Cheapest Bike VS The Fast Speedmax : What is The Performance Advantage ? 

I actually think that is a small differerence given the MASSIVE difference in price. Especially if you consider the steps in between. Spending 2-3k will probably cover 80% of the gap, if not more. No one here is pro anyways. And if you are, you dont need to ponder getting a Triban.

But what you can't buy is rocking up to a Triathlon and overtaking someone on a Triban whilst there on a £10+ TT bike 🤣

Roadbike vs TT? Would be nice to see the difference between Canyon CFR (11k) vs Canyon CF (3.4k) with the same tire setup.

The biggest difference between the two bikes is the rider's position. The cockpit on the Triban is significantly higher which creates much more drag and the saddle is further to the back which makes it more difficult to produce power. If the geometry was the same I bet the difference wouldn't be as big. No doubt that Canyon is more comfortable and definitely more fun 😊

Get Oli and Alex to put some proper tires and tubes on the Triban and wax its chain. I reckon if you dealt with the rolling resistance with less than a two hundred quid budget it would be a lot closer.

I think you can do a full series on that. It's so interesting 😊

Training on a Triban myself for my first 70.3 in June. Would like a Speedmax but my budget/wife says "NO". I would love to see the difference after upgrading the Triban with some better wheels (something like vision trimax) and better tyres (gp5000).

Very interesting! I'm training for my first triathlon, on one of the bikes you showed. Guess which one 😃

Don't forget that you save even more with the Triban. You can use it for training rides, group rides and even shopping (with some good locks)!

The pedals + bike computer are more expensive than the bike on the triban 😀

a $2000 bike setup would likely be best value for speed if that is the goal for $ per second.

The cheaper bike is only approximately 100 kg heavier?! You could save almost that on a new pair of wheels and tires. To add, if the wheels were deep enough to have aero gains, the time distance is likely to be even smaller. And with the comfort of the up right Triban; could still get in a nice aero position. I’d chose the Triban any day.

I'd love to see a similar video but on a mid range bike as well setup for triathlon as possible for ~2k compared with the SpeedMax as this maybe more applicable to most people. It would be very interesting to see how much speed that extra 9k gets.

I would definitely go for a used bike with shimano over a new bike with micro shift. Their sword groupset looks cool though but you never see it.

It will be interesting to see the real gain between refurbished TT like the one the did last year for the girl for 1500, a entry TT like the Canyon speedmax CF 7 and the top one they did.

I am doing my first ever triathlon soon. The Valencia 70.3 on April 21st. I've been training on that Triban and it has made me want to throw it in the Thames more than once!!! 😂 Although I have nothing to compare it too I still know it is horrible!!! Haha😂

Good job, Triban! 🎯

Interesting video full of information. I’m currently debating the same comparison. I’m heading to worlds this August in Townsville Australia for the first time AquaBike long distance with Team USA. I have a Canyon Speedmax and Specialized Tarmack SL Expert . My course is 120 km with 15 U-turns and a combination of 45, (60, 90° and roundabout). Let’s not forget the fact that I’ll be riding on the left side of the road. I Continue training on the canyon speedmax pending final decision, three months before worlds

It’s be interesting to see how much that gap closes if you run the same wheel/tire combo on the Triban.

It would be interesting though to see how much closer can you make the Triban with a better wheelset, good tires and the aerobars properly tightened. If you can't afford a speedmax, you can't afford a speedmax. I myself moved from having a dedicated TT (Speedmax of 2017) to using just one roadbike where I try to replicate the TT position with aerobars and negative offset seatpost.

The comments about 1 kg doesn’t mean much, or the biggest difference is in the aero position, etc… make me laugh. I agree that spending somewhere in the middle would likely close 90% of the gap, which would be fine for the majority of people, but there are also many of us who don’t mind spending the extra dollars to gain that extra 10% and the ease of adjusting the aero position, etc…. Love it!

I got the rc100 and apart the tires, pad brakes and no second front gear. It's a great bike. Just wish i had enough for that 120. Also 3 to 4 minutes is just not a gap i'm willing to spend 10k+ extra cash for.

