Bike Live will be at Cannock Chase on 8th April 2017.  We at road.cc are excited to be bringing you another demo event supported by the top brands so you can test as many bikes as you like.  There will be road trails, MTB routes, e-Bike routes and adventure /gravel  rides also.

Here is a list of the bikes you can trial at this event or e-mail elaine [at] road.cc for this information:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DK2e2cJfVsgmq54tr3Y4TEWqeadYFriz...

So... looking for a new bike? Or do you just want to know what's out there? With a huge choice of mountain bikes, road bikes, e-bikes and gravel bikes from the top brands to demo, this is a great opportunity to get side by side comparison of the latest kit on the great trails and roads of Cannock Chase. Along with speaking with the brand experts about the latest tech.

All bikes are available on a first come, first served basis on the day. Not only that, we also have some Maxxis tyres available for you to test out on the trails; an opportunity you rarely get!

Today's selection of fantastic cycling deals comes to you straight from the folks over at Canyon.

There's a pretty spectacular sale going on over on Canyon's website right now, and the discounts extend to the German brands excellently engineered bicycles.

We've got four to share with you today, from disc-equipped speedsters, endurance bikes and even a rogue mountain bike... Yep, that's right. A DealCatcher first.

Following those we take a look around the non-two-wheeled wares available at Canyon. Check out a pair of Shimano pedals, Mavic shoes, and a Bell helmet.

11% off Canyon's Endurace CF SLX Disc 8
WAS £4499.00 | NOW £4049.00

Canyon Endurace CF SLX Disc 8.jpg

Don't let the very close spelling to 'endurance' fool you, Canyon's Endurace bike is very much a performance-oriented road bike.

You may have already realised, but the name is a mixture between 'endurance' and 'race'. The idea being, you'll get all those lovely fast performance features aboard a bike that, to quote our tech editor David Arthur "won't leave you needing a book or a chiropractor after each ride."

That's down to the bike's endurance geometry, and as far as performance features go, you don't get too much more performance oriented than Shimano's Ultegra electric di2 groupset. Fizik's Aliante saddle, Shimano BR-RS805 disc brakes, and Reynolds's Assault carbon wheels will give you a bit more of a kick.

- Read more: road.cc's Canyon Endurace CF 9.0 SL road bike review

9% off Canyon's Endurace CF 7.0 SL
WAS £1599.00 | NOW £1469.00

Canyon Endurace CF 8.jpg

Normally when we roll down the model numbers in bike models - and especially when we see the price drop - we've come to expect significantly lower-end specs.

Interestingly, the Canyon Endurace CF 7 doesn't follow that trend.

Shimano's Ultegra groupset, Mavic's Aksium wheels and Canyon finishing kit all aboard a carbon frame makes this model even more impressive value than the bike we saw before.

10% off Canyon's Ultimate WMN CF SL Disc 9.0
WAS £2399.00 | NOW £2179.00 

Canyon Ultimate CF SL Disc 9.jpg

As far as performance-only Canyon bikes go, the Ultimate range is excellent.

We know. Our man Stu Kerton took the Ultimate SLX 9 out for a thorough few test rides last year and was blown away by the bike's performance.

"Bang for buck, you'll struggle to find a better race machine than the Canyon Ultimate SF SLX 9.0," Stu said. He also mentioned that the weight of the Shimano Ultegra-equipped and DT Swiss R 23 Spline DB wheel-carrying road bike will also be hard to beat!

- Read more: road.cc's Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 review

9% off Canyon's Spectral AL 6.0
WAS £2149.00  | NOW £1969.00

Canyon Spectral AL 6.jpg

Here's a curve ball. We don't usually see these types around these parts. 

If you fancy checking out the trails in the coming months then you should head over to our sister site off-raoad.cc's Facebook page.

-Check out: off-road.cc's Facebook page

50% off Shimano's PD 9000 SPD-SL Dura Ace
WAS £214.95 | NOW £106.95

Shimano Dura Ace SL PD 9000.jpg

Thinking about getting ahead in the pedal game?

Half price Dura-Ace gear is always worth paying attention to.

We had these beauties in for review. Our tech editor Mat Brett called them "super-stable, reasonably lightweight and easy to use" pedals.

- Read more: road.cc's Shimano Dura-Ace pedals review

58% off Mavic's Ksyrium Elite II
WAS £125.95 | NOW £53.95

Mavic Ksyrium Elite_1_2016.jpg

Mavic's Ksyrium Elite II road shoes are exceptionally verstile.

Like the Endurace range, which couples performance with comfort, the Ksyrium Elite IIs bring your foot closer to the pedal axle for direct power transfer while remaining supremely comfortable.

Carbon soles for power transfer, Endofit tongue and Ergo fit insoles for comfort, and a super light 560g weight for the pair offers a wonderful package.

- Read more: road.cc's Buyer's Guide to Cycling Shoes

65% off Bell Star Pro Helmet
WAS £179.95 | NOW £62.95

Bell Star Pro.jpg

Bell's Star Pro is an excellently versatile helmet for riders looking to shave some seconds off their strava times without sacrificing head comfort.

Vents on the sides of the helmet can be opened and closed to improve comfort or improved aerodynamism depending on which is of most importance to the cyclist.

- Read more: Bell's Star Pro Helmet review

• With elongated tube shapes and other wind-cheating features, aero road bikes provide a small but handy speed boost.

• Sleek shapes make for a distinctive look.

• Recent aero road bikes have alleviated the harsh ride that plagued some early models, thanks to improved use of materials.

• Frame aerodynamics is still a marginal gain; if you're wearing flappy clothes an aero bike is a waste of money.

In just a few years aero road bikes have gone from The Next Big Thing to a mainstream bike option. The latest models have been tweaked to be faster than ever, according to the manufacturers, and to alleviate the harsh ride that characterised some early aero bikes.

Aero road bikes essentially draw the aerodynamic features from time trial bikes into a road frame, and balance the demands of weight and stiffness into a package that, on paper, looks to be the ideal all-round choice.

At any decent speed, most of your effort goes into overcoming air resistance, so reducing a bike's drag means you'll go faster, or ride at any given speed with a lower power output. Who doesn't like the sound of that?

Most of your air resistance comes from your body. Wearing non-flappy clothing will help, as will losing weight. But the 20% or so of air resistance from your bike is enough for engineers and designers to focus on making road frames and products more slippery in the air. In the pro peloton aero road bikes have been quickly adopted, where the margins of victory are very slim and there has been a focus on gaining ever smaller performance gains over the years.

Jos Van Emden Giant Propel - front brake

Weight, and the lack thereof, used to be the main driving force of frame development. Along with stiffness, these were the two cornerstones of bike design. These days most bikes are light, many well below the UCI’s 6.8kg weight limit (which doesn’t affect non-racers anyway), and come with more stiffness than is sometimes comfortable.

All that has made aerodynamics more important for manufacturers. Specialized has built its own wind tunnel, for example, and most manufacturers are testing in wind tunnels. Nevertheless, aero road bikes haven't converged on a perfect, slippery common shape. Different engineers prioritise different ways of improving aerodynamics but there are shared design trends: skinny, aerofoil-shaped tubes, integrated brakes, and internal cable routing.

Let's take a look at the latest aero offerings.​

Colnago Concept — £3,500 (frameset)

Colnago Concept.jpg

Colnago has joined the aerodynamic arms race with the brand new Concept, a full blooded aero race bike that is a serious step forward from the Italian company's first aero road bike, the V1-r, from a couple of years ago.

The Concept has all the capability to dice with the fastest in a race situation. The Concept's stiff frame, Vision deep-section wheels and 7.2kg weight give it an insatiable appetite for speed. It's quick in all circumstances: climbs, descents, flat and undulating roads – everywhere, the bike really shines. It's an exciting bike to ride fast, and like all good aero road bikes encourages you to ride flat-out.

That firm ride, and frame and fork stiffness ensure the Concept accurately follows your inputs, whether through the handlebar or pedals. It reacts very positively to your body language, whether you're blasting up an uphill sprint finish or bombing through a curving descent.

