Tech Specs: Canyon Aeroad CFR Di2
Price: €9,999 / $9,999 / £9,299
Weight: 7.0 Kg – Size S
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
Wheels: DT Swiss ARC 1100 Dicut
Tyres: Continental GP5000 S TR 25mm – F 28mm – R
Sizes: 2XS-2XL
Colours: Alpecin / Sparkle Stealth – pictured
When I consider the Canyon Aeroad, I image Mathieu van der Poel completely hammering his personal up a cobbled climb within the Spring Classics or flying over the Roubaix cobblestones, all uncooked energy and poise and infrequently to a victory.
The World Road Race Champion now has a brand new bike to race on as Canyon has launched a brand new model of its Aeroad race bike as we speak.
We noticed this new Aeroad on the Critérium du Dauphiné earlier within the 12 months, a race that is typically a proving floor for brand spanking new tools forward of the Tour de France. It’s been hiding in plain sight ever since and Alpecin-Deceuninck and Movistar are presently racing on the bike on the Tour de France. As bike launch ways go, I’m all for it, personal the information and publicity reasonably than worrying concerning the bike being noticed and attempting to cover it. In truth, as of as we speak, the bike has gained three levels of this 12 months’s race because of dash ace Jasper Philipsen and his custom-painted model, not a nasty begin all advised.
This is the 4th technology of the Aeroad – a mannequin which has existed since 2011, a truth which jogged my memory how time flies – and Canyon says its growth has required “a depth of professional rider suggestions” in addition to suggestions from mechanics. Promising stuff!
You can learn all concerning the modifications in our information story overviewing the brand new bike, however summed up, the brand new bike is totally different sufficient that it is easy to identify, and has obtained some body and tube profile refinements to make it faster, some updates to assist serviceability, in addition to an interchangeable handlebar drop part that riders can simply swap between.
I’ve ridden simply over 100 miles on my check bike at residence so these are solely my early impressions. That distance is not sufficient for me to totally check the bike, the brand new handlebars and actually “reside with it”. So I’ll convert this to a full overview after extra driving and testing.
Design and specs
I’ll begin with the aesthetics, the Aeroad simply seems to be imply. Its angular and aero tube profiles look quick and aggressive standing nonetheless. I’ve been testing the ‘Sparkle stealth’ paint scheme as pictured. I’d name it a gloss darkish gray with silver flecks and remember the large chrome Canyon logos. It’s not an excessive amount of although and the bike seems to be nice. Add in an honest little bit of seatpost and the deep part wheels and you’ve got one fast-looking race bike.
I’m testing the CFR Di2 mannequin, the CFR being Canyon’s top-tier body spec choice. The bike as pictured retails for €9,999 / $9,999 / £9,299. For that, you get the Dura-Ace groupset, with energy meter chainset, DT Swiss wheelset, GP5000 tyres and Selle Italia SLR increase saddle. The remainder of the ending equipment is from Canyon and is bike-specific.
The bike arrived with DT Swiss ARC 1100 wheels and DT Swiss 180 hubs. Tyres had been Continental GP5000 S TR tyres in a 25mm dimension up entrance and 28mm on the rear. The wheels have a 20mm inside width and with a 25mm tyre up entrance, issues really feel barely slender and maybe a contact harsh on some roads.
I assume the 25mm / 28mm combo was examined because the quickest, and that is what you want in case you’re shopping for this bike. Indeed, Canyon advised me the 25mm tyre is the quickest for the specced DT Swiss wheels. Philipsen is racing, and profitable on 28s although. I used to be a contact stunned to not see 28s and even 30s fitted on a shopper bike. The clearance for the body is 32mm although, apparently requested by Van der Poel himself.
While on wheels and tyres, I’ll point out the DT Swiss 180 rear freehub which is uncomfortably loud. It is not probably the most ridiculous I’ve come throughout, however it’s an excessive amount of for me. You might be able to quieten it right down to a level, but it surely’s value noting if it is a massive deal for you and your wheels. Conversely, in case you like your freehubs to make a racket, you may be properly happy.
The bike was very simple to arrange out of the field, It was a case of putting in the seatpost, which was very simple to do, some seatpost bungs and bolts are a faff, however not so right here. I put in the drops of the handlebars on the width adjustable bar. The second time I’ve achieved it and it nonetheless feels simply as odd to me, but it surely was simple and after the primary shakedown trip, I moved them to their narrowest setting. Everything else was achieved for me, I simply added sealant to the tyres, put in the neat new pc mount and ran a torque wrench entrance to again for peace of thoughts.
I used to be happy to see that Canyon has removed the proprietary headset pre-load instrument that the CP0018 bar discovered on the previous bike used. And changed it with a Torx bolt which will probably be much more user-friendly. The older design I’m positive has caught customers out and a wobbly headset you possibly can’t regulate is a possible security situation. It makes the bike simpler to reside with and extra user-friendly and I’m all for it.