The dark grey metallic Ultegra equipped Speedmax is the current SLX 8 model für (German price) 8,499 EUR, not the CFR. The CFR has a silver metallic color option. There is another color in silver for the SLX range as well. the CFR is only available with Dura-Ace or Red groupset. SLX is with Ultegra or Force (there was a Rival version but now not in their line-up).

The triban is ripe for upgrades through especially as it has a carbon fork.. the wheels are about 2.3kg. swapping out the tubes to ride now TPU tubes would save at least 200g.

Why are your power readings so different, for similar times/speed on the speed max. 322w to 232w ? Thanks

hahahaahah, the Triban RC 120 is the road bike I have, the flat bars version. It is a great bike for road biking starters like me. I also got a Giant MTB, Talon 2, which I like, and a Canyon hybrid bike with flat bars, of course, and out of the three my favourite is the Canyon bike by far, but the RC 120 turned out to be a good bike for the price.

I would really like to see this re-done but with the base Canyon CF-7 thats much more affordable. Like the one that is 5,400€ that still has the Shimano Ultegra Di2

It all depends on what your goals are. Unless you are trying to place in an ironman. A roadbike is all you need. I black shirted norseman on a roadbike with aerobars.

Next test is to compare a super road bike with tri bars and compare it to a super tri bike.

Got the chance to test a BMC Speedmachine. Unbelievable difference to even my 2015 Felt iA. Video drops today at 11:45 am est

Give the triban the same disc/deep wheel combo and then difference will be

You would not be able to get me off a top tier speedmax if I were lucky enough to own one. I'd probably find an excuse to commute the 100k each day to work! 😅 Not sure HMRC would entertain cycle to work scheme though!

Laidlow used Ultegra rather than Dura Ace?

Have a Canyon Endurace AL 6.0 (2016) and a Cervelo P5 (2016) 2nd hand. Used to cycle my first triathlons with the canyon. It's still a great and comfy Bike! The Cervelo is def faster! But I would never invest in such an expensive bike. Even If it is great fun to ride! Was lucky to buy the Cervelo 2nd hand.

Why is this 11k Canyon TT heavier than my 6k Stevens TT 😄

Speedmax CFR with Ulttegra, not Dura Ace? 🤨 That's not even the stock config

Let's see the same test but with some upgrades to the triban. Say wheels, tires, drive train. 105 spec.

Looks like the Triban is the best for training. You put out more watts on it.

When the pedals are more expensive than your bike you have done something right 😂

Very interesting video. For training the roadbike with aerobars is also good for group rides. I have a TT bike for indoor and competition and a road bike with aero bars for group rides. Asked the bike fitter to try and get the aerobar position similar to the TT which meant that I had to compromise the roadbike position somewhat. But taking turns up front of a club ride is nice 😊

Between a tt bike and a regular road bike it was always 3 or 4 km/h speed for the same person

An example of you get what your money is worth.😊

Ok, so… can I chime in here. For all those who are saying that’s a massive not enough gain for the price. Factor in 15 years, with a couple of full and a few 70.3 ironman. Over that period of time, it’s worth the price. And, for the presenters and the staff. Would you please do a long video of the extrapolation you keep talking about… because sure, if the person can hold that pace for however long, but most people would actually get tired over the course. Maybe use Hank and Ollie from GCN. Make them do the full Ironman… and actually get some of the real extrapolated results. Or maybe even some semi beginners, giving them a bit of time getting used to the bike. Just to actually see, how pushing power over a few hours, compares to a half hour… not accounting for fatigue over time. And I’ll email the next extrapolated message.

So what about 450$ bike vs 3000$

It is easy then. Train on the Triban and race on the Canyon.

Whilst this does highlight the difference, I have an old felt b16 TT bike which I'm faster than my new Merida reaction, but I'm not as confident handling, it doesn't brake as well etc etc. the right tool for the right job though - a shorter race where you won't have to brake a lot, be cautious of traffic I'd use TT, but I used road bike for ironman as I knew I'd be braking more, need more comfort, better handling. I know some of that would come with more time on a TT, but for most it's not feasible

Disc brakes are heavier and not needed. Sounds like the hundred quid saving was the best choice

There is nothing wrong with a triban. They sound soooo cocky. My first bike was a triban rc520 and I loved that bike. More love for a triban than a money bike!

