’t just him giving an opinion, he could always back everything with references. It was Rick’s professionalism that made the difference.
Now that I took the leap of faith to try Quintana Roo, I am happy I did. The bike I ended up purchasing was the Quintana Roo CD0.1 Ultegra. The specs are at the end of this review. The CD0.1 frame is the biggest feature to the Quintana Roo. The frame was designed to be triathlon specific and not worry about UCI restrictions. As such they focused on creating the best frame possible for triathletes. Their bikes have the lowest wind resistance mainly due to the design that pushes air to the clean side of the bike (non chain side). They do this by having an 18mm offset on the downtube. The theory is that by moving the air to that side it would be cleaner and have less resistance compared to having the wind break against the round thing, and chain. The frame is also made of carbon fibre which is incredibly strong and light. Comparing the bike to my wife’s specialized transition, you can see the tighter carbon weave (making it stronger) and notice small things like how the breaks are hidden behind the front spokes, and the gear lines run through the frame of the bike. Quintana Roo isn’t the only company that does those little things, but until the Cervelo P5 and Specialized Shive came out this year, no other company was diverting the air to the clean side of the bike. Some would argue the competition still hasn’t properly figured out how to do this based on wind tunnel results.
The interesting thing is that Quintana Roo hasn’t changed their frame on the CD0.1 in over 5 years and likely won’t be doing much with it in the near future. I guess you could say it is hard to improve on perfection! They are making some other modifications and have come out with a new bike called the Illicito which actually has the lowest wind resistance tested (see below – may not show).
The CD.01 comes in your choice of components such as Ultegra or Dura-ace. I went with the Ultegra version as I couldn’t justify the extra expense of Dura-ace for my skill level. The gears are Dura-ace anyways, but the difference is the front and rear derailleur. You can also get the bike with or without race wheels. I recommend spending the extra money to get the race wheels. If you decide you don’t need them, you can sell the race wheels easily and turn a profit especially when compared to purchasing them after the fact. Another thing I recommend to someone who is beginning to do triathlons or duathlons, is that it is better to purchase a higher end bike upfront. If you don’t end up continuing with the sport, the high end bikes tend to hold their value as they are in higher demand. I also recommend trying the bikes for longer periods of time if you can arrange that. I was lucky since I had many friends who are into triathalons so I could try their bikes. Each rode a bit different and in the end, you have to go with what you feel comfortable with. My choice was the Quintana Roo CD.01 for its great overall value compared to the other manufactures. I didn’t get a long trial ride on the CD.01 but when I looked at the numbers (both $ wise and specifications) I had to give Quintana Roo a chance. It is hard to compare apples to apples, but when you look at frames and components, the CD.01 is a high end bike which should be compared to other manufactures high end bikes that are usually thousands of dollars more (eg. Cervelo P5 or Specialized Shiv). I figure if most bikes are quoting Ultegra or Dura-ace that as long as you compare the CD.01 to a bike that has the equivalent components, the frame sells it! The excellent value along with the knowledge, service and support from Rick at Reel Kool Products (essentially Quintana Roo Canada) made me feel comfortable given Quintana Roo a chance. I recommend that you do the same.
Rick was fantastic post purchase as well. He did a proper bike fit and even used a power tap so that he could fine tune my position for optimal performance. Rick was always available for questions and would follow up from time to time to make sure I was happy and everything was still working well.
The Specifications:
The CD0.1 Ultegra uses QR’s exclusive 18 millimeter offset downtube SHIFT that diverts concentrated airflow away from the drive side to produce a true measurable bike-course advantage for every athlete at every level. Features include:
- Premium modulus carbon fiber construction
- Shimano Ultegra components
- Profile T3+ aerobar
- ISM Adamo saddle
- Shimano R501 Wheels
- Vision TriMax Pro crankset
- Reynolds Strike Wheelset upgrade available
- New rear brake design improves braking performance plus increased clearance for the latest generation of wider race wheels
- BB30 bottom bracket technology
- Available as complete bike only
- Sizes: S, M, ML, L
CONTROLS Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace; Aerobar: Profile T3+; Base bar: Profile Ozero; DRIVETRAIN Derailleurs: Shimano Ultegra; Crankset: Vision TriMax Pro; Chain: FSA Team Issue BRAKE SYSTEM Levers: Tektro TL 720; Brakes: TRP Aero WHEELSET Wheelset 700c: Shimano R501; Tires: Continental Ultra Sport
Having dealt with a major bicycle shop and spent thousands on bikes that didn’t fit we met ‘Rick’ from Reel Kool Products and we have never looked back. My partner was sold bikes that were suppose to fit . She never felt comfortable on any of the bikes as we found out they were all too large, even the one we special ordered and was not an instock item. Then we were introduced to Rick who built the perfect bike for her and for the first time in nearly 20 years my partner LOVES to ride because the bike fits her. When we look at the size of the bikes the other store sold her we are very disappointed that the did not make the effort to properly find the right size bike.
Rick’s intergrity is beyond reproach and his vast knowledge as a trainer/coach and bit fitter has allowed both of us to bike with confidence and the knowledge we are on the right sized bikes for our size, skill and potential skill level without breaking the bank.
This is not a paid advertisment, just a comment that it is nice to see someone with knowlege and integrity in the business of not just selling bikes but finding the right bike and components for the rider. With Rick, the athlete and their saftey and comfort, while riding, are his main concerns. It’s amazing how well one can progress when the bike size is correct and the bike fittings done properly.