The 2016 Diamondback Podium - James Huang / Immediate Media
Diamondback's designers applied many lessons they learned with the company's Serios TT bike - James Huang / Immediate Media
As with other modern bikes, cable stops have been replaced with ports that can accommodate cables or wires - James Huang / Immediate Media
Diamondback claims the 2016 Podium is laterally stiffer than the previous iteration, while still more compliant vertically - James Huang / Immediate Media
The beefy bottom bracket area and wide down tube contribute to that lateral stiffness - James Huang / Immediate Media
Cable or wire - either works here. An alloy hanger bolts onto the carbon dropout - James Huang / Immediate Media
How do you make a bike aero *and* comfortable? Putting a round 27.2mm post on an aero frame is a good start - James Huang / Immediate Media
The integrated seatpost clamp makes for a clean seat tube/seatpost junction - James Huang / Immediate Media
Diamondback labels its frame's details to save us work writing captions - James Huang / Immediate Media
A PF30 adaptor is used for the Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 crank that comes on the top-end Podium Equipe - James Huang / Immediate Media
Internal routing should keep the cables relatively clean. A single-bolt door underneath the bottom bracket shell gives access for servicing - James Huang / Immediate Media
Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 group on the top-end Equipe model - James Huang / Immediate Media
The Podium was designed as a straight-ahead race machine, and the gearing is specced accordingly - James Huang / Immediate Media
HED Jet 4 SCT clinchers provide both aero benefits and everyday usability - James Huang / Immediate Media
With high-quality rubber as standard, the Podium Equipe is ready to race right out of the box - James Huang / Immediate Media
The Prologo Zero-II would have been fine in black, really - James Huang / Immediate Media
Diamondback chose to forego the minimal aero benefit of an integrated stem in exchange for a standard option. The matched red seems like overkill, though - James Huang / Immediate Media
Besides the Equipe, the Podium also comes in the Vitesse model with Shimano Ultegra and the 105-level E'Tape - James Huang / Immediate Media
For 2016, Diamondback went back to the CAD drawing board to refine its flagship aero race bike, the Podium. Taking shaping cues from the brand's time-trial bike, Diamondback lowered the drag on the Podium a claimed 100g over last year's model. The brand also beefed up the torsional stiffness with a stockier bottom-bracket shell and down tube.
While better known for the BMX bikes the firm started with in the ’70s and, more recently, its mountain bikes, Diamondback made a push into road with the launch of the Podium in 2013.
BikeRadar's James Huang reviewed the 2013 Podium Equipe and found it comfortable but a bit lacking in front-end stiffness. Diamondback has addressed the stiffness concerns, as well as fine-tuning some aero details with the 2016 model.
Aero bikes are increasingly segmenting into two camps: those that use integrated, often-proprietary components such as brakes, handlebars and stems for all-out aerodynamic benefit, and those that opt for compatibility with standard equipment. The Podium falls into the latter category, with Diamondback arguing that a rider's preference of equipment and adjustment trumps small aero gains. That said, the new Podium is still faster in the wind tunnel than the last iteration, the company claims.
Diamondback designers applied many lessons they learned with the company's serios tt bike : diamondback designers applied many lessons they learned with the company's serios tt bike
The massive down tube adds to front-end stiffness with an aero design modified from Diamondback's Serios time-trial frame
Also, in part because of feedback from Team Optum, which Diamondback sponsors, the seatpost was kept at a standard 27.2mm for its more comfortable ride versus an aggressively aero-shaped option.
Lateral stiffness has been ratcheted up without adding weight. The new bike is 20 percent laterally stiffer at the bottom bracket area now, according to Diamondback.
For 2016, Diamondback is offering the top-level Podium Equipe shown here (US$7,500), the Vitesse (US$4,500) with Shimano Ultegra, and the 105-equipped E'Tape (US$2,700). UK and Australian pricing wasn't available at the time of writing.
Click through the gallery above for a detailed look at the 2016 Diamondback Podium Equipe.
Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