But all-out speed isn't all the Concept is about, and it's not just a bike for racing. The Concept provides adequate composure and comfort, allowing you to tackle long distance rides at a few notches below race pace and not be dealt a hammer-blow to the lower back the moment the tyres encounter anything but a billiard-smooth surface. The front end of aero race bikes can often be overwhelmingly harsh, but the special headset and fork steerer tube that Colnago has developed mean it's smoother up front than would normally be expected on an aero road bike.

Read our review of the Colnago Concept
Find a Colnago dealer

Rose X-Lite CWX Disc — from £3,770

Rose X-LITE CW-4100 Di2.jpg

The Rose X-Lite CWX-4100 is a quick, fast-handling aero road bike with disc brakes, and although £4,700 is clearly a lot to spend, it represents good value. You really are getting a lot for your money here.

The CWX-4100 – the name sounds to us like it should belong to some sort of droid – is at its best when you're hammering. The aggressive riding position and the frame's aero features announce loud and clear that this bike is intended to be ridden fast.

Weighing in at just 7.46kg (16.4lb) – light for something with deep, aero-optimised tubes and disc brakes – and with loads of stiffness through the central section of the T40/T60 carbon-fibre frame, it feels every inch a race bike whether you're tearing along flat roads or scampering up the climbs.

Read our review of the Rose X-Lite CWX-4100 Di2 Disc

Merida Scultura 6000 — from £1,700

Merida Scultura 6000.jpg

The Merida Scultura 6000 just feels right when you get on it. The position, the ride, the comfort… it's one of those bikes that gives you the confidence to push it as hard as you want, knowing that it isn't going to bite back. It's a bit of a bargain too when you consider the frame is being ridden in the pro peloton and weighs a claimed 750g. It's a hell of a lot of bike for the money.

For this revised version of the Scultura frameset Merida has concentrated on increasing comfort, and it's obviously paid off. The frame is handmade in Taiwan, and by tweaking the carbon layup in certain areas it has been able to bring in quite a bit of extra damping without sacrificing stiffness.

Aerodynamics was another target for Merida, using computational fluid dynamics in the design process and wind tunnel testing of various incarnations. It even used a dummy with moving legs to replicate the effect the rider's pedalling has on wind resistance.

Read our review of the Merida Scultura 6000
Find a Merida dealer

Boardman Elite Air — from £1,799.99

Boardman Elite Air 9.2 - full bike.jpg

Boardman's Elite Air 9.2 is just the ticket if you're looking for a fast bike with a good spec but you haven't got very silly money. It's a good package and the performance is impressive straight out of the box.

If you're buying an aero bike, chances are you're doing so because you want to go faster; that, or you just like the look of deep-section tubes.

Do you go faster? The anecdotal evidence suggests a yes: you go faster on this than on standard road bike. Our tester grabbed a downhill KOM on Strava, hung on longer before getting blown out the back of a crit with riders a grade above him and added 10km/h to his top speed on a favourite descent.crit with riders a grade above him and added 10km/h to his top speed on a favourite descent.

Read our review of the Boardman Elite Air 9.2
Find a Boardman dealer

Storck Aerfast Platinum — £10,949

storck-aerfast-platinum-full-bike (1).jpg

At £10,949, the Storck Aerfast Platinum is a massive outlay, but boy, oh boy do you get one hell of a return on your investment. It's a sub-6.5kg race weapon, with aerodynamics that work in the real world, and it offers comfort levels to challenge most endurance bikes.

Taking plenty of things it's learnt from its astonishingly good Aernario, Storck has pushed the design even further down the aerodynamics route, and what it has created in the Aerfast is a bike that's not only unbelievably fast, but light and stiff too.

If you're in the market for an aero bike, speed is going to be topping your list of priorities, and it's where the Aerfast truly excels. Below about 23mph the Storck feels like any other bike to ride, any other superlight bike that is, but all the same it feels like it requires some effort; you've got to work at it.

Get above that speed, though, and the aerodynamics really come into play. It feels like a permanent tailwind is nudging you along, a friendly hand on your back as you watch the numbers climb on the Garmin – with no more effort required than there was 5mph ago. It's a wonderful feeling, and one you never tire of.

Read our review of the Storck Aerfast Platinum

Find a Storck dealer

Cervelo S5 — £3,999

Cervelo-S5-Ultegra-Road-Bike-2016.jpg

Long hailed as the fastest aero road bike by people who know a lot about aerodynamics, the Cervelo S5 has received quite a makeover this year. It still looks like an S5 but Cervelo claims to have finessed every tube profile and found significant drag reductions. It’s also increased frame stiffness in the head tube and bottom bracket to improve handling. Another change is the shorter head tube to put the rider in a lower, and more aerodynamic, position. Cervelo has also developed its own aero handlebar which is compatible with a regular stem.

Read our coverage of the Cervelo S5 launch
Find a Cervelo dealer

Ridley Noah SL — £5,299.99

Ridley NOAH SL

The Noah FAST packs a lot of innovative aero technology, including slotted forks and seat stays, integrated v-brakes and small ridges on the leading edges of the frame surfaces to smooth airflow. It’s still available, but the Belgian company has released the new Noah SL which is lighter than the previous Noah with a 950g claimed frame weight. It still features the innovative F-Splitfork, but there’s no slotted rear stays and the raised ridges have been incorporated into the tube shapes. The integrated brakes are gone, in their place regular caliper brakes in front of the fork and at the seat stay.

Read about Greg Henderson's Ridley Noah SL
Find a Ridley dealer

Pinarello Dogma F8 — £3,899 (frameset)

Pinarello Dogma F8

Developed in collaboration with Team Sky and Jaguar, the Dogma F8 is the first aero road bike from Pinarello, and it’s just won the 2015 Tour de France, though we reckon Chris Froome could have won on any bike. The F8 uses FlatBack tube profiles, a Kamm Tail sort of shape, with a rounded leading edge and chopped tail. Pinnarello has also lowered the seat tube water bottle cage and it’s further shielded by the down tube. Meanwhile, up front the fork has been derived from the company’s Bollide time trial bike with an aerodynamic shape, and the crown closely nestles into a recess in the down tube.

Find a Pinarello dealer

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX — from £3,249

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX

The second-generation Aeroad CF SLX has been inspired by the work on its futuristic Speedmax time trial bike, with razor sharp aero tube profiles and an optional one-piece handlebar and stem assembly. Much of the company’s focus with the new bike has been in reducing the frontal surface area, so along with the new handlebar there’s a narrower and hour-glass shaped head tube to help reduce drag. Other changes include the new tube profile, a variant of the Trident shape used on the Speedmax, and a seat tube that hugs the curvature of the rear wheel. Unlike some aero road bikes that integrate the brake callipers, Canyon has opted for direct-mount Shimano brakes in the regular positions.

Read our review of the Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7.0 Di2
Read our review of the Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 8.0 Di2

Specialized Venge Vias — £5,999.99

Specialized Venge Vias

Out with the old Venge, in with the new Venge Vias. The Venge has had a radical makeover, with an all-new aero frame with the most interesting integrated brakes we’ve ever seen. Manufacturers have been integrating brakes into the frame in an effort to reduce drag, but the Specialized approach, with custom designed brake calipers, is claimed to produce zero drag. Elsewhere, a new aero handlebar and stem provides full internal cable routing, there are almost no visible cables on this bike, a further measure to reduce drag.

Read our review of the Specialized Venge Vias Expert Disc​
Read about Mark Cavendish's Venge at the Tour de France
Find a Specialized dealer 

Scott Foil — from £2,399

Scott Foil Premium

The Foil arguably kicked off the whole aero road bike trend, bringing aerodynamic design that was once the preserve of time trial bikes to regular road bikes. This update has been a long time coming but it’s evolution, not revolution that is the news here. Changes to the front-end see the down tube lowered and wrapped around the fork crown, and a smaller rear triangle and new internal seat clamp in the top tube. The rear brake is also positioned underneath the chain stays.

And don't think this is just a uncomfortable aero bike, Mathew Hayman rode over a few little bumps on his way to winning Paris-Roubaix.

