Just in: Airstreeem Aero Type

Airstreeem is an Austrian brand that has recently arrived in the UK, and we’ve just got our hands on the £1,749 (frame only) Aero Type, an aero road frame that could double up as a time trial bike with a flippable saddle clamp.

Established in Salzburg by former pro cyclist Stefan Probst in 2008, the company boasts its own in-house research and development team. From here they've designed a nice range of road and time trial bikes. The Aero Type is an interesting bike as it’s billed as a versatile aero frame module that could happily be road raced or, with the fitting of a set of time trial extensions (or even a full time trial handlebar) be used for time trials and triathlons.

Time trial bikes though typically have much steeper seat angles than road bikes, so you can get right over the bottom bracket and on top of the pedals. Airstreeem's Flexible Adjust System is a flippable saddle clamp on top of the extended seatmast. It can be used to switch the seat tube angle between 73 or 78 degrees. If you only want, or have space, for one bike and fancy dabbling in time trials, the Aero Type is an appealing choice that serves both purposes.

The frame is made from T1000 carbon fibre with a claimed weight of 1,150g for a size 56cm, with a 330g fork. The aero profiled tubes should ensure good aerodynamic performance, and to keep the air flowing smoothly over its surface, all the cables are routed internally. It has an integrated seatmast, tapered head tube and deep bladed forks. The bottom bracket opts for simplicity with a regular threaded external type.

The geometry has also been adjusted for racing against the clock, with a shorter top tube. This is a 56cm which they call an XL, one of five sizes offered. Stack is 564mm and reach 396mm, head angle is 73.5 degrees and the wheelbase is 981.9mm.

Our test bike has come with Airstreeem’s own Carbon Aero 50mm tubular deep-section wheels, with Continental Sprinter 22mm tyres glued in place. The rim has a 24.5mm wide cross-section with 20/24 Sapim CX Ray straight pull spokes, their own hubs with double row bearings and a nano coated braking surface. The minimal front hub has a weight-saving carbon fibre shell with alloy flanges. The claimed weight is 1,330g, but they do come with a 100kg rider weight limit.

Airstreeem offer the frame on its own or with several builds. The £4,699 review bike has come fitted with a Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 11-speed mechanical groupset, married to a Rotor 3D chainset with non-round chainrings. The brake calipers, stem handlebars and saddle own-brand Air components. You can buy the frame for £1,749, or complete builds start from £2,299 with Shimano 105 and AL20 wheels.

The weight on our scales is 7.09kg (15.63lb). Liam is currently putting in the miles aboard the Aero Type and we'll have his full indepth review soon.

More at www.airstreeem.co.uk.