Road Dream Machines

2021 BUYER’S GUIDE

GEAR

ROAD DREAM MACHINES

Canyon Aeroad CFR $12,149

With German bike maker Canyon now shipping to Canada, you can get the company’s top-of-the-line aero road bike sent right to your door. The third-generation Aeroad made its debut this past October. The frame is 14 per cent stiffer than its predecessor, as well as 7.4 W faster when cutting through the wind. Also, you don’t have to be as flexible as a pro to enjoy all the bike’s pro features: the new Aeroad frames have a higher stack and shorter reach so they’ll fit a wider range of riders more easily. The saddle clamp that comes with the bike is for 7-mm round rails. If you want to run a saddle with oval carbon rails, you’ll need to get an adapter from the company. Plan ahead so that when the big box with your bike arrives, you’ll have everything you’ll need. If you are comfortable putting wheels on a bike and tightening some bolts with a torque wrench, which Canyon provides, putting the rig together will be a breeze. (canyon.com/en-ca)

No. 22 Aurora $7,200 (frameset)

No. 22’s Aurora won best-in-show at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show back in 2019, and it’s not hard to see why. Canada-based titanium-specialists No. 22 say the Aurora is the company’s smoothest-riding road offering, while still feeling crisp through the corners. The frameset clears a 32c tire and features a T47 threaded bottom bracket. Visually, the Aurora stands out with its one-piece carbon seatmast and abundance of anodized finishing options. It is made-to-order as a frameset. The one pictured was designed around the Campagnolo epS groupset. You can even add No. 22’s elegant coupler system, making your Aurora easier to travel with. (22bicycles.com)

For almost 70 years, Italian outfit De Rosa has handmade road-racing frames. During that time, the company has used carbon, titanium and, most notably, steel. The Corum is De Rosa’s latest tIG-welded racer, offered in 15 stock sizes with custom geometry available. While pro squad Cofidis will be riding De Rosa’s carbon Merak at this year’s Tour de France, the Corum is a modern nod to the steel bikes that gained prominence with the powerhouse Faema team in the 1960s. The Corum is outfitted with a colour-matched stem and carbon fork. It rolls on fSA Metron 40 wheels. The build is rounded out with a Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical groupset. (derosanorthamerica.com)

Factor Ostro VAM

$11,151

Released just before the 2020 Tour de France, the Ostro VAM is Factor’s answer to a quiver-killing race bike. Started in 2007 as an engineering firm working with brands such as Ferrari and Aston Martin, Factor has risen to WorldTour prestige with Israel Start-Up Nation. The race bike introduces a new carbon layup, along with a T47 threaded bottom bracket, resulting in a 780 g frame (in size 54cm). The fork’s wide stance, along with the integrated cockpit, allows for better aerodynamics. Chris Froome may be ambivalent about the disc brakes on this bike, but you’ll find them a boon. Thin seatstays and 32-mm tire clearance ensure a comfortable ride. (factorbikes.com)

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL 7 $15,899

The Specialized Tarmac has spent almost 20 years in the pro peloton. This iteration picks up on that tradition and runs with it. The U.S. brand aims to end the compromises between climbing and aero bikes, spelling an end to its aero-specific Venge model. The latest Tarmac frame has improved aerodynamics through further integration, all while tipping the scales at roughly 800 g. The S-Works spec does not disappoint, a full Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain, rolling on Roval Rapide ClX wheels. The stock Turbo cotton tires are 26c, but the new Tarmac will fit 32c tires just fine. (specialized.com/ca) —Jake Williams