Nah, this is a bodge. 1. The tyres. This is 20 watts each and only costs $100 or so, and eventually tyre runs out and no reason not to throw some GP5000. 2. Notice the much higher handle bar height on the RC520 ??? (10 cm or even more...) It's like compare a super bike on the hoods/top with a cheap bike on aero tuck. Of course that cheap bike will be faster, but does that mean super bikes are completely scam? Not exactly. You should at least mention this so the viewers in searching for a new bike could get the correct idea -- at least now they know what they are actually paying for. This becomes a comparison between 2 different positions but you say it's the bike and money, nah. Not exactly true. To make this comparison meaningful, you have to at least match the contact points (or at least try as you can). Front end as a start point. Even though the Triban RC520 has an "endurance geometry" which means a higher front end, it doesn't mean it can't get low enough. Find some -30 degree stem first, they are not that rare. If not low enough, get some -45 degree ones. Get a zero setback seat post, push the seat forward most. If that still is not steep enough, find some flip-able seat post, or negative setback seat post. If that's still not enough, you can further change your front wheel to 650B or 26'', that will rotate the bike even further so that you have even lower front and steeper seat post. As long as the race didn't ban this, you'll be fine, that's how they race time trail in the 80s. You can have the exact same effective geometry and the same position on both bikes if you really want to. Of course with the dedicated TRI bike you get everything out-of-the-box, that's a big win though. But not everyone is compare a TRI bike with a cheap bike, many of them already have a decent road bike even a race geometry bike that can get low easily with little tweaks. For these circumstances a dedicated TRI bike is just a big waste, not just money, the production, the environment CO2 emission... I really like the vibe of the 80s even though I wasn't even born at that era... I could get it completely wrong, but just go through the photos, the products, you'll see how people are like tweaking and retrofitting stuffs so that they can have the most of what they already have -- a simple steel road bike -- for everything. That's just much much more fun than today's money is king.

I'm pretty sure that's a Speedmax CF SLX, not a CFR

a single KG difference ain't worth mentioning lol. The aero parts, frame and wheels etc, and far superior gearset is the biggest difference.

I'm not disagreeing that a more aerodynamic setup typically allows a faster speed at equal (or slightly less) power... but I always find it incredibly suspicious when they use this kind of #BroScience presentation on such wildly varied test options! Don't you always ask yourself fellow viewer, why the disparity between the test subjects (bikes in question) is always so enormous (i.e. >£10K bike to well under

This comparison is what is ruining Triathlon, the impression that you cannot compete without spending enormous amounts of money, makes it elitist. It's obvious the "cheap" bike was not setup properly. Even the filming showed a significant difference in the pedal speeds, which proper gearing even on an eight speed would solve. A 1 kg weight difference is insignificant in rolling speed gained or lost. It's in the wheels, tires, innertubes and setup. This was dishonest. It's just playing up for the sponsors. As for the two minutes difference for a ten thousand pound price differential. Get off and run in cheap shoes versus Carbon Fibre and see who wins.

It's 6 pounds per sec once. After that, it's free.

really enjoyed.......but you guys are snobs....having to reach for gears.......lol

There is no comparison between a Road bike and TT bike. There is a huge difference in pricing and purpose . This video leads to misinformation and its a waste of time.

you can't make videos....saying how accessible triathlon is by buying cheaper gear.....and then make videos like this, embarrassing the people who are trying to get into the sport and a normal price entry point by making fun of them. The bike snobbery by the South African guy is off the charts. Stop these silly commercials for canyon and make real videos again like you used to back in 2020 and 2021.

I believe the presentation of the results could be improved. It seems unnecessarily disheartening for beginners or those without the budget for a Speedmax. While I own a Speedmax and appreciate its electronic shifting and other features, there's no need to flaunt it to others.