Just in: Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 6.0

There are seven models in the Aeroad range, priced from £2,699 of the bike pictured here, right up to £6,699, including a frameset costing £2,299 if you want to build your own bike. We’ve got the cheapest model in for review, which packs a full Shimano Ultegra groupset with Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon Exalith wheels. You might say it’s aero on a budget.

We previously tested the Aeroad with Di2 when it was first launched all of two years ago, but keen to see how the performance filters down the range when your budget is more restricted, we’ve got this entry-level model in for review. Before it hits the road, here’s an overview of the key details. 

The Aeroad ushered in a big makeover for Canyon’s aero road bike when it was launched at the Tour de France in 2014. It hasn’t changed since (though there is a disc version in the pipeline) and features a frame that has been heavily influenced by the company’s Speedmax time trial bike. The Trident 2.0 tube profile, used for the down tube, seat tube and seatpost, is wider at the rear and shorter than the Speedmax tube profile it’s based on, to make greater aero gains at the lower speeds involved in road racing.

Canyon has also used a tapered head tube with 1 1/4in top bearing and especially narrow Acros headset bearings to reduce the width of the front of the frame, to keep it as narrow as possible. Of course, all cables are internally routed and the seat clamp bolt is tucked away inside the top tube, and there's a pressfit bottom bracket.

This bike gets a full Shimano Ultegra 11-speed groupset, a solid workhorse of the Japanese company's groupset range. This one has an excellent 52/36 chainset, it's ideal for bridging the gap between road races and regular riding.

One of the big changes to the Aeroad is the adoption of Shimano’s direct mount brake standard, with a pair of bolts fixing the brake to the frame. Canyon has fitted Ultegra brake calipers. 

- The fastest aero road bikes

An aero frame really needs deep-section wheels, and Mavic’s Cosmic Pro Carbon Exalith wheels meet that brief. It features a 52mm rim comprised of a carbon fibre fairing fixed to an aluminium rim, with the French company’s unique Exalith brake track. 

They’re a £1,150 wheelset which only helps to make the Canyon look even better value for money. Yes, they’re not the lightest at 1,695g for the pair, but you do get the durability and braking performance of the Exalith braking track. A set of Mavic’s own Yksion Pro Griplink and Powerlink tyres in 25mm width complete the wheelset package. Here's your complete guide to Mavic road wheels.

Where this model differs from the more expensive versions higher up the range is that you don’t get Canyon’s fancy one-piece carbon fibre handlebar and stem. Instead, it’s a Canyon own-brand aluminium stem and handlebar, which does have the benefit of being able to let you very easily customise the fit of the bike, if you do end up sacrificing some aero performance. A Fizik Arione R5 saddle completes the build. 

- Canyon’s new Aeroad Disc road bike revealed

The Aeroad is available in a pretty generous seven sizes. We have a size medium for testing which has a 560mm top tube and 147mm head tube, a 989mm wheelbase and a 551mm stack and 397mm reach. It came fitted with an 110mm stem and 410mm wide handlebars.

Aero frames used to carry quite the weight penalty, but at 960g, the Aeroad frame is a competitive weight. The pictured bike weighs in at 7.31kg (16.11lb), that’s comparable to quite a few non-aero road bikes of a similar specification and price.

What of the rivals?

Canyon has made a name for itself for its value for money, but Giant might want to contest that. It will sell you this Propel Advanced 0 for £2,499 which gets you a carbon aero frame with Shimano Ultegra Di2 and Giant’s own aero wheels. 

You can get a Cervelo S3 Ultegra for £3,199 which is another race-proven bike. Or there’s the Boardman Elite Air 9.2, which costs £2,799 and offers Shimano Dura-Ace shifters and mechs with an FSA carbon chainset and shallow aero wheels. 

- 10 of the best Shimano Ultegra-equipped road bikes