In professional cycling sports, winning or losing are often no more than few milliseconds apart. Alongside the cyclist’s fitness, it is also the design of the bicycle that has an influence on race performance. The Canyon Concept Speedmax is a time trial machine that has been painstakingly optimized to achieve the best possible racing outcome. The intention of the design was to achieve a time trial machine with even better aerodynamics. Following an innovative approach, the handlebars, porch, fork and brakes have been defined as a single formal unity. The various profiles and the formal integration of the newly developed braking system were perfected in extensive wind-tunnel testing. The Concept Speedmax also pushes the material limits of carbon fiber by optimizing its aerodynamic characteristics: the use of high-grade carbon fiber technology allowed the weight of the machine to be reduced to a minimum. However, a true redefinition of a time trial machine does not stop with optimizing the frontal aerodynamics only. The vulnerability of the entire frame-set to side winds was thus reduced by more than 10 per cent. In order to make the Concept Speedmax match the physiognomy of individual riders, the frame-set is available in three sizes. In combination with the highly functional and modular steam handlebar system, this time trial machine makes perfect individualization possible.

designer: artefakt industriekultur
producer: canyon bicycles
award: red dot 2012