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Trade Shows

Cycle Show highlights: new bikes from Boardman, Condor, Kinesis, Whyte, Bianchi, Van Nicholas, Canyon, Cube, Cannondale & KTM

Whether you're into road, cyclo-cross or gravel, there was something for everyone at the Cycle Show

Boardman, Condor, Kinesis and Whyte were among the brands to use the 2017 Cycle Show to launch new bikes and we were there to get the inside tip on the latest machines from the British-based outfits.

On top of that, we spotted new bikes from the likes of Bianchi, Van Nicholas, Cannondale, Canyon, Cube and more, so strap yourself in for a ride through some of the latest model year 2018 machines from some of the biggest brands in cycling.

Boardman prepares to launch ASR ‘all season road’ bikes

Boardman Bikes had two prototype machines on display at the Cycle Show, coming under the moniker ASR – or ‘all season road’.

Boardman’s new ASR – or ‘all season road’ – range is nearly ready for launch

That already tells you plenty about what you can expect from these bikes, but here’s the lowdown. The two bikes, the ASR 8.8 and ASR 8.9, are based around steel frames, with the former getting a 4130 Chromoly chassis and the latter getting an upgrade to Reynolds 725. Both get a carbon fork with a tapered steerer.

The integrated mudguards have reflective decals

Both frames are designed for use with disc brakes and feature rack/mudguard mounts – in fact, mudguards come fitted as standard – and reflective decals. These are machines designed for year-round use – and that includes doing the hard miles through winter.

The flagship ASR 8.9 is made from Reynolds 725 steel tubing

The ASR 8.8 gets a Shimano Sora groupset and TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes, plus Boardman Road Five wheels for £849.99, while the ASR 8.9 is equipped with Shimano 105 and hydraulic disc brakes, along with the same hoops, for £1,299.99.

Condor launches Leggero SL Disc

We gave you the heads up about Condor’s all-new Leggero SL Disc in our Cycle Show preview, and we made a beeline for the London-based brand’s stand at the NEC to see it in the flesh.

New from Condor: the Condor Leggero SL Disc

The Leggero SL, if you’re not familiar, is Condor’s lightweight race frame used by the JLT Condor team. Now it’s available for disc brakes as a sub-900g frame. The frame is based around a race geometry available in six sizes from 46cm to 61cm.

The frameset will set you back £3,499.99, while Condor will offer full builds from £4,699.99 with SRAM Rival 22 or Shimano 105. That said, the sky’s almost the limit with Condor’s online bike builder.

The Condor Bivio adventure bike was launched earlier this year

The Cycle Show also gave us the opportunity to take a closer look at the Condor Bivio, launched earlier this year. The Bivio is Condor’s gravel/adventure bike based around a Custom Columbus Spirit triple-butted steel frame (claimed weight 2,100g) and carbon fork.

You’ll find clearance for 40mm tyres, an oversized 44mm headtube, and mudguard/rack mounts. If you want to put together your own build, the frameset costs £1,199.99, or complete builds start from £1,950.

Kinesis introduces CX1 aluminium cyclo-cross bike

It’s cyclo-cross season and Kinesis is a brand with its head screwed on when it comes to ‘cross. While the range already includes the CXRace Evo and CXRace frames, the CX1 is a new option aimed at the more affordable end of the market.

The CX1 is Kinesis’ new alloy cyclo-cross bike

The aluminium frame will be available for £425, plus an additional £220 for Kinesis’ carbon CXD fork. If you don’t want to put together your own build, this SRAM Rival 1 bike, which arrived at the NEC straight from the factory, will set you back £1,645.

The CX1 is built for versatility, and alongside the disc-ready frame and fork pictured above, there’s also a canti-frame (see the gallery below). Upgrade Bikes’ Rory Hitchens explained that Kinesis’ sponsorship of the Yorkshire Cross Series, and now the London Cross League too, had highlighted the need for such versatility. The CX1 also marks the return of bottle bosses and mudguard/rack mounts following consumer feedback after the launch of the CX Race models, which had shunned them given their focus on being race-ready.

The aluminium Tripster AT is based on Kinesis’ titanium adventure bike

Otherwise, we were also drawn to the Kinesis Tripster AT and Aithein Evo – two more new bikes from the Sussex-based maestros. The Tripster AT was launched back in May as Kinesis’ aluminium adventure bike, building on the success of the titanium Tripster but at a much more wallet-friendly price; £699.99 for the frameset, in fact.

