Drawing on the lessons learned from its outrageous Andean triathlon machine, Diamondback has now unveiled a new aero road bike called the Io. If it looks unlike any other bike currently available in the category, that’s because it is; Diamondback has ignored UCI technical regulations completely, and instead developed what it feels make the most sense for everyday enthusiasts, as well as roadies that might occasionally line up for a weekend triathlon on the same bike.

Diamondback builds the disc-only carbon fiber Io with truncated airfoil sections throughout — an approach widely used by other manufacturers as a means to gain aerodynamic efficiency without overly sacrificing weight and stiffness. However, contrasting-color “vortex generators” are littered throughout the down tube, seat tube, and fork blades, which Diamondback claims to further reduce drag.

Borrowed from the Andean is a built-in storage compartment just ahead of the bottom bracket, which not only provides enough space for a few repair items and clothing layers, but also further improves aerodynamic performance, according to Diamondback.

Other features include fully internal cable routing — including through the Zipp SL-70 Aero carbon handlebar and custom stem — dramatically dropped seatstays to help smooth out the Io’s ride, plus additional bolt-on storage boxes that attach in front of the head tube, above the bottom bracket shell, and on top of the top tube. A flip-flop seatpost head facilitates the switch between traditional road and more triathlon-friendly rider positions, too.

Claimed frameset and complete bike weights were not available as of press time, but retail pricing is highly competitive. A full build with SRAM eTap HRD and Zipp 454 NSW carbon clinchers goes for US$9,120, while a more reasonable SRAM Force 1 group and Vision Trimax 30 wheels brings that figure down to US$4,000. Custom builds are available, too, and all bikes are available for shipment direct to consumers from Q2 of 2018.

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