Bikes of Kona 2024: Sam Appleton’s CADEX
FRAME – CADEX Tri
Fit Coordinates:
• Pad Stack: 650mm
• Pad Reach (back of pad): 530mm
• Bar Angulation: 20 deg
• Saddle Height: 740mm
• Saddle Offset: -28mm
Cockpit: Sam supports himself aboard the Sync Aerobar Three system. He uses proprietary hardware to attach the bars to the basebar in order to give him extra length on the front end which is becoming more and more common to accommodate the new trend in longer reach positions.
Hydration: Sam worked with Jim Manton where he did some aerodynamic field testing where he discovered placing a water bottle right behind his chin and up against his chest (a more managable version of shoving a water bottle down the front of the jersey). Based on the data, Sam had a buddy fire up his 3D printer and create a custom solution where he attaches a trusty Xlab Gorilla XT cage, which he also uses behind his ISM PN 3.0 saddle.
Sam is targeting 110 grams of carbohydrates and 760 mg of sodium per hour from Precision Hydration.
The Sync Aerobar Three front end is very clean where everything is nicely integrated and has it’s place.
Full Shimano Drivetrain: Front chainring 56/48, 11/28 rear cassette, 165 crank arms, Shimano power meter, shifting, and pedals (yellow cleats). CermaicSpeed pulley wheels and bottom bracket.
Wheels & Tires: Sam rolls on the Continental Grand Prix 5000 TT TR tire in a 25mm width, which he said is optimized for the Cadex Aero 4-Spoke wheels.
Sam mentioned that while there are faster tires out there from a rolling resistance perspective, he likes the GP 5000 for it’s balance of aero, rolling resistance, and durability. He will run these tires at 70 psi using Silca’s Ultimate sealant, commenting that most punctures in Kona are from small wires best suited for tubeless.
Really, really great article.
Is that tire really confirmed? Cadex have on their website that these wheels are not allowed to use 25 mm conti’s, just 28 mm.
Jeroen
Blummenfelt seems running 25mm too
They are running 25’s
Do you have that in a picture? I was having a discussion with Cadex during the summer on this and they told me it a no-go unless it was there own 25 mm aero tire.
It would be also out of the ERTRO norm with an inner width of the wheel of 22.4 mm
Jeroen
Some articles mention tire pressure
Was it noted here or with Blu?
I always think that Giant don’t themselves any favors by keeping Iden on a Trinity. Best case scenario the Cadex is just as good as the Trinity. I am having a hard time thinking that Iden is giving his friendnemy any advantages.
Ironically, Ventum recently released a standard double diamond shaped bike. Probably not a coincidence that Jackson Laundry had an outstanding performance Ironman Chat on one of those.
I would definitely go Trinity (New or even old) over the Cadex frame given the choice. Not heard much good about it. Heavy and doesn’t handle well.
Could be wrong but think KB’s sub 7 TTT guys were given them but went back on their old frames pretty quick.
Its timeless - and with the V-brake configuration can actually support relatively wide rims/tires…as long as there are rim / wheel options out there offering a brake track.
Plus it looks like a Boris bike.
Everything I’ve read here, and via PM’s to a few folks, seemed to imply that the Cadex is slower than most new frames. Guessing the Trinity is faster.
As for Laundry, I doubt the new Ventum frame was responsible for his outstanding performance…
70 psi on a 25 tire doesn’t sound right. They might be 28s?
We weren’t able to ask them as neither Gustav or KBlu were around when we shot their bikes.
They are 25mm. Honestly, they look narrow on the rim, but it’s what Sam, Gustav, and Kristian are running.
where it becomes strange is those tires do not meet the ETRTO standards for width. I believe the standard uses printed width rather than measured width but maybe someone can correct that.
The 70PSI on 25mm used by Sam probably is not optimal for those roads.
Ifassume if they are using the 25s, it’s for performance so this doesn’t add up.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Norwegians are running over the 72PSI limit. If so they either are putting performance ahead of safety or they don’t believe the 72 PSI/inner width + 5mm safety guidelines. I would bet the later.
Maybe we need a “hey kids, don’t try this at home” label on these pics