Read our coverage of the 2016 Scott Foil launch
Find a Scott dealer

Trek Madone — from £5,199.99

Trek Madone WSD

Once an all-round lightweight race bike, the Madone has been given a complete aerodynamic makeover. It features a version of the Isospeed decoupler borrowed from the Domane to provide some comfort (aero road bikes have traditionally compromised comfort in the quest for speed) and it’s wrapped up in a frame with Kamm Tail shaped tubes. Like Specialized, Trek has also developed its own brake callipers, and they’re concealed within the fork and seat stays. To keep the cable routing of the centre pull front brake nice and clean, the head tube features flaps that open and close when the fork is turned.

Read our coverage of the 2016 Trek Madone launch
Find a Trek dealer

Merida Reacto — from £1,000

Merida Reacto DA

Merida’s Reacto features tube profiles shape in accordance with NACA airfoil principles, and using the popular Kamm tail approach of chopping off the trailing edge, tricking the air into acting as if the trailing edge were there. More than any other bike here, the Reacto looks like a time trail bike in drag. There’s an aero seat post, internal cable routing and the rear brake is positioned underneath the chain stays. The front brake, meanwhile, is found on the front of the fork.

Read our review of the Merida Reacto 300
Find a Merida dealer

Canyon Ultimate CF SLX — from £2,999

Canyon Ultimate CF SLX

Canyon has given its latest Ultimate CF SLX a light touch of aerodynamic influence. It has developed a new D-shaped down tube, seat tube and seatpost, which along with a new internal seat clamp, adds up to a claimed 10% reduction in drag compared to the previous non-aero Ultimate. It doesn’t challenge Canyon’s Aeroad CF SLX for outright slipperiness in the wind tunnel, but does point to a future where all road bikes might one day be shaped in the wind tunnel.

BMC TimeMachine TMR01 — £3,799

BMC TMR01

Launched in 2013, the TimeMachine grew out of the understanding of aerodynamics BMC derived from its TM01 time trial bike project. It uses a truncated wing profile (not unlike a Kamm tail) for the main sections of the frame. To reduce the air turbulence over the frame members BMC puts a smooth groove at the leading edge of forward facing sections, called a Tripwire. This delays flow separation and keeps the air attached for as long as possible, minimising drag — in essence it's doing the same job as the dimples on a golf ball.

Read our coverage of the BMC TimeMachine launch
Find a BMC dealer

Giant Propel Advanced — £6,298.99

Giant Propel Advanced SL 0

The Propel Advanced SL 3 was Giant's bold entry into the aero road bike fray and gave rise to a whole range of highly-regarded Propel bikes. 

Key to the frame is the AeroSystem Shaping technology that is the result of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) research and wind-tunnel tests. Every tube has been carefully shaped, with a teardrop shape in evidence wherever you look. Interestingly, the down tube has been shaped with a water bottle in mind. It’s flattened where the water bottle normally protrudes from the sides of a conventional down tube.

Read our review of the Giant Propel Advanced 1  
Read our coverage of the original Giant Propel launch
Find a Giant dealer​

After weathering a storm of customer criticism regarding late orders in 2016, Canyon now says that such problems are behind it and that delivery times are “extremely stable, even record-breaking.”

In February of last year, Roman Arnold, Canyon’s founder and CEO, wrote to customers outlining problems the firm was experiencing following a move to a new factory in Koblenz and the simultaneous introduction of a new IT system.

The new system resulted in a loss of customer and order information with many customers subjected to long delivery times.

Arnold said that the firm’s customer service was also ill-equipped to answer the huge number of enquiries which ensued.

Canyon now claims that all such problems have been overcome.

In a statement, the firm said: “All stages of production, delivery and service are working according to plan, problem-free, and smoothly at the newly opened Canyon Factory where around 300 bikes are being produced daily, nearing the capacity of the facility. In spite of this enormous demand in 2017, shipping is running smoothly and delivery times are extremely stable, even record-breaking.”

Canyon is back on road.cc with a fresh selection of fantastic cycling deals. The DealCatcher's picked out four cracking deals on bikes, alongside some great offers on wheels and tyres.

Today's round-up of the best Canyon has to offer includes two rather stunning Aeroad road bikes and two Ultimates.

The DealCatcher also includes a pair of Shimano Dura Ace wheels, Reynolds's 90 Aero C wheelset as well as Schwalbe's Pro One and a Continental's GP 4000S II tyres.

Enjoy.

10% off Canyon's Aeroad WMN CF SLX DISC 9.0
WAS £6499.00 | NOW £5869.00

Canyon Aeroad WMN CF SLX DISC 9.0.jpg

Forget the stunning looks, Canyon's Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 Team CSR has even more going for it than a fancy paint job.

Aerodynamics are key. The frame and Zipp's 404 Firecast carbon clinchers are specifically designed to scythe through the air on windy descents.

The mechanics are all top class too. The 11-speed SRAM e-Tap HRD groupset is the headliner.

10% off Canyon's Ultimate CF SLX DISC 8.0
WAS £3799.00 | NOW £3449.00

Canyon Ultimate Cf Slx Disc 8.0.jpg

Canyon's Ultimate range represents the brand's best all-round race machine. A little less interested in impeccable aerodynamism than the Aerode range, the Ultimates look to give you incredible performance without forcing you into a back-straining aerodynamic position.

The CF SLX Disc 8.0 has an integrated handlebar and stem system to give you an aerodynamic edge, but the geometry should allow you to feel a little more comfotable on longer rides.

Running Shimano's fantastic Ultegra groupset and hydralic brakes, Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon Disc wheels, and Mavic's Yksion tyres, this bike ticks all the boxes a great race bike should.

10% off Canyon's Aeroad CF SLX DISC 8.0
WAS £33799.00 | NOW £3449.00

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 8.0.jpg

Having glanced at the beautiful Aeroad WMN CF SLX DISC 9.0 above, you should have a decent idea what the Aeroad range offers in terms of performance.

While the CF SLX Disc 8.0 is the bottom of the Aeroad ladder, it still offers unparalleled specifications at the price point.

Shimano's Ultegra mechanical groupset, Reynolds Strike Carbon Clincher wheels and a shockingly aerodynamic frame make up an unbelievable package at under £3500.

10% off Ultimate CF SL DISC 8.0
WAS £1799.00 | NOW £1619.00

Canyon ULTIMATE CF SL Disc 8.0.jpg

Canyon calls the Ultimate CF SL Disc 8.0 road bike "durable, reliable, comfortable, fast, responsive, and well priced."

If you're looking for a bike that ticks all of those boxes, whether in the race department, long day in the saddle department, or all-round riding department, this machine could easily be the one for you.

Shimano's 105 groupset and disc brake setup, Mavic's Aksium disc-ready wheels, a Fizik Antares R5 saddle, and a pair of Continental Grand Prix 4000S tyres make a pretty attractive bundle.

50% off Continental's GP 4000S II 23mm
WAS £51.95 | NOW £26.95

Continental GP 4000S II 23mm.jpg

Continental's Grand Prix 4000S II tyres are "excellent big-chambered race tyres with a fast smooth feel" according to our man Dave Atkinson.

You can read his review below, but at this price they're a pretty spectacular offer.

- Read more: road.cc's Continental GP 4000S II Tyre review

47% off Schwalbe's Pro One Tubeless Tyre 25mm
WAS £75.95 | NOW £39.95

Schwalbe Pro One Tubs.jpg

If you're looking for a "superb road feel" in your tubeless tyres, check out Schwalbe's Pro Ones.

At this price they're a bargain, but even if they weren't available at this price we'd still reccommend them to you.

Our man Iwein Dekoninck gave them a 9/10.

- Read more: road.cc's Schwalbe Pro One tubeless tyre review

40% off Reynolds's 90 Aero C Wheelset
WAS £2426.95 | NOW £1459.95

Reynolds 90 Aero C Wheels.jpg

Big, bold, and faster for fewer watts. That's how Reynolds describes its 90 Aero C wheels.