All handlebar, headset and seatpost bolts are additionally now T25 Torx, so that you solely want one instrument. Perhaps proof of the mechanic session that’s talked about within the bike’s press materials. The included via axle deal with has a T25 bit included on the top, a pleasant transfer to streamline and assist changes.
On the topic of dwelling with the bike, Canyon has upgraded all of the headset fasteners on the brand new bike to titanium bolts and has additionally upgraded the headset bearings. There can also be a titanium fork crown race, which I am unable to say I’ve heard of earlier than which Canyon says is for ‘most abrasion resistance’. I’d guess there have been some rounded-off, seized bolts within the handlebar meeting and probably some prematurely worn-out headset bearings as a result of built-in handlebar and stem making entry for servicing more durable than regular.
I discussed the necessity to not overwash the CP0018 bar in my Endurace CFR overview. If these modifications assist trigger much less complications and lower your expenses for house owners typically then it is nice information and so they can solely be an enchancment over the outgoing bike.
The body updates look like to extract velocity and enhance stiffness and dealing with. At the entrance, the deepened fork legs clearly stand out, and the closed drive-side dropouts are a pleasant aero contact. The headtube profile has been narrowed as has the downtube. Whilst the seat tube / seatstay junction and high tube have been strengthened.
The Pace handlebar is new and can come fitted to all seven Aeroad fashions. Two changeable bar drop sections will probably be out there, which I feel is a primary for a highway bike, right me if I’m improper right here Cyclingnews readers.
I’m but to correctly dive into this and check each, however verify again for updates and photos. In brief, there will probably be a ‘basic drop’ choice, pictured on this piece and a flared ‘aero drop’ which Canyon claims supplies a 14-watt saving in testing in an aero place. The aero drop will not be included with an entire bike although and will probably be a £239.95 add-on if you’d like them.
Look intently, some Alpecin riders are utilizing this bar within the Tour proper now. As properly as a unfavourable drop stem that will probably be professional solely I’m advised to assist them get even decrease.
Performance
So simply how does a brand new bike Canyon declare is the quickest within the peloton that is simply been ridden to a few stage wins within the Tour de France trip?
Well, it turned clear just about from the primary trip the Aeroad CFR is a really succesful bike. I used to be capable of get comfy with it virtually immediately. Despite its velocity, this thoroughbred would not appear high-strung or arduous to get on with in any respect.
Two phrases are on the forefront of my ideas when speaking concerning the Aeroad in the meanwhile and that’s stiff and quick. It does really feel stiff below load and when delivering energy, notably at a slower velocity out of the saddle. Is that simply due to what I see once I look down on the backside bracket shell? I don’t assume so. I’ve achieved loads of sprints on the bike, and even set a brand new one-minute energy PB up a brief native climb, which I’m positive the bike helped with to a level when actually placing the ability down.
The dealing with is superb too, to my thoughts. It’s secure at greater speeds and below arduous braking, exact and sharp turning arduous into corners or guiding the bike by means of sweeping bends, no points there for me in anyway.
Hunkered down on the hoods for prolonged stretches or within the drops the bike simply feels fast just about all over the place. I turned up for a neighborhood membership bash on the bike for a tough 30 miles and it was good all over the place, driving arduous on the flat, sprinting, and smashing up brief British climbs, it is simply received you lined and makes you need to trip it arduous on a regular basis.
The bike spec is excessive finish and as you might anticipate, Dura-Ace convey a really excessive degree of efficiency to the desk and the ability meter chainset is included from the off. The DT Swiss 50mm rims are stated to be as quick because the previous Aeroad with deeper 60mm+ wheels, shedding weight and enhancing dealing with in a single go.
There is not any detectable flex that I can really feel within the built-in and adjustable handlebar and it feels rock strong when wrenching on it getting an enormous gear turning. In truth, the built-in options all really feel strong and properly executed, sure there will probably be some preliminary understanding of what sizes you want in case you’re seeking to purchase, however as soon as put in and arrange every little thing works with out situation.
Early verdict
I appear to have clicked properly with the Aeroad from the off and really feel at residence on the bike already. It’s undeniably stiff and quick and urges you on at each flip.
Thus far, it looks like a fast, agile and aggressive race bike that can simply have your again no matter you might be doing. I’ve skilled zero rattles over rougher British roads and there have been no bedding-in points wherever. My solely preliminary niggles are a barely harsh feeling entrance tyre and narrowish rim and the offended bee freehub as talked about. But they’re factors on the spec, nothing to do with the body itself.
Next up in testing will probably be swapping out the handlebars for the aero drops and testing these, hopefully a race or two, washing and dealing on the entrance finish, and a few longer adventures to see if the Aeroad is as sturdy an all-around race bike because it initially appears to be.