Is it Carbon?

Cervelo P5

After having so much success with the P4, Cervelo didn't stop there. Cervelo is long known for being the brand to take more people through the top of the finish line than any other bike on the planet. But is it Carbon?

Answer: This is quite possibly the silliest question we've ever asked. 

Garmin Forerunner 910XT 

The 910XT is the crème de la crème of multi-sport watches. It's one of the few GPS watches that reliably captures swimming, cycling and running all in an easy to use one-button configuration. But is it carbon?

Answer: This little contraption digitally links to a satellite floating nearly 20,000km above the earth, can resist water up to 50 meters, and can import your training data online for you to share - all while wielding no carbon whatsoever. Impressive. 

Newtown Gravity

If you're a triathlete and you haven't heard of Newton's, you're clearly missing out. These are the cream of the crop when it comes to long distance Ironman athletes. Armed with their funky color schemes and Action/Reaction technology it's no wonder people swear by their shoes. But are they carbon? 

Answer: Surely to defy gravity you need something made of carbon right? Wrong. Unfortunately no carbon in these bad boys. 

A Life Without Limits: A World Champion's Journey

Without question, Chrissie Wellington is one of triathlon's most decorated Ironman athletes. She is the only triathlete, male or female, to have won the World Championship less than a year after turning professional and has not lost an ironman distance event in her career. So what better way to learn about the journey of a world champion triathlete than to read her book A Life Without Limits. But is it carbon? 

Answer: Historians dictate that some of the earliest writing materials were made from a material called papyrus. The word paper, derived from the word papyrus, is a thin material produced by squeezing together moist fibers (usually wood pulp). So unfortunately this paperback is all wood and no carbon.  

HED Jet 9 FR

Aero wheels are all the rage. Start hitting over 20mph on these puppies and you'll begin to fly. The Jet series are known for the speed in any situation and don't disappoint.  But are they carbon? 

Answer: I don't think I need to answer this one. If your wheels aren't carbon you aren't a true triathlete, 'nuff said. 

Giro Selector 

Aero wheels give you the most bang for your buck, right? Wrong, right at the top of the list of times you can purchase is an aero helmet. Giro, arguably the world's leader in cycling helmet technology, flagship aero helmet, the Selector, features a solid balance between cooling ventilation, badass eye protection, and aerodynamics. But is it carbon?

Answer: The Selector features a polycarbonate shell, which means they use the word carbon. So I'm going to go with yes. 

TREK Speed Concept 9.9

Being aero on the bike is goal numero uno. The Trek Concept Series has aero written all over it. Integrated handlebars, brakes, and even integrated rear storage! Expect to see more and more of these in Kona. But is it carbon? 

Answer: Our team of analysts disassembled all 113 pieces that make up a Speed Concept and approximately 78% of the pieces are made of carbon. Surely this needs to be 100% right? 

Woolf Running Kona Normann Stadler

Normann Stadler is synonymous with the Ironman cycling elite. So, it's only natural that the European based Woolf shoe company teamed up with Normann Stadler to engineer one of the best running shoe for the first man off the bike. Did we mention that these shoes look absolutely badass? But are they carbon?

Answer: If only those black midsoles were made of carbon, they would weigh 0.0001 grams less. Unfortunately not. 

TYR Hurricane Freak of Nature Wetsuit

What's the first thing you think of when you see the body of elite triathlon swimmers like Andy Potts, Pete Jacobs, Craig Alexander, and Chrissie Wellington? Freak of nature. TYR, suppliers to some of the most elite swimmers in the world, designed a wet suit so advanced that it's hefty price tag was shortly brushed off after the skeptics tried one on. You'll become immediately distinguishable among the pack with the TYR Freak wetsuit. But is it carbon? 

Answer: To our knowledge no one has thrown carbon into wetsuits. I'm personally waiting for the attachable carbon dorsal fin that makes you look like a shark. (and swim like one)

Specialized Trivent

Imagine your foot is a king and the Trivent is a drawbridge. What better way to invite the king to his castle. Quite possibly the most unique and innovative tri-specific shoe on the market, the Specialized Trivent has everything a triathlete needs to get in and out of her cycling shoe while maintaining serious crank power. Save seconds on the transition, maintain power during the ride. But are they carbon? 

Answer: Yes, these things are stocked with carbon to provide a balance of stiffness and weight. What's not included is mini trumpeters who play when the drawbridge opens and closes.  

SRAM Red Component Set

Immediately recognizable by the large SRAM logo on the rear mech, anyone coming across your bike equipped with a SRAM Red components knows you're serious about your cycling performance. The SRAM Red groupset is the unmistakable top of line in triathlon cycling gear. But is it carbon? 

Answer: Component sets at this price do have carbon in them (mainly in the shifters and derailleurs cages). However, I'm convinced they simply sprinkle carbon flecks on them so when people google "Carbon Component Set" they show up on the first page.