Lezyne has expanded its range of bike-packing bags

We’ve been riding the Tripster AT for a couple of months now, so watch out for a full review on RCUK soon. Otherwise, Kinesis also used the Cycle Show to deck the Tripster AT out in Lezyne’s new bike-packing bags, given an idea of the type of riding – and adventures – possible with this bike. The range now includes the XL Caddy saddle bag (7.5L, $69.99)and Bar Caddy handlebar bag (7L, $49.99) pictured. UK prices TBC.

We first saw the new Kinesis Aithein Evo at Eurobike and it looks just as good second time around

We also got another look at the new Kinesis Aithein Evo, which we first spotted at Eurobike. With a revised geometry, increased tyre clearance and internal cable routing, the Aithein Evo is an update on Kinesis’ popular alloy race bike. Very nice it looks, too.

Whyte Glencoe ‘road plus’ adventure bike breaks cover

You don’t need us to tell you that gravel/adventure bikes are all the rage and Whyte has joined the party with the new Glencoe (yours for £1,299). Jumping on a trend within a trend, the Glencoe is also designed as a ‘road plus’ machine for use with 650b wheels (see also the Genesis Fugio launched earlier the month).

With 650b wheels and ‘road plus’ tyres, the Whyte Glencoe is typical of the next-generation adventure bike

The Glencoe has an aluminium frame at its heart, paired with an alloy fork (though we’d normally expect to see carbon fork blades at this price). The own-brand rims are wrapped in 47mm WTB Horizon tyres; a combination which gives the same rolling circumference as a 700c x 28mm setup, according to Whyte.

These 47c WTB Horizon tyres will take you just about anywhere

You also get a 1×11 drivetrain, which sees a 44-tooth Whyte chainset paired with a SRAM Apex rear mech and 11-42t cassette. TRP’s mechanically-actuated hydraulic HyRd brakes provide the stopping power, while steering inputs are handled by the huge 50cm wide handlebar. With road handlebars typically around 42cm, the extra width here is designed to offer more off-road control.

Bianchi Aria aero bike in the flesh

Moving away from the British brands launching new bikes at the Cycle Show, here’s Bianchi’s entry into the ‘affordable’ aero bike market. The Aria was launched back in June as an aero option that’s easier on the wallet than Bianchi’s top-end Oltre bikes. These things are relative, with this Shimano Ultegra-equipped Aria coming in at £2,650, but the point is you’re saving a chunk of cash compared to the upper echelons of the Bianchi range.

Introducing the Bianchi Aria…

Claimed weight for the carbon frame is 1,150g and the aero features are easy to spot, with deep and sculpted tube profiles, a shallow rear wheel cutaway, and an internal seatpost clamp. The fork and dropped seatstays are also inspired by the Aquila time trial bike, according to Bianchi.

Van Nicholas Skeiron turns heads

Titanium is always sure to turn heads, not least when it’s a Van Nicholas. The Skeiron is described as Van Nic’s ‘most technically-advanced road bike to date’ and is named after the Greek god of the northwest wind.

The Skeiron is Van Nicholas’ latest titanium road bike

A titanium frame is never going to sport the same aerodynamic tube profiles as a wind-cheating carbon fibre machine, but Van Nicholas says the Skeiron’s tubes have been aero-optimised. In truth, that primarily refers to the neatly integrated headtube and fork. The cable routing is slick, too.

The carbon fork neatly integrates with the headtube

Other design touches include the engraved headtube and 3D forged dropouts, while you’ll also find flat-mount disc brakes and a PressFit bottom bracket.

This Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 build will set you back a cool 9,076 euros. The frameset itself is 2,099 euros and Van Nicholas’ online customiser sees builds start at 3,088 euros with Shimano 105.

Canyon gets ‘cross with Inflite CF SLX

Canyon’s Inflite range has been around for a while now, but the aluminium-framed bike has sat somewhere between a cyclo-cross chassis and all-weather road machine. However, while the alloy Inflite remains in the range, Canyon has now got serious about ‘cross with the launch of the Inflite CF SLX.

The Inflite CF SLX is Canyon’s first carbon cyclo-cross bike

We first told you about Canyon’s first carbon fibre cyclo-cross frame in August but, with the ‘cross season upon us, now seems a good time to take another look. The 940g frame is distinctive, to say the least, with a kinked toptube designed to offer a comfortable shouldering position for the bike and to leave more of the seatpost exposed to improve comfort.

Other design features include a steeper downtube angle to provide more clearance between the front tyre and, according to Canyon, tube profiles shaped to shed mud. You’ll also find an integrated, carbon fibre cockpit.

