Aero is the trump card: the traditional Italian brand Cinelli has committed itself to this maxim in recent months and developed the Aeroscoop. The blend of avant-garde aero design and traditional lettering seems a little strange at first, as in recent years Cinelli has tended to draw on the brand's cult status and was primarily present in the retro and fixie scene with the iconic winged "C". The classic-looking steel frames from Italian production are still popular. Although Cinelli has also had modern carbon frames in its programme for some time, they have hardly attracted any attention in the market environment with innovative approaches and have remained a marginal phenomenon. The company has not harboured any ambitions in professional sport for decades.
Cinelli Aeroscoop: The brand's fastest road bike?
With the new Aeroscoop, the image of the manufacturer from the greater Milan area is now set to change. According to Cinelli, the new model is the fastest racing bike in the company's more than 75-year history. The most striking detail of the frameset can be found on the rear triangle, where an eye-catching window has been cut into the flat junction between the seat stays and seat tube. The Italians refer to the design as the "Double Arm Seat Stay Design", which is intended to direct the airflow around the rear triangle like two wings. However, the filigree front probably has more influence on the remarkably good aerodynamics: The head tube has a concave shape and the lower down tube nestles around the front wheel.
Aero performance and weight
The full aero potential is utilised by a tuned version that was made available to us for the test: With flat aero wheels from Columbus and the flow-optimised front tyre from Continental, it also teases out every watt of performance from the equipment. We were therefore particularly keen to see the results of the wind tunnel test. The Aeroscoop did not disappoint: 207 watts were needed to overcome its own drag at racing speed in the set-up shown. The top version of the Cinelli thus ranks just behind the popular aero flounders. Scott Foil RC Ultimate (203 watts), Canyon Aeroad CFR (204 watts) and Colnago Y1Rs (204 watts).
As a fast race all-rounder, the Aeroscoop does not disregard the overall weight. Our test bike weighs 7.2 kilograms on the laboratory scales. The Cinelli thus reaches the level of the aerodynamically optimised models from Canyon or Storck, but is still some way off the similarly fast Scott Foil, which weighs in at 6.9 kilograms thanks to its super-light full carbon wheels. The Cinelli is also helped by carbon spokes in the in-house Columbus wheels; the currently available series builds with Fulcrum wheels are likely to weigh around 200 grams more. A true race all-rounder like the Specialised S-Works Tarmac SL 8 (6.6 kilos; 209 watts), which strive for the balancing act of low weight and high speed, save several hundred grams compared to the Aeroscoop.
But enough theory, now to the riding impression. The Aeroscoop has a compact racing feel, but the geometry is not extreme. The handlebars are only 360 millimetres narrow, which fits in with the demands of a modern aero racer. A special feature is the shape of the lower handlebar: the flattened side tube with a finger recess at the front sits extremely well in the hand and provides a secure grip during sprints. Because the drop is low, riding in the aerodynamic lower link position is comfortable even over longer periods of time. On the road, thanks to the very light wheels with carbon spokes, the bike converts the energy input into speed well and keeps up the pace well when travelling straight ahead.
Little comfort
Unfortunately, the test ride also quickly reveals that riding comfort is not the racy Italian's strong point. Poor surfaces are noticeable on the saddle, and the impression is confirmed in the laboratory on the comfort test bench: here, too, the multiple braced rear triangle and the flat aero seat post hardly provide any suspension. The only thing that could be improved would be the tyres; after all, Cinelli allows the frame to be fitted with tyres up to 34 millimetres wide. Heavy and powerful riders might also wish for a more torsionally stiff frameset, as the Cinelli is somewhat imprecise when cornering at speed. The reasons for this are provided by the stiffness measurements in the TOUR lab, where the Aeroscoop also reveals weaknesses and loses a few points.
The frameset is a long way from the stiffness level of modern road bike frames, both in the front area, which is responsible for directional stability and stability in fast corners, and in the bottom bracket, which sprinters in particular are likely to notice during powerful acceleration. The values are not critical for light riders, but they do spoil the Aeroscoop's overall rating.
So the Aeroscoop is not yet the big hit. It is true that the Italians have put a very uniquely designed speedster on its wheels, which with its UDH derailleur hanger and threaded T47 bottom bracket is also state of the art in terms of detail and offers quite remarkable performance in the core disciplines of aerodynamics and weight. However, the established competition has already shown that good riding comfort and sufficient stiffness values for all requirements are not mutually exclusive with these characteristics. There is also room for improvement in the details: despite significantly increased torque and a lot of carbon paste, the saddle on the test bike could not be fixed in such a way that it remained in position over potholes.
Prices and equipment
Compared to other traditional Italian brands, the new top model is not overly expensive. Cinelli offers five complete bike options for the Aeroscoop between 6000 and 10,700 euros. All configurations come with electronic shifting technology from Campagnolo, Shimano or SRAM. The frame cannot be fitted with mechanical gears. The cheapest versions with Ultegra Di2 and 105 Di2 are equipped with aluminium wheels from Fulcrum, while the versions with Dura-Ace Di2, Red AXS and Super Record WRL are fitted with Fulcrum Wind carbon wheels. The standard versions are also all fitted with reasonably priced Vittoria tyres. A version with the Columbus wheels shown, which play a key role in the Aeroscoop's good performance and top aerodynamics, is due to follow in spring 2026. The frame set for self-assembly including the seat post and the Columbus handlebar unit, which is also fitted to all complete bikes, is already available, albeit for a relatively expensive 4500 euros. In addition to five frame sizes, there are two colour options to choose from in all equipment variants.
The most important information about the Cinelli Aeroscoop
- Price: 9990 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel: 7.2 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL (test size greased)
- TOUR grade: 2,4
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 540/565/160 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 570/389 millimetres/1.47
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 621/569 millimetres/1.09
- Wheelbase: 1000 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Dura-Ace (52/36, 11-30 t.) | Shimano Dura-Ace (52/36, 11-30 t.) Grade: 1.0
- Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace (160/140 mm) | Grade: 1.5
- Tyres: Continental Aero 111/Grand Prix 5000 (29/28 mm) | Grade: 1.0
- Impellers: Columbus Cento 62 C
- Impeller weights: 1218/1521 grams (front/rear)
Measured values
- Weight of complete wheel: 7230 grammes | Grade: 2 ,3
- Aerodynamics: 207 Watt | Grade: 1.3
- Driving stability: 5.5 N/mm | Grade: 3.3
- Rear comfort: 283 N/mm | Grade: 4.7
- Comfort front: 87 N/mm | Grade: 2.3
- Ride/ bottom bracket stiffness: 42 N/mm | Grade: 4.0
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Good Aro performance
- Relatively light
Disadvantages
- Relatively uncomfortable
- Not very stable on the road
Jens Klötzer
Editor
