There were first glimpses of something new brewing from Canyon at this year’s oddly, yet necessarily timed Tour de France. Did that fit right in to its release schedule? We don’t know. What we do know is that a redesign of the highly successful Aeroad is here, now and it was seen there.
Canyon marketers boldly like to say, “[It’s] the pure ambition of a simple goal: to take the unimprovable and make it better. Analyze, optimize, and iterate on every last detail—and put it together perfectly. It’s an art.”
It’s an art they say.
Launched in July 2014, the previous Aeroad mixed a combination of aerodynamics with some comfort. And it was light on the scale unlike some fully aero road bikes. This all-new 2021 version ticks all the artistic marketing boxes: “it’s up to 7.4 watts faster, up to 170 grams lighter and … up to 14-percent stiffer,” says Canyon. And who are we to disagree or challenge with all the testing they did over the last three years of development in close collaboration with aerodynamics experts at Swiss Side and feedback from world-class Canyon-sponsored pro riders Mathieu van der Poel, Alejandro Valverde, Warren Barguil and Lisa Klein?
So far so good.
But What’s This?
Then there’s this, and we really like it. Both the new CFR and and lower priced CF SLX come with a new and unique CP0018 Aerocockpit which features 15 mm of height adjustability without the need to alter steerer tube length. According to Canyon, this lets the rider raise or slam the cockpit easily and quickly as needed depending on a riding scenario. Are you racing, training or riding across the country? Group tri ride or solo mountain climbing day? Additionally, the CP0018 is also width-adjustable, up to 20 mm wider or narrower from the standard bar width as delivered so you can find that just right position for the day ahead. The bike fit geek in me likes this.
There’s one more advantage: the drops can be folded down creating almost no need to remove the handlebar when traveling or boxing up your bike for a road trip.
That is some art right there.
Availability
There are three disc brake only versions available—CF SL (without CP0018), CF SLX and CFR. Aeroad CF SLX and CFR have completely integrated cables and wires, with the CF SL featuring the tried-and-tested cockpit from the current Aeroad R050. The Aeroad CF SL also offers frame size-specific wheel sizing: sizes 2XS and the CF SL-exclusive 3XS roll on 650b wheels. The Aeroad CF SLX and CFR feature 700c wheels across all sizes, up to the largest 2Xl size. In terms of geometry, all three Aeroad platforms are identical.
Canyon USA will carry seven models of the new Aeroad:
Aeroad CF SL 7 Disc: $3,999.00 w/ Shimano 105, Reynolds AR 58/62 DB wheels
Aeroad CF SL 8 Disc: $4,399.00 w/ Shimano Ultegra, Reynolds AR 58/62 DB wheel
Aeroad CF SLX 8 Disc Di2: $5,999.00 w/ Shimano Ultegra Di2, DT Swiss ARC1400 Dicut DB 62 wheels
Aeroad CF SLX 8 Disc AXS: $5,999.00 w/ SRAM Force eTap AXS, DT Swiss ARC1400 Dicut DB 62 wheels
Aeroad CFR Disc Di2: $9,000.00 Shimano Dura Ace Di2 including Power Meter, DT SWISS ARC1100 Dicut DB 62 wheels
Aeroad CFR Disc AXS: $9,000.00 SRAM RED eTap AXS including Power Meter, DT SWISS ARC1100 Dicut DB 62 wheels
Available now at Canyon
Are the prices perhaps mixed up? You wrote that the CFR would be a cheaper option, but in the price list at the end the CFR has both higher price and group sets.
Hey there. Good catch. The pricing is correct. I reversed CFR and CF SLX in the body copy. It has been corrected.