Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Review
This meant some five minutes of lung busting pain with gradients pitching up to a leg breaking 12 percent. Thus the 10-mile warm-up ride over to the climb was essential, even more so since I was sporting some war wounds from a race; I didn’t exactly want to pop the stitches in my knee.
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Strava KOM chasing in Malvern
I turned sharp right off the main road in the big ring, straight onto the climb, and stomped down on the pedals. As now expected the bike accelerated quickly and gathering speed all the time, I crested the first climb in 40-seconds then descended quickly, offering brief respite until the long drag up the next 1 km section. I powered up, still in the big ring. This frame weighs just 790g and the bike’s lack of weight helped until the road started to ramp to the leg breaking 12 percent section. There I was forced to drop into the small ring. Despite its mid-range Ultegra kit, the whole bike felt light and the frame plenty stiff underneath me. I felt myself ‘dancing on the pedals’ as I was propelled up the slope.
Canyon Ultimate asymmetric stays and beefy bottom bracket
With my lungs burning and my legs on fire, I crested the top and looked down at the bike computer. Was this bike really as fast as it felt on the climb? Had I beaten my previous times and reclaimed my KOMs? I could scarcely believe I’d clocked 4’37”, averaging 15.2 mph / 26.6kph, and knocked 45-seconds off my times compared to last year. As a bonus, I’d taken all 3 Strava KOMs over sections of the climb – Strava Wellington Heath Climb (lets see how long that lasts now!). Maybe it’s not that surprising how quick I was on the climb aboard such a lightweight, stiff climbing machine. It sprints well but this is equally a great climbing bike.
After a few hours of riding, I decided to avoid the backbreaking climb up the Malvern Camp by heading down to the flatlands towards Eversham. The descent gave me an opportunity to take in the ominously named Strava section named as ‘Need4Speed’. I pushed as hard as I could to see if the bike would become unsettled at high speed. All I could feel was a gentle bounce as the carbon-basalt One One Four SLX forks soaked up the rough road at speeds in excess of 40mph.
This bike corners brilliantly, handling fast, downhill, sweeping bends with aplomb. To set you up for the corners the excellent Ultegra brakes provide heaps of stopping power on tap when needed. I felt confident to push as hard as I could, with only the lack of an 11 sprocket and the slight headwind holding me back.
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