German direct-sales company Canyon has started releasing details of its 2016 bicycle range on its updated website, and one of the standout bikes so far is this new stunning Inflite AL 9.0 SLX.
With the cyclocross race season fast approaching, this bike is built for racing. “Burning lungs and mud - this is a thoroughbred cross bike built for racers,” boldly claims Canyon.
The new bike is equipped with Reynolds Assault Disc Carbon Tubular wheels and Challenge Grifo 33 tubular tyres, with a SRAM Force 1x11 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes. And the price? Just £2,399. Canyon claims a complete bike weight of 7.85kg (17.31lb)
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The Inflite was launched a few years ago and represented Canyon’s first foray into the cyclocross market. There are five models of the Inflite in 2016.
While the AL 9.0 SLX above is clearly built for the racers, Canyon has smartly demonstrated the versatility of the aluminium framed bike with different builds. The other four bikes in the Canyon range are split across two price points, with the key change being different paint jobs and tyres, depending on whether you want a cyclocross bike for racing, or a more versatile riding to work and winter training option.
The Inflite AL 8.0 S (£1,099) for example is geared towards those cyclists looking for a rugged all-weather commuting bike or a dedicated winter training bike. It’s built with Shimano 105 and mechanical disc brakes and is fitted with wide profile DT Swiss R24 Spline DB wheels. It’s also available with custom SKS mudguards. The paint job also features reflective decals to boost low-light visibility.
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For the same price the Inflite AL 8.0 (£1,099) is offered without the commuter and winter trainer friendly details like the reflective details, muted paint job and SKS mudguards. It retains the Shimano 105 drivetrain and mechanical stoppers however. It’s aimed more at cyclocross racers rather than those looking for an all-road versatile option.
The difference between the two bikes is also reflected in the tyres. The Inflite AL 8.0 S comes with slick Continental Grand Prix 4000S II tyres, while the Inflite AL 8.0 is shod with Schwalbe Rocket Ron cyclocross knobblies.
The mid-range model is the Inflite AL 9.0, and like the Inflite AL 8.0, is available in two flavours but based around the same groupset and mix of parts, just the tyre and paint jobs are the key differentiator.
David has worked on the road.cc tech team since July 2012. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds.