Canyon has expanded into head protection with the launch of two new high-end race helmets, the Disruptr CFR and Stingr CFR. Designed for elite road, cross-country, marathon and gravel racing, these helmets incorporate the innovative HighBar chin strap closure system that we first spotted in February, and got up close and personal with back in April.
The CFR (Canyon Factory Racing) line represents the pinnacle of Canyon’s research and development, and as such, the new helmets come with a host of performance claims in the form of watts saved and seconds shaved. Canyon attributes many of those to the HighBar system, which comes with the promise of aerodynamic gains thanks to the ‘mono-strap’ that does away with the additional bits of strap often left flapping on a traditional Y-strapped lid.
The brand says its wind tunnel tests have demonstrated that helmets with the HighBar system can save up to 7 watts at 50kph and 10-20 watts at speeds of 60-70kph. This means that over a 100km distance, you’d be 30 seconds faster according to Canyon. As most of us will rarely hit those speeds, you’d probably also need to be either a professional cyclist or a fictitious London commuter to benefit. Unfortunately, Canyon hasn’t supplied any data to show watt savings at more sedate speeds, but we’ll update if we do get any more info.
Aero gains are not the only ones attributed to the new helmet – the HighBar system is also said to aid temperature regulation, keeping riders up to 4.8 degrees cooler than traditional designs, and the side arms “can also reduce sound levels at the ears significantly (6-7.5dB) compared to conventional helmet straps”.
As we touched on in our initial story about the HighBar system, you do need to keep the arms of your sunglasses inside the chin strap with the HighBar, which may offend some traditionalists.
Models and availability
The Disruptr CFR is designed for high-intensity efforts, and has more ventilation. There are three colourways available: white, black and grey. The helmet also features an integrated magnetic port for a Canyon rear light at the back, though that will cost you £28.95 extra. The light comes with five modes and up to 30 hours of runtime, and it is also available in white, black or grey colourways.
The Stingr CFR loses some of those vents for a more closed, aero helmet design, engineered to slice through the air without sacrificing cooling. It’s available in white and black.
Both helmets are priced at £289.95, feature the Mips Air Node crash protection system and weigh in at a claimed 275g each in a size medium.
The helmets are available to buy on Canyon’s website now.
16 thoughts on “Canyon officially unveils new CFR helmets with HighBar chin strap system that can save you up to 20 watts… at 60-70km/h”
Will it help me get up to 60
Will it help me get up to 60-70kph first or does it only activate itself once at cruising speed?
You will be going faster,
You will be going faster, less weight in wallet after buying one
Any press releases from the
Any press releases from the Bank of England to say how many watts the loss of 15 Twenties will gain?
( It occurs to me that I could quit pedalling if I spent enough cash based on all the ‘watts saved’ claims in RoadCC articles.)
I would be doing 70kmh to get
I would be doing 70kmh to get away from my wife when she found out I spent nearly £300 on a plastic hat.
Here’s one to get your head
Here’s one to get your head around. While the watt saving will be less at lower speed, the time saving may actually be greater.
This is because the slower you go, the longer you take to cover the distance, so while the power savings in absolute terms drop, the savings actually have a greater impact in terms of absolute time saved.
Whether as a slower rider you care about those time savings is a different question, but they will exist. Indeed, with wheels and frames the impact is even greater, as with deep wheels the sailing effect will be larger at slower speed than higher speeds.
Go listen to the Performance Process podcast episodes with JP Ballard where I’m pretty sure this is covered at some point.
Yes, there are some
Yes, there are some interesting calculations in the maths, and it works out really close to the same time savings. So a pro might save 30 seconds in 100 km and win a time trial, whereas I will save the same 30 seconds on a 100 km, five hours moving day of loaded touring, also known as nothing worth thinking about.
That 30 seconds might get you
That 30 seconds might get you to the bar in the pub first…more expense!
Wait until you hear what it
Wait until you hear what it can do when you reach 88mph…
Perfect timing. I’ve just
Perfect timing. I’ve just bought a new helmet to replace one that has become old and manky from many years of use. By the time my new one is similarly old and manky, this chin strap system will either have dropped to a more reasonable price, or become a long-forgotten fad.
I think I’d have seen Van der
I think I’d have seen Van der Poel et al. wearing one if it could really save you 20w.
All the Canyon sponsored
Both the main Canyon sponsored teams/riders seem to use Abus helmets (Alpacin Deceuninck/Fenix Deceuninck and Movistar), so can only assume there is a contract or something in place between Canyon and Abus, and this may prevent the use of Canyon’s own helmet at this time. Canyon Sram team appear to be sponsored/supplied by Giro.
Perhaps Canyon will need to have a full helmet offering (Road, Aero Road and TT) before they pull the collab with Abus?
It depends on what these
It depends on what these helmets are being tested against, which is not made at all clear.
There is ample wind tunnel testing out there which indicates that there would easily be >20W difference at >50kph between a top aero helmet and a “normal” helmet (e.g. https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/poc-procen-air-crowned-the-fastest-road-helmet-in-24-helmet-wind-tunnel-shoot-out/)
But that is very different to saying that this helmet is 20W faster than other top aero helmets.
The Disruptr and Stingr are
The Disruptr and Stingr are so fast they’ve left their Es behind.
A cheaper way would be
A cheaper way would be
https://www.flickr.com/photos/aurora2497/47346905
Or learn from the past and
Or learn from the past and start them young…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_cranial_deformation#Americas
Of all the hyperbole around
Of all the hyperbole around this new helmet.. It does at least raise the question of straps.. having had some experience of some number of helmets over the years as I’m sure we all have.. it can fairly be said that ‘straps’ while rarely a deal breaker can differ in quality, faffness, ease of use, wind noise even and of course comfort quite a lot from helmet to helmet.. the idea that there could be a better way is intriguing.