Test 2017: Production version Canyon Speedmax CF SLX in the wind tunnel - Ironman Hawaii: Jan Frodeno's winning bike in detail

Kona, 9 October 2016: exhausted but happy, Jan Frodeno staggers across the finish line of the legendary Ironman Hawaii after 8:06:30 hours. It is the 35-year-old's second consecutive victory in the world's most famous triathlon. The Cologne-born cyclist spent more than half the time of this competition, exactly 4:29:00 hours, on his time trial bike: a Speedmax CF SLX from Canyon. Overall, this is "Frodo's" fourth success in a long-distance triathlon on this model since July 2015.

People close to Frodeno describe him as a perfectionist who looks for even the smallest technical advantage that promises a time gain. The fact that the Koblenz-based company could guarantee him a fast bike was therefore a decisive factor in his decision to switch to Canyon two years ago. The Speedmax CF SLX was not yet on the market at the time. However, the development was as good as complete, except for the details. And what Frodeno was promised simply had to please the material freak. The Speedmax CF SLX was more consistently and uncompromisingly tailored to the needs of triathletes than any time trial bike that had been available to date.

Canyon had already caused a stir in the time trial scene with the predecessor Speedmax CF Evo from 2012. The formal integration of the frame, handlebars, brakes and seatpost set new standards at the time. The bike was also good aerodynamically. In our wind tunnel test in TOUR 6/2013, it was only a blink of an eye behind the test winner Cervélo P5. Nevertheless, Canyon still saw plenty of potential for optimisation.

Development under the opposite sign

While working on the Speedmax CF Evo, the development team led by engineer Wolfgang Kohl had already realised that the bike had a decisive shortcoming: like most time trial bikes, the Speedmax CF Evo was primarily developed for races in accordance with UCI regulations. At first glance, this seemed logical, as Canyon equipped a major professional road cycling team for the first time in the 2012 season: the Russian team Katyusha. However, with its design for professional cyclists, the bike was basically developed without its most important target group in mind. This is because time trial bikes are bought almost exclusively by triathletes - and they are not bound by the strict regulations of the World Cycling Union regarding the seating position. In plain language: triathletes are allowed to ride completely different bikes than professional cyclists. "That's why we developed the Speedmax CF SLX under a different premise than its predecessor.

It is first and foremost a bike for triathletes that can also be ridden in UCI time trials - and not the other way round," explains Kohl. This approach is particularly recognisable in the hydration system perfectly integrated between the armrests and the form-fitting storage box, from which the rider can stock up on bars and gels on the go. Both parts were developed together with the specialist Profile Design from the USA. The highlight of the add-on parts is that athletes can store all the things they carry with them in competition - and which often impair aerodynamics - on the Speedmax CF SLX without compromising aerodynamics. As soon as the parts are removed, which is very easy, the bike is UCI-compliant.

Help from the UCI

When designing for both time trial worlds, developer Wolfgang Kohl was helped by the fact that the UCI revised the specifications for time trial bikes in 2014. Since then, professional cyclists have been allowed to push the saddle forward to the height of the bottom bracket under certain circumstances; previously, the tip of the saddle had to be at least five centimetres behind the bottom bracket. This is why many time trial bikes have a relatively flat seat angle, which triathletes, who like to sit further forward above the bottom bracket than racing cyclists, do not like. They often only find their position with special seat posts that are cranked forwards. The average seat angle of the Speedmax CF SLX is a comparatively steep 78.5 degrees across the three available frame sizes. However, thanks to the enormous horizontal adjustment range of the two available seat posts, which totals 110 millimetres, significantly steeper angles can be achieved - as well as slacker ones for UCI-compliant settings.

Another striking change compared to the previous model was that Kohl and his team moved the front brake in front of the fork. On the old Speedmax, it was located behind the fork crown. The new position makes the brake easier to access and adjust. Because it is wider and has better bearings at the pivot points, it is more powerful than before and can be better controlled. The aerodynamic panelling of the front brake proved to be a particular design challenge - the most complex component of the entire bike, according to Kohl. "We spent a long time looking for a manufacturer in Asia who could produce the cover for us with the necessary precision. In the end, we ended up with a specialist for injection-moulded plastic parts in Dresden, who now produces the covers for both brakes," says Kohl.

The fact that the Speedmax CF SLX is a very fast bike is proven by our wind tunnel test of a production version (. However, it is not possible to quantify exactly how much the bike contributed to Frodeno's triumph. It's by no means the case that Frodeno is running his competitors into the ground on the bike. In Hawaii, he "only" achieved the eighth-fastest bike time this time. However, as an excellent runner, Frodeno can afford to hold back on the bike and conserve his strength for the final marathon run. But a fast bike also helps him here, as he would have to expend more energy to achieve the same time on a bike with poorer aerodynamics. And in a race with a close finish, this can be the deciding factor in the end.

The Speedmax CF SLX by Jan Frodeno in detail

The Speedmax CF SLX in the wind tunnel (series version)

When Jan Frodeno's winning streak on the Speedmax CF SLX began in summer 2015, the model wasn't even on the market yet. The bike has only been on sale since last spring. Canyon currently only offers the model in two comparatively affordable versions with Ultegra Di2 gears from Shimano (from €5,499). Like the entire road bike industry, the Koblenz-based direct distributor is waiting for Shimano to start delivering the new Dura-Ace Di2 groupset in January 2017. The Speedmax CF SLX will then be available in three further variants. The test bike in the middle of the three available frame sizes with the "old" Dura-Ace Di2 and 404/808 NSW wheels from Zipp, which Canyon provided us with for an initial wind tunnel test, is already sold out. We have therefore decided not to carry out a full test including stiffness measurements for the time being.

Nevertheless, the wind tunnel test, which we carried out in the GST wind tunnel using the familiar setup with the dummy developed by TOUR with movable legs, provides interesting insights into the aerodynamic quality of the Speedmax CF SLX. Compared to the last test of time trial bikes (TOUR 6/2013), the bike is on a par with the then test winner Cervélo P5 with 191.5 watts at 45 km/h, although the wheels differ (Speedmax CF SLX: Zipp 404/808 NSW; P5: Zipp 808/808 Firecrest; both with Grand Prix TT tyres from Continental).

Compared to the old Speedmax CF Evo, which was just behind the P5 in second place in 2013, the new model has definitely improved aerodynamically. With a disc wheel and higher rim on the front wheel, the bike would probably make another leap forward. It is worth noting that the measurement was carried out with the hydration system and storage box for bars and gels mounted on the top tube. Without attachments - i.e. in UCI-compliant trim - the Speedmax CF SLX is only 0.5 watts faster. As promised by Canyon, the storage space is indeed aerodynamically neutral, which underlines the good work of the developers. We will provide a full review of the Speedmax CF SLX when the versions with the new Dura-Ace Di2 are available.