The 700c pair of wheels weigh in at 1.875 kilos and include an excellent BWI feature that keeps you informed about excessive wheel wear.

35% off Shimano's Dura Ace R9100 C24 Clincher Wheelset
WAS £1163.95 | NOW £760.95

Shimano Dura Ace R9100 C24 Clinchers.jpg

Finally, if you've not explored Shimano's new Dura Ace R9100 range, check out our write-up of the key innovations below.

The wheels in particular had a switch up. Aside from offering deeper rims, the normal-depth rims have stepped up too.

At this price, if you're looking for a step up in speed, you need not look any further.

- Read more: road.cc's Shimano Dura Ace R9100 range innovation upadate

If you have £1,000 to £1,500 to spend on a road bike, you really do get a lot for you money. A benefit of spending this sort of money is that the bikes start to get much lighter than those costing half as much, which will have a significant impact on the ride quality and performance, and your times up your local hills.

Shimano 105 and Tiagra are the dominant groupsets in this price range. While there is a lot of own-brand kit for parts like wheels, handlebars and saddles, which is no bad thing (manufacturers have really raised their game with own label components), there is a lot more branded kit from the likes of Mavic and Fizik.

Giant Contend SL Disc 1 — £1,149

2017_GIANT_CONTEND_SL_1_DISC.jpg

Giant’s Defy has long been a benchmark for bikes that combine comfort, endurance and value. For 2017, the aluminium-framed versions have been renamed Contend to differentiate them from the carbon fibre Defy range.

The Contend range includes four models, of which the Contend SL 1 Disc is the top. It has Shimano's excellent-value Shimano 105 11-speed transmission, and Giant's hydraulic disc brakes.

Find a Giant dealer

Ribble CGR — £1,202

Ribble CGR.jpg

Cross, Gravel, Road, that's what the CGR initials stand for on Ribble's latest all-rounder. A disc brake-equipped, mudguard-shod 'do a bit of everything' machine that makes a lot of sense for the rider who doesn't always want to stick to the tarmac. Thankfully, this jack of all trades is no master of none.

Thanks to Ribble's online bike builder, you can have any spec you like. The CGR starts from £799 with Shimano Sora; the price here is for the option with Shimano 105 and hydraulic brakes, which gives a good combination of slick shifting and powerful stopping.

Read our review of the Ribble CGR

Fuji Roubaix 1.3 — £999

fuji-roubaix-13-2017-road-bike-blue-EV280185-5000-2.jpg

Fuji characterises its Roubaix as a race bike and has completely reworked the frame for 2017, putting it firmly in the category of Very Light Aluminium at a claimed weight of 1,100g.

The fork is all-carbon, as befits a lightweight bike, and there are Shiano 105 gears and brakes to make it stop and go. The Oval Concepts finishing kit includes a chainset with Praxis rings. It looks like an excellent package for the money if you're in the marker for a fast, light traditional road race bike.

Boardman Road Pro Carbon — £1,450

Boardman Road Pro Carbon.jpg

Boardman is making some great bikes this year – both in terms of performance and value – and the Road Pro Carbon is no exception. If you're after a disc brake road bike that's engaging to ride, you should certainly take a look at this. If you're looking for a more versatile all-rounder, it's not such a good fit.

Given that this bike comes from an endurance mould you might expect the ride to be more forgiving than it actually is. The Boardman doesn't have the surface-taming characteristics of something like a Cannondale Synapse or a Trek Domane, it's much more of a road bike feel. It's not uncomfortable, but it is firm. It's well balanced in that the front and the back give about the same level of feedback from the road.

Certainly the frame and fork are a package that's worthy of some upgrades here: it's a very well-balanced bike that responds well to pretty much every kind of road riding. The steering is very predictable and never nervous, and I had no issues with any wobbles, vagueness or lift-off descending at speed.

Find a Boardman dealer

Read our review of the Boardman Road Pro Carbon

Cannondale CAAD12 105 — £1,400

cannondale-caad12-105-2017.jpg

Last year, the CAAD12 set a new benchmark for all-aluminium frames; it still puts a lot of carbon bikes to shame. With a frame weight under 1,100g for the disc brake and regular versions, it's not much heavier than carbon either. Cannondale package the frame with a full Shimano 105 groupset, carbon fibre fork with tapered steerer tube, 52/36 crank. Mavic Aksium wheels and a Selle Royal Seta S1 saddle. You can also have it with disc brakes for an extra £300.

Read our report from the CAAD12 launch
Find a Cannondale dealer

Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7.0 — £1,349

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German company Canyon has made quite an impression in the UK with its direct-to-consumer business model meaning big savings for those prepared to bypass the bike shop for their next bike purchase. The Ultimate CF SL is produced using the same mould as that the Ultimate CF SLX we tested a while ago, it's just using a cheaper carbon fibre. That keeps the price lower. Although the weight does go up a bit, it's still light at a claimed 940g. This is the entry-level model built with a full Shimano 105 groupset, Mavic Aksium wheels, Continental GP 4000 25mm tyres, Canyon's own bars and stem and a Fizik Antares saddle. It's nominally a 2016 bike, but Canyon is still listing it at this price.

Focus Cayo Tiagra — £1,399

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The Focus Cayo Tiagra uses a race-proven carbon fibre frame and fork with a more relaxed fit and geometry than the German company's racier offerings. The frame is fitted with Shimano Tiagra brakes, gears and semi-compact crankset, along Continental Grand Sport tyres. Focus uses its own-brand Concept components for the wheels, handlebars, stem, and saddle.

Find a Focus dealer

Trek Émonda S 5 — £1,500

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With a lightweight carbon fibre frame and Shimano 105 group, this speedster from Trek's racing range is a good deal.

The Emonda line is Trek's take on making the lightest road bikes it can produce for a given price, which means the frame here is worth upgrading as the parts wear out; it wouldn't be shamed by a Shimano Ultegra group.

Find a Trek dealer

Vitus Bikes Zenium SL Pro Disc - Superlight Ultegra — £1,394.99

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Recent price increases mean getting a full Shimano Ultegra group with disc brakes on any bike under £1,500 is unusual, making the offering from Chain Reaction's house brad excellent value with it spec on an aluminium frame. It comes with Michelin's fast Pro 4 tyres in 25mm width and there's room in the frame to go up to 28mm for versatility.

The frame is the same as the 2016 Zenium SL Disc, which our Stu Kerton really liked when he reviewed it. The SL tames the previous Zenium's harshness a bit, but this is still a fast bike. "I like it,"Stu wrote. "It feels purposeful, a kind of 'this is what I am, deal with it' type of thing. With a lot of bikes these days trying to be a bit of an 'everything' option, it's good to get on board something that can just be smashed about a bit and ridden hard."

Read our review of the Vitus Zenium SL

Specialized Allez DSW SL Sprint Comp — £1,500

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If your tastes run to fast and sharp-handing road bikes, but your budget won't stretch to the astounding Specialized S-Works Tarmac Disc, this everyman race bike will provide a big chunk of the thrills without holing your bank account below the waterline. It has Specialized's light, nimble aluminium frame with a Shimano 105 groupset providing the stop and go bits.

Find a Specialized dealer

Canyon is back in the DealCatching zone today with some stonking deals on bicycles and other bicycle-related goodies!

We've got four bikes to show you plus some great little bargains from Park Tools, Lezyne, Crank Brothers, and PowerBar.

We won't waste any more of your time waffling on; here are the deals!

£720 off Canyon's Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 LTD
WAS £7599.00 | NOW £6879.00

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The first and most expensive bike of the day is Canyon's Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 LTD.

Sure, the name is a bit of a mouthful, but the ride'll leave you speechless.

With a strong focus on aerodynamics the Aeroad CF SLX 9.0's Zipp 404 Clincher wheels, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and Canyon's own H11 Aerocockpit CF will get you going faster than you've ever gone before.

£450 off Canyon's Aeroad Women's CF SLX Disc 8.0 Di2
WAS £4499.00 | NOW £4049.00

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Continuing the Aero theme here, Canyon's Aeoroad CS SLX Disc 8.0 is one we're quite familiar with here at road.cc.