This model comes with a single-ring SRAM drivetrain

The bike pictured here is the range-opening Inflite CF SLX 8.0 Race with a SRAM Rival 1 drivetrain, available for £2,499. There’s also options with Shimano Ultegra and SRAM Force CX1 for £2,899 and £3,599 respectively. Otherwise, the frameset costs £1,799.

Moving on and here’s something altogether different from Canyon. While we focus on drop-handlebar bikes here at RCUK, we couldn’t help but stop and take a look at this super-commuter – the Roadlite CF 9.0 Ltd.

Canyon has launched the carbon fibre Roadlite CF range of pimped out flat-bar bikes

Canyon has take the commuter/fitness bike to the next level with its new Roadlite CF range, based around a super-light 990g carbon fibre frame. Combine that with a SRAM Force 1 single-ring groupset, aero cockpit, DT Swiss ERC 1400 carbon wheels and Canyon’s comfort-boosting VCLS 2.0 seatpost, and this is one of the most pimped-out flat-handlebar bikes we’ve seen.

DT Swiss ERC 1400 wheels and Schwalbe G-One tyres is a winning combination

Overkill? Maybe, but the price is typically compelling at £2,549, while there are also bikes with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (£2,099), Shimano Ultegra Di2 (£1,749) and Shimano 105 (£1,449). For riders who, for whatever reason, can’t have or don’t want a drop-handlebar bike, the new Roadlite CF looks to provide a performance-focussed alternative.

First look at Cube’s NuRoad bikes

Cube launched the NuRoad range a couple of weeks ago so the Cycle Show gave us the first chance to take a look at the German brand’s adventure offering.

Cube’s NuRoad range starts at £999

Head over to our launch story for the full scoop but, in short, the NuRoad is based around a disc-ready aluminium frame with 40mm tyre clearance and three competitively priced spec options.

The cheapest bike, pictured above, comes with a Shimano Sora groupset and mechanical disc brakes for £999. Step up a level and you’ll get upgraded Shimano 105 components and hydraulic disc brakes for £1,299, while the top tier bike comes equipped with mudguards and a rack for an extra £100.

The NuRoad is based around an aluminium frame and carbon fork

The launch of Cube’s NuRoad range also saw the announcement of the German firm’s Cross Race C:62 carbon cyclo-cross bikes. Cube has deployed its top-level C:62 carbon for this frame, and the three-strong range is specced to match.

The Cross Race C:62 is also new from Cube

The Cube Cross Race C:62 SL pictured here gets a SRAM Force 1 drivetrain with hydraulic disc brakes, alongside Newmen components, including the carbon cockpit and Evolution SL R.32 alloy disc wheels. This will set you back £2,499, otherwise there’s a Shimano Ultegra mechanical spec for £2,199 or Shimano Ultegra Di2 build with carbon wheels for £3,799.

Updated Cannondale Synapse takes centre stage

The arrival of Cannondale’s updated Synapse endurance bike has been one of the key launches of 2017. With a redesigned disc-only frame and additional tyre clearance (up to 32mm), the latest Synapse is very much the blueprint of the modern road machine.

Cannondale revamped the Synapse endurance bike earlier this year

The new flagship frame comes in at a claimed 950g, which is 220g lighter than the outgoing chassis, according to Cannondale, while there’s also a second-tier model which tips the scales at 1,110g.

Cannondale says the Synapse’s comfort-boosting SAVE tech has been refined in the chainstays, seatstays and fork to make the latest frame plusher than before, while there’s also a new Synapse-specific handlebar and stem also designed to increase comfort (although that’s not fitted on the bike pictured).

Dura-Ace disc brakes, anyone?

This flagship machine comes with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, a Cannondale HollowGram SL Carbon Disc wheelset and Enve finishing kit for £7,799, though the range starts at £2,199.99.

KTM Revelator Lisse aero bike with Shimano 105

Here’s another look at KTM’s new Revelator Lisse aero bike, first spotted at Eurobike, and this time in its most affordable guise, with Shimano 105.

The KTM Revelator Lisse is available in three builds, starting at £2,599.99 with Shimano 105

The Revelator Lisse is particularly distinctive thanks to it’s stepped seatstays and, at the other end of the bike, the proprietary stem which hides all the cables.

This is a disc-specific aero bike and the 105 build costs £2,599.99. Otherwise there’s the option of a Shimano Ultegra spec for £3,799.99 and a SRAM Red eTap machine for £6,599.99.

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