It has always been said that an aero bike is not ideal for climbing mountain passes. However, the Canyon Aeroad breaks this myth. Of all the road bikes I have tested, none have given me the feeling of happiness that this one offers. And, literally, we are talking about a high-performance road bike, almost like an airplane. It is a bike that, without sacrificing comfort, is fast, agile when changing pace, and also has a very attractive design. The Canyon Aeroad is the road bike with which Alejandro Valverde was crowned Road Cycling World Champion in 2018. This road bike from Canyon is ideal for those seeking speed and performance on their rides.
If you are looking for a model that also adapts to mountain biking, Canyon also has excellent options that combine quality and technology for any terrain.
Racing, but not uncomfortable
I've ridden a little over 2000km with it in two months, and every day I feel more comfortable and like it more, even though the colors can get tiring. Aesthetically, I prefer the matte black version without a doubt, although the gray one has its appeal. The first thing I felt when I got on for the first time is that the top tube is longer than that of the versatile Canyon Endurace I used before. It also has shorter chainstays that create a rather strange racing position at first. But it is not uncomfortable for those who are used to riding on the road. It is true that I don't think I would have found it so pleasant years ago when I started road cycling, since the position is much more inclined than on a gran fondo bike, and therefore it can be more uncomfortable if your body is not adapted to the road.
An aero you don't get tired of
The Canyon Aeroad has an aero-type frame. It may remind you a bit of other best-selling bikes of this type like the Merida Reacto, the BMC Timemachine, or even a hybrid between Specialized Tarmac and Venge. But always with more elegant lines, and without abrupt edges or stays that are too thin. This frame is designed, in addition to being aerodynamic, for enjoyment. When we talk about user enjoyment, we don't mean going fast, breaking PRs on Strava or grabbing a KOM. We are talking about enjoying looking at it, and not getting tired of its appearance. Bikes like the Trek Madone can end up tiring their owner, given how aggressive their design is. In this regard, it is worth mentioning the Pinarello designs, which generate as many fans as detractors. To each their own... bike frames.
Sensations riding with wind
The frame, as a good aero, reduces its thickness on the transverse axis, to carry the material on the vertical axis, and thus be able to face wind resistance more effectively. This behavior in the wind was precisely something that surprised me. I had never tried an aero bike with a lot of wind. And the truth is, with gusts of more than 25km/h, the sensation the air produces on the frame and the high-profile wheels is that you're going to fall. It's true that you quickly get used to riding in these conditions and it's not a big problem once you've done a few routes, but it's still a feeling that impresses at first, especially when the wind is lateral and appears by surprise (for example, when a wall ends).
Taking an aero up mountain passes
The model I tested is the Canyon Aeroad CF 8.0 Di2. It comes standard with the complete Shimano Ultegra 8000 group and 8010 brakes. The gearing is 52-36 on the chainrings and 11-28 on the cassette. Honestly, I felt very comfortable, although the 28-tooth sprocket can fall short on ramps over 10%. With this bike, I climbed tough passes in summer, like El Acebo, El Connio, Bandujo, etc. These are mountain roads that require power at certain moments of the climb, but above all cadence, and here the setup of the Aeroad is a bit lacking. Nothing that can't be solved with an 11-30 cassette, which wouldn't require a chain change.
The most comfortable handlebar I've tried
One component I didn't like is the S27 seatpost clamp. To be honest, it causes problems when it comes to securing it reliably, as it slips down a bit if you don't reach the 5nm torque recommended by the manufacturer. Never forget to apply special grease for carbon seatposts, as it will help prevent slippage as well as annoying creaks. What really made me fall in love with this model is the Canyon H36 integrated handlebar and stem. The grip both in the drops and on the hoods is simply sensational. Although you might miss a larger taped grip surface on the tops. In any case, I think it's the most comfortable handlebar I've tried.
The speed test
If I have to highlight something about this Canyon Aeroad, it would be the speed. We're talking about increasing the average speed by around 2km/h. Until Canyon lent me this model for testing, I was riding a Canyon Endurace CF 8.0 Disc. A few days after switching to the Aeroad, I decided to do a field test to evaluate how fast it was. The speed test consisted of a route at an average of 140 bpm, with about 190W (according to Strava) and 52 kilometers covered with 650 meters of accumulated positive elevation. The result was as follows:
- With the Canyon Endurace: 26.4 km/h with 48mm profile wheels and a total weight of 7.90 kg.
- With the Canyon Aeroad: 28.1 km/h with 62mm profile wheels and a total weight of 7.30 kg.
An extra point for aero bikes is their agility. They are extremely responsive, although not immediately. A climbing bike, such as a MMR Adrenaline or the same Canyon Ultimate, is very, very agile. With the Canyon Aeroad, as soon as you get on the pedals and apply power, it takes off. Aero bikes don't respond the same way. However, they do achieve very good speed in the next 5-10 seconds after the start of the change in pace. It's a strange feeling, but really impressive.
Aero, but versatile
It is always said: “An aero for climbing mountain passes? Come on!” Well, nothing could be further from the truth. Manufacturers know the market and their users. They know that the target audience values aesthetics, but they want bikes for all terrains, versatile bikes. The Canyon Aeroad is just that, except for the exaggerated rim profile it comes with as standard (let's be honest, it's not that dramatic). In the last few weeks I have climbed the Connio, La Cubilla, El Acebo, San Lorenzo and La Farrapona passes with this model. Passes with slopes reaching 20%, and I have not been left behind.
Conclusions about the Canyon Aeroad
If your thing is only climbing mountain passes, the Canyon Aeroad is probably not your bike. But if you are looking for a fast and versatile bike, and the racing-type position is not uncomfortable for you, this bike will make you enjoy it even more. It is very comfortable and very, very stiff, and with the right wheels -like the Nesta Volens 4.0 we recently tested- it becomes a bike to tackle any climb.
Tuvalum Team