We absolutely loved the bike when it came in for review here at road.cc when tech editor Dave Arthur gave the machine an unbelievable 9/10.

It's a rung or two down the componentry ladder when compared to the 9.0 above, but as Dave said it's "fast, comfortable and [has] predictable handling." Perfect.

- Read more: road.cc's Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 8.0 Di2 review

£300 off Canyon's Ultimate CF SL Disc 9.0 Aero
WAS £3249.00 | NOW £2949.00

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While we're moving our attention away from the Aeroad series and onto the climbing-focussed Ultimate range, this beauty retains the best of both worlds.

The Ultimate CF SL Disc 9.0 Aero maintains the aerodynamic sweetness of Canyon's aerodynamically focussed road bikes with all the braking benefits of disc brakes and adaptability and protection from cross winds of a lightweight climbing bike.

£180 off Canyon's Ultimate CF SL Disc 8.0
WAS £1799.00 | NOW £1619.00

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Take off a few of the aerodynamic-specific features of the bike above, as well as a step down from Shimano Ultegra to its stunning 105 groupset, and you've got the fantastically adaptable Ultimate CF SL Disc 8.0.

You're still getting the excellent Canyon frame and set-up, just for a lot less money!

38% off Park Tool's PCS-9 Work Stand
WAS £157.95 | NOW £98.95

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If you're looking to spend a lot of time with your bike this summer, you're going to need to spend a fair amount of time giving your machine the attention it deserves.

The Park Tool PCS-9 Workstand is exactly what your bike deserves. We've had a few of these in over the years, and the PCS range is perfect for use at home or in your garden.

- Read more: road.cc's Park Tool PCS-10 Workstand review

38% off Lezyne's Pressure Drive M
WAS £35.95| NOW £21.95

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We've reviewed a lot of Lezyne pumps over the years. Really, loads. And we've never had a particularly bad word to say about them.

In fact, the pumps regularly feature in our best-of lists.

The Pressure Drive is the perfect on-bike companion in case of puncutre emergencies.

Don't believe us? Check out our extensive selection of Lezyne reviews:

- Read more: road.cc's Lezyne reviews

33% off Crank Brothers's Y12 Multitool
WAS £26.95 | NOW £17.95

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Now, this is an unusual multitool.

It doesn't look like many you'll have seen before, but that doesn't mean it won't do the job just as well.

Not only will you get complimentary nods from the members of your chain gang when you whap this out pre-ride, but the functionality and adaptability of the device will serve you well too.

Crank Brothers has got chops here at road.cc too. They've had a few pretty decent review scores - particularly the 9/10 multitool one below:

- Read more: road.cc's Crank Brothers M17 Multi Tool review

43% off PowerBar's PowerGel Mojito flavour 24-pack
WAS £47.95 | NOW £26.95

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Our final offer of the day is for those of you looking to channel a taste of the summer into your summer rides.

Energy gels are notoriously tart and difficult to consume, so why not try a flavour that's supposed to be tart?

Not only is this a great offer, it might just sway you in your reluctance to join us in the energy gel club.

The DealCatcher's teamed up with Canyon for today's deal round-up and the offers we've got for you today are rather tasty.

Six bikes feature today that cover Canyon's full range of road offerings, and they've all had some pretty attractive discounts applied to them.

We kick things off with the Aeroad CF SLX Disc, followed by both a men and women's Ultimate models.

Endurace, Inflite and Commuter models round off the bike offerings in today's DealCatcher while we close the deals with a bargain on Continental's GP 4000S II tyres.

15% off Canyon's 2017 Aeroad CF SLX Disc 8.0
WAS £3799.00 | NOW £3199.00

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Kicking things off is Canyon's aero offering.

Without going into too much detail, because our man Dave Arthur will do that for you if you follow the link below, the Aeroad CF SLX Disc is a phenomenal road bike.

The bike got a 9/10 when it came our way for review. Within the review Mr Arthur makes it clear that the Reynolds Strike Carbon Clincher wheels, Shimano Ultegra groupset and ST-RS685 hydraulic disc brakes, and super lightweight Canyon carbon frame make for quite the package.

- Read more: road.cc's Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc review

17% off Canyon's 2017 Ultimate WMN CF SLX 9.0
WAS £5399.00 | NOW £4499.00

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Another Canyon bike, another road.cc 9/10.

The Ultimate CF SLX was put through its paces by our man Stu Kerton.

Clearly, Stu wasn't testing the women's model that you can see above, but apart from some geometric tweeks these are pretty much the same bike.

Stu said the Ultimate had "stunning performance from a bike that balances stiffness and comfort, and stability and excitement."

What about this bike caused such high praise, you ask? For a full answer, check out the review below, but a look into the componentry on offer here will give you some idea:

The bike runs SRAM's RED 22 groupset, Zipp's 303 wheelset, and a Selle Italia SLS Flow saddle aboard a carbon fibre Canyon Ultimate frame.

- Read more: road.cc's Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 review

12% off Canyon's 2017 Ultimate CF SLX 8.0
WAS £2999.00 | NOW £2649.00

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The male-specific Ultimate we've highlighted for today's DealCatcher's a couple of component rungs lower on the Canyon ladder to the bike above.

That's signified by the numbering of the bike. As expected, the 8.0 is a little less fancy than the 9.0.

Still, the bike runs Mavic's excellent Ksyrium Pro Exalith SL WTS wheels, Shimano's awesome Ultegra groupset and carries Fizik's Antares R5 saddle.

14% off Canyon's 2017 Endurace WMN CF 9.0 Di2
WAS £2649.00 | NOW £2299.00

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Moving towards the endurance end of the bicycle spectrum, Canyon's Endurace once again hits the highs of road.cc 9/10 ratings.

This female-specific model is, once again, very similar to the male-specific model we had in to test and which rolled away with that 9/10.

Check out that review below, but the model on offer at Canyon today features DT Swiss PR 1400 DICUT OXIC wheels, Shimano's Ultegra Di2 groupset, and, again, a Selle Italia SLS Flow saddle.

- Read more: road.cc's Canyon Endurace CF SLX 9.0 SL review

17% off Canyon's 2017 Inflite AL 9.0 S
WAS £1599.00 | NOW £1329.00

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Moving away from the road-specific offerings for a moment, Canyon's Inflite bike is perfect for those of you who fancy trying your hand at cyclocross riding without committing to a machine that will suffer on the tarmac.

The Inflite range works as fantastically off road as it does on-road.

The model on offer here carries Shimano's Ultegra groupset as well as the brand's BR-RS785 disc brakes, a 7005 aluminium frame which ties everything together to offer an incredibly responsive and forgiving machine.

12% off Canyon's 2017 Commuter 7.0
WAS £1799.00 | NOW £1599.00

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Our final bike of the day looks a bit different, we'll admit.

Canyon's Commuter 7.0 is perfect for those of you who cycle through mucky inner-city environments and want to enjoy the freedom of cycling without all the faff of maintaining your fancy road bike.

Shimano's Alfine 8-speed geared hub will take a lot of that trouble away from you, while an integrated head light will mean you're never caught short on your commute.

50% off Continental's GP 4000S II 28mm Tyres
WAS £53.95 | NOW £27.00

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Our final deal of the day are Continental's Grand Prix 4000S II tyres. According to our main man Dave Atkinson, they're "excellent big-chambered race tyres with a fast smooth feel."

You can read more about them in his review below, but at this price we think they're a pretty spectacular offer.

- Read more: road.cc's Continental GP 4000S II Tyre review

The DealCatcher is serving you up another helping of wonderful deals today, specifically this batch comes to you straight from Canyon's website.

The German bike manufacturer is fittingly efficient with its deals.

The heftier - in terms of percentage discount - of the deals today come in the shape of tools and handywork accessories.

But, if you're looking to save more pounds than bigger proportions, the phenomenal offers currently available on Canyon bikes are where it's at.

Grab a discounted bike regardless of the kind of riding you do. For the speadsters out there Canyon's Aeroad range has seen discounts, those of you who like longer days in the saddle should check out the Endurace offerings in today's DealCatcher while those of you who like to race cross: the Inflite's had a nice discount.

