New 3T Strada ICR is claimed to be “the world’s most comfortable aero bike”

By George Scott

Published: Friday, 04 November 2022 at 12:00 am

3T has launched the Strada ICR, described as “the world’s most comfortable aero road bike”.

Unveiled at the Rouleur Live show in London, the Strada ICR is optimised around 32mm tyres – considerably wider than most aero road bikes – with a frame design said to prioritise aerodynamics at the front end and comfort at the rear.

The Strada ICR also has completely internal cable routing. The previous-generation Strada saw the cables run over the stem, entering the frame just behind the stem.

The distinctive head tube is narrow with a bulbous leading edge. This is also said to keep things aero-optimised at the front end.

The bike is designed for a 2x crankset, though 3T will also offer 1x drivetrain builds, too. Four models will be available at launch, priced from £5,199 with SRAM Rival eTap AXS to £7,499 with SRAM Red eTap AXS. International pricing is TBC.

Here’s what we know so far.

Speed and comfort

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The 3T Strada ICR’s “speed” and “comfort” zones
3T

3T says the Strada ICR aero road bike has two “clearly distinct zones”.

The “speed zone” covers the front half of the bike and features the deep yet narrow head tube, a wraparound down tube and a slender fork.

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The deep, narrow and bulbous aero head tube is a key feature.
George Scott / Our Media

The “comfort zone”, meanwhile, covers the curved seat tube and wafer-thin seatstays, both shaped, 3T claims, to improve – you guessed it – comfort.

Despite that, 3T says “tyres provide more compliance than any other part of the bike”, and the Italian brand says the Strada ICR is specifically designed around 32mm tyres, with the seat tube and down tube shaped accordingly.

Internal cable routing

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Everything runs through 3T’s Apto 3TICR stem.
George Scott / Our Media

All cables now run internally; one key change over the previous Strada.

“Running cables internally can be nice and potentially reduce aero drag,” says 3T. “But what is the point if you end up with a very wide and bulky headtube with oversized bearings to house the cables?”

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The bike is designed around 32mm tyres, 3T says.
George Scott / Our Media

3T says the head tube design is key here, 3T says.

“In the front view you will see our bearings are still narrow and the head tube even thins down in between them,” says 3T.

“In the side view, you’ll see the headtube is deeper and with a full aero ‘nose’, taking full advantage of the new UCI rules.”

Cables hide inside 3T’s new Apto 3TICR stem. This is based on the original Apto stem shape but now features internal cable guides.

Details, details

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The boxy down tube widens to shield the bottle cage.
George Scott / Our Media

Other details include the boxy down tube, which widens to shield the bottle cages and bottom bracket shell.

On that note, the Strada ICR uses a threaded bottom bracket – a move that will be welcomed by home mechanics.

At the front, the “Sqaero” fork has a subtle truncated shape. At the rear, 3T says the internal seatpost clamp uses a “self-aligning” design to offer a higher clamping force for lower torque.

"Bottom
Big enough for you?
George Scott / Our Media
"Bottom
Yes, that’s a threaded bottom bracket.
George Scott / Our Media

3T Strada ICR geometry

SizeXSSMLXL
Rider height (cm)150-163157-170168-180178-191188-201
Rider height (inches)4ft 9in-5ft 4in5ft 2in-5ft 7in5ft 6in-5ft 11in5ft 10in-6ft 3in6ft 2in-6ft 7in
Stack501507536565594
Reach349369381393405
Head tube angle69.57172.773.273.2
Fork axle-crown355355355355355
Front centre567574580596616
Rear centre405405405405405
BB drop7169696969
Head tube length119119143172202
Top tube length507529550571592
Seat tube length487500506518533
Seat tube angle72.572.572.572.572.5

3T Strada ICR specs and prices

  • 3T Strada ICR Rival XPLR 1×12 – £5,199
  • 3T Strada ICR Rival AXS 2×12 – £5,499
  • 3T Strada ICR Force AXS 2×12 – £6,199
  • 3T Strada ICR Red AXS 1×12 Discus 45I32 – £7,499