Canyon launched the Aeroad platform back in 2011. It was ahead of the curve and before aero was a colloquial term within the cycling community. Sinceℱ then, it has been updated and revised with the general silhouette of the bike retaining some of its original DNA.
A new aero cockpi🍨t is one of the headline additions as well as the frameset receiving an increase in tyre clearance up toꦺ 32mm.
The fourth generation Aeroad has been designed to be lived with, from the increased 32mm tyre clearance🌠 to the bolts used throughout. (Image credit: Canyon)
Now in its fourth generation Canyon has worked on the Aeroad with the aim of making it the fastest aero bike inside the professional peloton. In the pꦚress release issued ahead of the bike’s launch Canyon said, “The design of the new Aeroad builds on that of its predecessor with sharper, leaner, more aggressive elements in line with our performance objectives.”
“The 🥃entire frameset has been refined and reinforced with tube profiles optimised according to their role in the overall aerodynamic, stiffness, lightness and compliance equation.”
Pace Bar
A lot of the aerodynamic improvements of the ne🍬w Aeroad come courtesy of a new integrated aero cockไpit that Canyon has dubbed the Pace Bar. This uses the existing adjustable handlebar concept that was first used on the previous generation Aeroad but takes things one step further.
With the Pace Bar riders have the choice of two profiles of drops, either a classic parallel design or a more modern flared aero bar. Canyon is confident that for riders looking to swap between the two, the job can b𓆉e done in a matter of minutes without the need to disconnect the hydraulic brake hoses.
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The Classic Drop sports the tried and tested 130mm deep drop found on the CP0018 aero cockpit fou🦄nd on the previous generat🧸ion Aeroad CF SLX and CFR models. The Aero Drops lean into the inward-pointing lever trend that riders are adopting to maximise rider aerodynamics.
The Pace Bar can be swapped between stanꦰdard parallel drops or🏅 flared drops (Image credit: Canyon)
When compared to the Classic Drops, the Aero Drops narrow the width of the levers by 20mm before fla🍸ring out at a 19º angle to the base of the drops where they return to a parallel profile. The drop has been reduced by 25mm in comparison to the Classic Drops to make it easier to get lower, and the decreased width is compensated for by 10mm additional reach to the shifters.
Canyon tested the Aero Drops in the wind tunnel and ve♐lodrome with multiple riders and found that the Aero Drops offered up to a 14-watt saving, courtesy of the narr🌸ower hand position that they enable.
The central 'Gear Groove' mounting point also allows the fitmentꦜ of an aftermarket time trial extension add on, for anyone lo❀oking to take the Aeroad into battle against the clock.
Servicing and durability
Canyon has updatedꦉ the design of the Aeroad not only to be fast through the wind but also to be easy to live with and service. A move to Torx bolts across the board aims to prevent bolts from rounding, and the range-topping CFR model also comes fitted with a full complement of titanium bolts to remove the potential for corrosion - through sweat or rain - and seizedꦫ bolts.
Racℱe bikes are also ridden in all conditions and on all sorts of surfaces, to increase the bike's durability Canyon has updated the crown race of the fork wiꦡth a titanium unit, to increase abrasion resistance.
The CFR models get hybrid ceramic bearings whilst the CF SLX range get stai🥃nless steel headset bearing. Both ranges use a titanium crown race to reduce abrasion. (Image credit: Canyon)
For second-tier SLX models, stainless steel headset bearings have been stocked whereas on the flagship C🐈FR, ceramic hybrid bearings🦹 are used. To further protect the headset bearings from road spray, dirt and detritus, double-lipped seals on the lower bearing and a larger, better-fitting seal on the upper bearing are fitted.
The "fastest bike in the peloton"
In Canyon’s own wind tunnel testing, it found that the new Aeroad outperformed t😼he previous generation Aeroad as well as its nearest competition, which Canyon identified as the Cervélo S5 and Specialized Tarmac SL8.
T𓄧he testing was carried out at the GST Wind Tunnel, used a 🌼simulated speed of 45 km/h, and found that the new Aeroad offered a saving of around 2.5 watts over the S5, with the Tarmac SL8 coming in even further adrift.
Canyon claims 🔯that a size medium Aeroad CFR comes in at 7.07kg making it a respectably light aero plaꦕtform.
The new Aeroad range in brief
The CFR, CF SLX 7 and CF SLX 8 all are available with either a SRAM or 🤪Shimano groupset depending on preference. (Image credit: Canyon)
The new Aeroad is available in two ranges with the flagship CFR coming in two builds and🐟 the CF SLX in four.
The CFR Di2 model comes with Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 💯groupset and retails for €9,999 whilst the SRAM Red AXS model comes in at €10,💮499.
The CF SL♓X range gets two models in the CF SLX 7 an🎉d 8. The CF SLX 7 is available with either Shimano’s 105 Di2 groupset (€4,199) or SRAM’s Rival AXS offering €4,799).
The CF SLX 8 steps things up a notch on the groupset frontꦓ shipping with either Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 groupset (€6,499) or SRAM’🐻s Force AXS (€6,999).
All bik🅠es except the CF SLX 7 Di2 model ship with a power meter as standard.