What are you waiting for?

16% off Canyon's 2017 Aeroad CF SLX Disc 8.0
WAS £3799.00 | NOW £3199.00

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Canyon is pretty proud of its Aeroad CF SLX Disc 8.0.

'Why?', we here you ask. Well, it's phenomenally specced for a bottom-of-the-range bike.

The 8.0 carries the same stiffness into its riding style as the more expensive Aeroads, while the Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, Reynolds Strike Carbon Clinchers, and the full assortment of Canyon's aero features make this a machine to be reckoned with at this price.

What's more, the Shimano Ultegra 6800 groupset that'll help you propel this monster is excellent too.

21% off Canyon's 2017 Ultimate CF SLX Disc 8.0
WAS £3799.00 | NOW £2999.00

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Those of you who fancy a racer but aren't quite so keen on the super aggressive geometry - or those of you who are worried about your backs - the Ultimate range might be for you.

Canyon has specifically specced the Ultimate to give you a race-ready position without the feeling that you're overextending.

The specs show that this machine is just as interested in speed as the Aeroad above, though. Shmano's Ultegra 6800 groupset and Mavic's Cosmic Pro Carobn wheels scream speed.

20% off Canyon's 2017 Endurace CF SLX Disc 8.0 Di2
WAS £4499.00 | NOW £3599.00

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Endurace sounds a lot like endurance, don't you think?

Believe it or not, that's no coincidence. Canyon's Endurace is specifically designed to tackle all sorts of rides, on rought terrain and smooth, both quickly and comfortably.

The stand-out features aren't limited to Shimano's Ultegra Di2 groupset.

Canyon's H31 Ergocockpit which is a carbon fibre integrated stem-handlebar will optimize your position and aerodynamism and Canyon's S15 VCLS 2.0 seatpost will see you over all sorts of bumps comfortably while carrying an incredible aerodynamic profile.

18% off Canyon's 2017 Endurace WMN CF 9.0
WAS £1949.00 | NOW £1599.00

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Canyon's do-it-all Endurace range is so popular and Canyon has so much faith in the bike that the female-specific geometry model has seen a hefty discount too.

This model, however, is the 9.0 which carries shallower DT Swiss RR21 Dicut wheels, Shimano's non-electronic Ultegra 6800 groupset, and a non-integrated stem-headset.

The savings in price are considerable while the performance drop is not quite as drastic.

16% off Canyon's 2017 Ultimate AL SLX 9.0
WAS £1699.00 | NOW £1429.00

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Where we tackled an Ultimate model that sits quite high on the Canyon hierarchy earlier, the AL SLX 9.0 sits somewhat lower and is aimed at those of you starting your journey into road cycling.

Canyon says that the entry level tag on this bike is something of a misnomer as the bike's spec is phenomenal.

Mavic's Ksyrium Elite wheels, Fizik's Antares R5 saddle, and Shimano's wonderful Ultegra 6800 groupset are not components we're used to seeing on an entry level beast.

So, if you're after a bike at this price range that'll do a bit of everything, look no further.

20% off Canyon's 2017 Inflite AL 9.0
WAS £1799.00 | NOW £1449.00

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Our final bike of the day fits into the same price category as the Ultimate above.

The Inflite, however, is a racer through and through, just not a road racer.

If you're looking to delve into the world of cross racing, or you're sick of your rural, bumpy commute, this bike may well be the answer to your prayers.

Wider 33mm DT Swiss R23 Spline DB wheels carrying Schwalbe X-One Tubeless tyres will see you over the poorer terrain, while Shimano's ST-RS685 Hydraulic disc brakes will help you stop even in the worst conditions.

Finally, Shimano's Ultegra 6800 groupset will keep things moving.

30% off Park Tool's TW-5 1/4
WAS £134.95 | NOW £93.95

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If you're into your fettling, the final section of today's DealCatcher should be up your street.

The first item up is Park Tool's TW-5 1/4 ratcheting click-type torque wrench.

It'll help you keep the right amount of torque in all of the nuts and bolts your bike carries.

26% off PRO's 22-tool Toolbox
WAS £170.95 | NOW £125.95

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If you're in need of a little more than just a torque wrench, The PRO Toolbox should sort you out.

22 tools ranging from chain tools and chain bolt wrenches right through to Phillips or flat head screwdrivers and Spoke wreches, if you need it for your bike, chances are it's in here.

27% off Elite's Workstand Race Pro
WAS £196.95 | NOW £143.95

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And today's final deal ties all of this together.

Elite's Workstand Race Pro will happily hang your brand new Canyon as you use your brand new PRO toolbox to fettle away.

The aluminium components here are strong, rustproof and spectacularly light.

It'll fold away neatly and quickly too.

And your seal of approval? It's used on the pro tour by several pro teams.

Canyon are back in the DealCatcher driving seat today with six great deals on 2017 bikes and three great offers on Zipp wheels.

Whether you're looking for a super speedy road bike experience, a time trailing super machine, or something a little comfier for longer days in the saddle, Canyon have a bike for you.

And chances are it features in today's DealCatcher.

As far as the wheels go, we've featured three of Canyon's Zipp deals here today. But if you're in the market for a different type of wheel, or you're looking for the rear wheel counterpart of one of our featured deals, follow the link below to check out the full range off 16 Zipp wheel deals.

- Check Out: Canyon's full range of 16 Zipp wheel bargains

18% off Canyon's 2017 Ultimate WMN CF SLX 9.0
WAS £5399.00 | NOW £4449.00

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The first bike of the day is the sensational Ultimate CF SLX 9.0.

Sensational in looks, that much is evident, but we also know it's sensational from a performance perspective too.

We're not just looking at the SRAM RED 22 groupset, Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels and Canyon's Aerocockpit as evidence, we're talking from experience.

Our man Stu Kerton put the Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 through its paces last year and loved it. Check out his 9/10 road.cc review below:

- Read more: road.cc's Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 review

10% off Canyon's 2017 Aeroad CF SLX 9.0
WAS £4899.00 | NOW £4449.00

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Where the Ultimate above looks to bring a bit of aerodynamism to an all-round race machine, if you're looking for pure speed, Canyon's Aeroad wants to have a word.

Canyon's opening blurb for the Aeroad range targets those of you who haven't ever ridden an aero-specific road bike, and the classic dismissal of the necessity of the extra wattage aero features bring to the table.

It turns out it's really good fun riding an aero machine. Dropping your friends, like Canyon say, "with a few quick pedal strokes," really is good fun.

And the bike? Well, Shimano's Dura-Ace groupset, Reynolds Strike SLG Carbon Clincher wheels, and the Canyon H11 Aerocockpit CF - which saves a whole 5.5 watts on its own - add up to a pretty spectacular set-up.

- Read more: road.cc's 9/10 Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 8.0 review

12% off Canyon's 2017 Speedmax CF 8.0
WAS £2049.00 | NOW £1799.00

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Things just keep getting quicker in today's DealCatcher.

While the Aeroad was specifically made for racing, the Speedmax is looking to give you the edge for your timetrailing or triathlon endeavours.

The set-up looks great too: Shimano's wonderful 105 groupset will keep you ticking over quickly and reliably, Mavic's Cosmic Elite wheels bring their ultra-thin aerodynamic profile to the party, and the wonderful Speedmax CF frame is both aerodynamic heading into wind but also resistant from being blown around by cross winds.

15% off Canyon's 2017 Endurace CF SL Disc 8.0
WAS £1799.00 | NOW £1529.00

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With one eye on performance and the other eye on adventure cycling, the Endurace CF SL Disc 8.0 is the perfect companion for those of you who like an unpredicatable ride.

Just as at home on gravel paths as it is on the road or the slightly slushy surfaces of country lanes, the Endurace will give you freedom alongside excellent road performance.

Shimano's fantastic 105 groupset, Mavic's excellent Aksium All-Road Disc wheels, and the carbon Endurace CF SL frame will give you a stiff, responsive ride.

