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Ten years ago, a cyclocross bike was the first choice if you wanted to ride your road bike along a dirt track. Because there was as much interest in them then as there is now, almost every bike manufacturer had one in their range, many of which were prepared for everyday use, with wide gear ratios, comfortable geometries and preparations for mudguards and pannier racks. These were basically the forerunners of today's gravel bikes, which had little in common with the competition bikes of the pros apart from the name and tyres. In this respect, the gravel bike as a category is already a gain because it offers better orientation in the market. The cyclocross road bike slipped back into its competition niche, and today only a few manufacturers still serve this segment at all.
Canyon Inflite: Cyclocross bike from Mathieu van der Poel
One of them is Canyon from Koblenz, which equips six-time cross-country world champion Mathieu van der Poel, a particularly prominent cross-country pro, with the Inflite. Looking at the lab results, the bike does everything right: it is light, sufficiently stiff and comfortable, and the light wheels in particular stand out; it weighs 800 grams less than the equally expensive Giant. The score of 1.8 is sensationally good for a bike with the affordable Sram Rival component group. From the very first few metres, it becomes clear how different the concept is from the other two. The riding position is extremely sporty, the steering reacts spontaneously to every little movement.
This is an advantage on tight and technical courses and is fun straight away. On leisurely tours with longer straight sections, however, the pleasure soon becomes a burden and the nervous handling becomes annoying in the long run. Rough terrain also requires a lot of concentration and a good grip, as the bike can be knocked off course by every pebble. The tyres, which are limited in width by the regulations, seem almost absurdly narrow for today's off-road conditions; the high pressure required to prevent punctures is not conducive to riding safety. Even at high speeds on the road, the tyres lack smoothness. The higher centre of gravity is noticeable when cornering at speed - the bottom bracket is almost two centimetres higher than on the Giant and Parlee to avoid contact with the cranks and chainring.
Cyclocross bikes: perfectly tuned
That sounds like complaining, but basically the Canyon is an excellent bike - for the purpose for which it is intended. The gearing with a single crankset and road bike cassette, which only covers a narrow speed range but is very finely tuned, is also suitable. Easy uphill gears and fast roller gears are completely absent, which limits its suitability for touring enormously. The lack of eyelets for mudguards or luggage is only mentioned for the sake of completeness.
Cyclocross enthusiasts will be less bothered by this than pleased, as will the distinctive kink in the top tube, which is more than just recognisable. It is specifically shaped so that the bike is easy to shoulder and carry when walking over obstacles such as stairs or barriers. The fact that the cross bike has been so thoroughly displaced by the gravel bike is also a good thing: cross-country bikes have never been as well adapted to their discipline as they are today.
The Canyon Inflite CF SLX 7 in detail
- Price: 4499 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel: 8.1 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL (test size greased)
- TOUR grade: 1,8
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 537/565/147 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 583/389 millimetres/1.50
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 633/557 millimetres/1.14
- Wheelbase/caster: 1015/64 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Rival AXS (1x12; 40, 10-36 t.) | Grade: 2.0
- Brakes: SRAM Rival (160/140 mm) | Grade: 1.5
- Tyres: Schwalbe X-One R 33 mm (eff.: 33 mm) | Grade: 1.0
- Impellers: DT Swiss CRC 1600 Spline
- Impeller weights: 1467/1864 grams (front/rear)
Measured values
- Driving stability: 8.24 N/mm | Grade: 1.7
- Rear comfort: 123 N/mm | Grade: 2.0
- Comfort front: 74 N/mm | Grade: 2.0
- Ride/ bottom bracket stiffness: 59 N/mm | Grade: 1.3
Strengths and weaknesses
- Plus: light, manoeuvrable handling, lively acceleration
- Minus: Limited transmission range, narrow tyres, nervous straight-line stability
Cyclocross bikes: 3 alternatives to the Canyon Inflite
Cervélo R5 CX
The R5 CX was developed for and with three-time cross world champion Wout van Aert and impresses with its low weight and playful handling. However, the customer base will remain limited due to the price alone: The cheapest version with SRAM Force AXS already costs almost 10,000 euros.
Cube Cross Race
Cube is one of the few manufacturers that still offers a wide range of cross bikes, including affordable models. The Cross Race is available in six variants and two carbon qualities from 2499 euros to 6499 euros >> available here.
Stevens Super Prestige
The Hamburg-based company has a wealth of World Cup experience in this bike. Three variants from 3299 to 4399 are available, and the bike can also be customised in the modular system. The frame set costs 1999 euros. With the Vapor, the portfolio also includes an aluminium crosser, which is available from 2299 euros.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
