The Race Season is Kicking Off: Ironman Oceanside

Whether you are just getting into triathlon or have been racing for quite a while, chances are that you have heard of Ironman Oceanside 70.3. In the triathlon world, IM Oceanside is one of the most popular races to participate in for its great weather and stunning course (it has been completely sold out since last year). This year, it is on Saturday, March 28th, just after the start of Spring! 

This race will always hold a special place for A2 because it was the first-ever race we were the official bike sponsor, all the way back in 2017. In many ways, the exposure from being at this race as a young triathlon bike brand was what propelled us to where we are today. But let's start from the very beginning to show you exactly why this race was such a pivotal point in A2's inception.

A2's History at Ironman Oceanside

You have probably heard the story before, but if you haven't, here is a condensed version of the story of how A2 was founded. It all started when our founder, AJ Alley, was studying for the BAR exam in pursuit of becoming a lawyer. Naturally, having his eyes glued to things like civil procedure and contract formality was driving him crazy, so he needed an outlet. This is when he found triathlon; he decided to sign up for his first sprint back in 2014. 

A super condensed version of how A2 was founded ⬆️.

As one does after completing their first triathlon, AJ caught the 'triathlon bug'. He crossed the finish line exhausted, humbled, but completely hooked. He started training more on the gear that was available to him, which, at the time, was a beat-up rim brake road bike. But as he became more serious with triathlon, he knew he had to upgrade his bike, because it was also his goal to complete his first 70.3 half Ironman in 2016. So he went into a local triathlon-bike store (yes, these used to exist), and saw the insulting price tags on the bikes. Even back then in 2016, the prices of these aluminum, non-adjustable triathlon bikes were $3,000+. AJ found it frustrating that this was one of his only options to get a tri bike back then. Though he didn't want to purchase, AJ bit the bullet and got a pre-owned BMC TT bike to use in his upcoming 70.3. But it sure did leave a bad taste in his mouth, which is exactly what led him to a crazy idea... 'What if I made a business that sold aero bars for triathlon bikes?'

After completing his first 70.3 in Kona back in the summer of 2016 and seeing the strength of the triathlon community first-hand, AJ was more determined than ever to learn more about why triathlon bikes cost so much. He impulsively booked a ticket to Taipei, Taiwan, to try to get answers. He began cold-calling manufacturers, showing up at their doors, and drilling down into every detail of how tri bikes were made. What he discovered surprised him: high-end triathlon bikes weren't inherently expensive; they were artificially priced and came with tons of overhead. Established brands and shops realized they could charge a steep premium on the back of a sport that was rapidly exploding in popularity. But that's the exact moment AJ knew that he had started a triathlon bike company. He immediately went to work to see how he could create his own frames and get bikes directly to consumers.

So there he was, in late 2016, after just founding A2 Bikes (once called A-Squared Bikes before a rebrand), with a bunch of carbon bike frames that were freshly made. Now he just had to figure out a way to establish his brand and sell some bikes. This brings us to Ironman Oceanside in 2017, where AJ had a shot at getting his new bikes in front of athletes. 

The first generation Speed Phreak at Oceanside, 2017. 

AJ was able to secure the title of 'Official Bike Sponsor of Ironman Oceanside 2017', but he was still extremely nervous about whether he had just made a massive mistake. What if people don't receive the bikes well? What if no one cares? 

As it turns out, most athletes were also fed up with paying crazy amounts of money for their triathlon bikes, as well as looking for a DTC option. The Speed Phreak caught many people's attention, and the tent was getting a lot of foot traffic; at some points, there were too many people to talk to. 

"It was a wild weekend — one I'll never forget. My best friend and his wife flew out to Oceanside to help staff the expo. My dad was there too, along with Kelly and our first two kids. We had the whole crew.

From the moment we set up the booth until a few hours after the race, we were mobbed — non-stop. As the official bike sponsor, we had prime placement, and our logo was everywhere. I couldn't begin to count how many conversations we had that weekend. I just remember that I never once stopped moving." - AJ Alley, Founder of A2 Bikes.

Since this monumental moment in the uprising of A2, we have had hundreds of you race at Oceanside on our bikes. From racing their first 70.3 to pros getting podiums in their age group, our community has shown up at Oceanside since we first came there all those years back. And for that, we can't thank you enough. 

"That was the moment I knew A2 was onto something real. No one had heard of a direct-to-consumer bike company before that race, but people were genuinely excited about what we were building. Affordable, accessible performance was a foreign concept to them — and you could see it click the moment we explained it." - AJ Alley

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

We are going to be at Ironman Oceanside this year! So if you're going to be racing, or just be in the area, email darren@a2bikes.com so we can make sure to link up and say hey! And yes, we will have some A2 goodies to spread around.

Pro triathlete Megan Tuncer racing at Ironman Oceanside on the SP, 2025.