10% off Canyon's 2017 Endurace AL 6.0
WAS £999.00 | NOW £899.00

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Our final bike of the day is also our most affordable. 

The Endurace AL 6.0 is giving you comfortable performance on an incredible budget.

Shimano's 105 groupset on a sub-£1000 is already a rarity, but coupled with Canyon's excellent finishing kit and the Endurace AL frame add up to a package almost unparalleled for value.

22% off Zipp's 404 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Disc Front Wheel
WAS £1029.95 | NOW £805.05

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The wheelset of today's three that'll see you least out-of-pocket is Zipp's 404 Firecrest wheelset.

Offering "superior breaking and stopping power" alongside a "versatile 58mm deep rim," the folks at Zipp are confident that this wheelset is perfect for the sprinters among you.

Zipp specifically highlights the stiffness of the wheel and the superior performance it has under heavy corning, breaking and mid-sprint stress.

21% off Zipp's 404 NSW Carbon Clincher 20 Front Wheel
WAS £1074.95 | NOW £850.95

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Bumping up £50 in asking price is Zipp's 404 NSW Carbon Clinchers.

While these arent' disc ready, Zipp says they offer unrivalled aerodynamic efficiency alongside crosswind stability.

Zipp also says the 404 NSW also offers exceptionally low freehub drag. So you'll be riding faster and with more stability no matter where you're riding and under what conditions.

26% off Zipp's 808 Firecrest Carbon Clincher 20 Rear Wheel
WAS £1208.95 | NOW £895.95

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Today's final wheelset is also the most expensive.

Zipp's 808 Firecrest are race-proven. Carried by the pros, the 808s are allegedly the "fastest deep-section carbon clincher in the world."

The folks at Zipp are also quick to highlight the incredibly low weight and climbing ability of the wheel alongside it's excellent performance in testing crosswinds.

Wow! That was genuinely the first thought that came into my head when I set off on Canyon's Endurace WMN CF 9.0 Di2. I might even have uttered it aloud. Its 7.24kg might not be superlight in this day and age, but it's still pretty feathery, and the bike is so responsive I thought for a moment it was going to leave me behind.

This isn't the brand new disc brake version of the women's Endurace – there's a review of that one coming soon. This is the unisex model made 'women-specific' by the speccing of certain parts – a woman's saddle, shorter cranks, narrow handlebar... It also has rim brakes not discs.

> Buy this online here

Apart from the lack of disc brakes – made more noticeable by testing the disc brake version at the same time in a very similar spec (but mechanical Ultegra not Di2) – this is a lovely, lovely bike to ride. It looks beautiful, accelerates like a dream, and I really don't want to give it back.

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As the name suggests, the Endurace is designed for riding good distances at pace, in comfort, and that's what the WMN CF 9.0 delivers.

I've been in training for the Deloitte Ride Across Britain forever, it feels like, so have been getting in plenty of miles most weekends, as well as riding to work. The Endurace zips along; it's light and stiff, and requires little effort to get up to speed and stay there, spinning along on a pair of light DT Swiss wheels.

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Up front it is a little twitchier than you might expect of an endurance bike, a combination of the geometry and the light wheels. It's easy to move around if you need to avoid potholes or other obstacles on the road (though not, sadly, a low-flying young thrush, ), but did take me by surprise when I took one hand off the handlebar to shake my fist at a far-too-close-passing driver and nearly came a cropper.

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Uphill it makes you feel like you're a climbing supremo – why haven't those team bosses spotted my amazing abilities? The overall weight, or lack of, is one of the main reasons, the front end feeling particularly so, but the stiffness in the frame also comes into play, meaning none of your energy going into the pedals is wasted.

Also helping here is that it has my ideal gear range of a 50/34 compact chainring up front and a wide 11-32 cassette at the back. It's hilly round these parts, okay?

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That lightness up front doesn't make it too hairy on the downhills; it's not as solid feeling as the heavy steel bike I normally ride – obviously – but the 25mm Continental tyres help it feel planted, wet or dry. The wheels aren't deep section but can get buffeted about in strong winds, and I did feel a bit nervous descending on one particularly windy day, though I suspect I'd have felt the same on any bike.

Geometry

Initially, I was surprised to find I needed an XS size frame. I'm 5ft 6 1/2in and normally ride a small or medium, a 52 or 53cm, but Canyon's men's and women's models share the same sizing scale. A women's M and a men's M are for men and women of the same height. Not that this model has a women-specific frame; as I said, it's referred to as the 'unisex' frame, with women's parts.

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In numbers, it has a stack of 541mm and reach of 366mm (stack and reach are the vertical and horizontal measurements from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube) and a head tube angle of 70.9 degrees.

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What that equates to is a slightly stretched out riding position, as expected given that the Endurace sits at the racier end of the endurance bike spectrum. It's still very comfortable, and if you spend most of your time riding on the hoods you're not too upright and inefficient.

Frame and fork

There are all sorts of shapes going on with the tubing: a big and chunky, slightly squared-off down tube; a top tube that starts wide at the front and tapers towards the rear; narrow diameter seatstays for comfort and chunkier chainstays for stiffness... It all adds up to a frame that's responsive and efficient without being uncomfortably stiff.

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My daily (ahem) commute home takes in a mile or so of rough farm track (well, old railway track) that I probably shouldn't be riding a carbon bike along, and, okay, it's not a super-smooth experience but it's not that rattly a ride either.

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The full-carbon fork – reassuringly x-rayed for defects, as all Canyon's forks are – has a tapered steerer, 1 1/2in at the bottom, 1 1/4in at the top, and the fork blades also taper to the dropouts.

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Finishing kit

The DT Swiss wheels and 25mm Continental Grand Prix II tyres suit the bike well; the PR1400 Dicut wheels have a claimed weight of 1,435g, and though not deep section they're light enough and still deep enough to catch strong crosswinds. They look good too.

Canyon Endurace Wmn CF 9.0 - rim.jpg

Dave Arthur tested the wheels last year, and while I'd agree with him that they're 'stiff and responsive, with no give or flex when putting the power down' I wasn't as convinced by the braking prowess of the Oxic coating.

I have used Shimano Ultegra rim brakes before and have got on with them well, but for some reason – maybe the brake blocks, maybe the Oxic coating on the wheels – these seemed to require quite a bit of notice. Quite a bit more in the rain. If only it came with disc brakes...

Canyon Endurace Wmn CF 9.0 - front brake.jpg

Gear changes with Shimano's Ultegra Di2 were a revelation. Seriously. I'm an electronic shifting novice, and previously couldn't imagine what all the fuss was about. I can now. Any naysayers, don't knock it til you've tried it. Be warned, though: you don't half miss it when you go back to mechanical.

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All it takes to change gear is a light press of the knobbly or smooth bit of lever, but it's the trim function that I'm really taken with. 'Bzzzt' as it moves ever so slightly to counter any chain rub, whatever gear you've selected.

Canyon Endurace Wmn CF 9.0 - front mech.jpg

I appreciated the 165mm cranks too; I really notice the difference when using 170 or 175s, and actually have 160s on my own bike.

Canyon Endurace Wmn CF 9.0 - crank.jpg

The aluminium H17 bar and H13 stem are Canyon's own. The diameter and drop of the bar are both dependent on the width, in this case 38cm, and it's wrapped in very comfortable Ergospeed Gel tape. A bit of road buzz does get through, though, and I found my hands turning a bit tingly after three or four hours.

Canyon Endurace Wmn CF 9.0 - bars.jpg

Although the VCLS 2.0 'leaf spring' seatpost adds rear end comfort, I didn't get on with the Selle Italia saddle – a bit of a shame as this is one of the women-specific specifications. It's a little hard for my liking; maybe I need to toughen up. I also can't understand the need for deeply etched lettering right on the edge where it's likely to cause discomfort. Make it smooth please.

Canyon Endurace Wmn CF 9.0 - saddle and post.jpg

Value

An Ultegra Di2-equipped carbon frameset with £800 wheels for £2,649, which rides as well as this, strikes me as very good value. How does it compare with the competition? With many of the big names adopting disc brakes, or choosing mechanical Ultegra rather than Di2, it's not entirely clear, but there is certainly a lot of choice out there for women who want to cover decent distances at speed.

Trek's rim-brake Silque with mechanical Shimano Ultegra costs £2,100, while Specialized's disc brake Ruby Comp, again with mechanical Ultegra, is £2,650. Giant's Liv Avail Advanced Pro 1, with disc brakes and mechanical Ultegra, is £2,899.

> Buyer's Guide: 12 of the best road bikes from £2,000-£2999

Canyon's own disc brake equivalent of the CF 9.0, the CF SL Disc 8.0, with mechanical Ultegra, is £2,199, while the SRAM Red eTap model is £4,199.

Conclusion

We took delivery of the WMN CF 9.0 Di2 just as I was invited to Canyon's launch of its brand new, completely remodelled women-specific range, which includes the new disc brake Endurace.

Hearing about – and seeing and riding – the new model did make me wonder about the 'old' unisex version, and I have to confess the shine was rather taken off even the idea of riding it and testing it. Happily, I was proved completely wrong. It's an absolutely beautiful bike to ride, and if disc brakes aren't a concern for you, I urge you to give this bike serious consideration. If you don't like this Blue Lagoon colourscheme, it's also available in Silk-Pearl (white).

Canyon Endurace Wmn CF 9.0 - riding 4.jpg

Verdict

Light, fast, responsive – a hugely enjoyable ride whether you're out for a quick blast or on an all-day epic

What cyclocross bike should I buy? That's a very good question - one I hear a lot - and there's plenty of choice, from race-ready options to bikes that come with rack and mudguard mounts for a bit more versatility.

The cyclocross bikes on this page offer just a selection of the available choice. We've tried to pick bikes that will cater for all tastes, from those specifically looking to buy a bike with a view to getting into racing, to those that are interested in the versatility and ruggedness for a winter training and commuting bike. And, no, we didn't mean to pick all disc-equipped bikes, that's just the way cyclocross bikes have developed.

There are now very few cyclocross bikes with rim brakes. With a handful of exceptions, discs have taken over, a development many die-hard cross enthusiasts said would never happen when the UCI changed its rules to allow them in elite races in 2010. Only a tiny number of top racers are still using cantilevers, and the vast majority of off-the-peg cyclocross bikes have discs.

>>Read more: Beginner's Guide to cyclocross essentials

Vitus Energie Cyclo X — £1,000

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Vitus has nailed this one. The Energie VR is an excellent tool for thrashing round in the mud for an hour on a Sunday, and it's versatile enough for more general riding. The drivetrain is excellent, it's tubeless-ready out of the box and it looks great. For the money, it's hard to fault.

Read our review of the Vitus Energie 

The Light Blue Robinson Rival 1x — £1,700

The Light Blue Robinson 1x - riding 1.jpg

The Robinson, from British company The Light Blue, offers a really smooth ride, with steady handling and tyres that provide a good balance of fast road riding pace and off-road grip. In this SRAM Rival 1x build with cyclo-cross tyres it's an ideal all-terrain bike, at home on the road or tackling more challenging countryside terrain, or for just tackling rough roads in comfort. 

Read our review of the Light Blue Robinson
Find a Light Blue dealer

Giant TCX SLR 2 — £1,040

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We liked last year's Giant TCX SLR 1, and this is the 2017 equivalent. It gets a brake upgrade to Shimano hydraulics, but retains the fast and nimble aluminium frame as the 2016 bike. New Giant bikes for the 2018 season are imminent, but there are some very good deals on 2017 models, like the 20% off here.

Read our review of the 2016  Giant TCX SLR 1
Find a Giant dealer

Pinnacle Arkose 2 — £1,000

pinnacle arkose 2 2017.jpg

The Pinnacle range of cyclocross-inspired bikes offers some great choices. Evans Cycles presents them as 'Adventure bikes' now but in truth they're a good choice for those wanting a cyclocross bike for hacking around the woods having a bit of fun on, taking part in any number of the new cyclocross sportives, riding to work and, of course, there's no reason why you couldn't race one.

A 2018 model is almost certainly imminent, but fr the moment you can get a limited range of sizes at this bargain price.

Read our review of the Pinnacle Arkose 2
Find a Pinnacle dealer

Merida Cyclo Cross 500 — £1,100

Merida Cyclo Cross 500 2017.jpg

Aside from a few small details, the 2017 version of this bike is the same as the 2015 version we really liked when we reviewed it. It's a very good all-rounder. It's light and responsive enough to chuck round a race, and versatile enough for more general purpose riding. It's fun to ride and easy to recommend

The Merida Cyclo Cross 500's off-road handling is good. The bike has a generous wheelbase and the steering is predictable, if a bit slower than a fully-fledged race bike. The fork is excellent: the 15mm thru-axle stiffens up the front end noticeably, and tracking over rough ground is really good, with very little noticeable dive under heavy braking.

Read our review of the Merida Cyclo Cross 500

Canyon Inflite AL — from £1,449

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The first cyclo-cross bike from German company Canyon impressed hugely when we reviewed it, with great handling and a very good parts package for the money. It boasts the sort of versatility that will ensure it appeals to those wanting a bike for more than just racing, but has all the credentials for taking to the start line.

Read our review of the Canyon Inflite AL 8.0

Specialized Crux — from £1,300

2018 Specialized Crux Expert X1.jpeg

Specialized's Crux is a popular choice among amateur cyclo-cross racers. The four bikes in the 2018 UK range all have disc brakes, and the £3,900 Expert X1 above has SRAM's hydraulics and 1 x 11 transmission.

The impressive spec includes Roval SLX 24 wheels with 33mm Terra Pro tyres. The range starts at £1,300 for the Crux E5, though there are still 2017 models around for £1,062.50.

Read our review of the Specialized Crux Elite X1
Find a Specialized dealer

Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 V2 — £622 (frame)

Kinesis Racelight Pro6.jpg

This is your typical racing cyclocross bike. The Pro 6 is a perennial favourite with cyclocross racers and for many a Kinesis was probably their first cyclocross bike, bought as a frame and cobbled together from spare parts. You can buy the frame or this complete bike with a Shimano 105 groupset and TRP Spyre disc brakes, a combination that will usually run about £1400.

Read our first ride impressions on the Pro Crosslight Pro6
Read our review of the Kinesis Crosslight Pro6
​Find a Kinesis dealer

Raleigh RX Pro 1X — £1,500

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Raleigh has an eight-bike cyclocross range, of which this is the cheapest with hydraulic brakes and SRAM's 1 x 11 transmission. It's an aluminium frame with butted tubing and a tapered head tube with a carbon fibre fork. They've gone with a 15mm bolt-thru front axle and a regular quick release rear axle.

As well as ideal for racing, this bike is versatile enough for the daily commute with rack and mudguard eyelets.

Find a Raleigh dealer

On-One Pickenflick — £1,699.99

On One Pickenflick

The On-One Pickenflick is a complete cyclo-cross bike with a titanium frame for a price only  bit more than you'd usually pay for a titanium frame. Its handling and adaptability makes it at home on road, cyclo-cross circuit or trail.

Read our review of the On-One Pickenflick

Felt F4X — £2,094.28

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The Felt F4X is the cheaper of Felt's two carbon fibre cross bikes with a high-modulus frame that helps keep the weight low, so it's a good choice for racing, with plenty of upgrade potential. It has internal cable routing and a tapered head tube.

Like many manufacturers here, Felt has gone for SRAM's 1 x 11 transmission, giving a decent range of gears without the complication of a front derailleur.

Storck T.I.X. — from £2,999

Storck TIX

One of the newest carbon fibre cyclo-cross bikes on the market, this is actually the first 'cross bike from German company Storck. The company are advocates of disc brakes and the T.I.X. has been designed around disc brakes. The model we tested came with Shimano's hydraulic disc brakes providing excellent stopping power.

Read our first ride of the Storck T.I.X.

Ridley X — from £750

Ridley X-Bow Disc Tiagra 2017

Hailing from Belgium, Ridley has one of the biggest ranges of cyclocross bikes,which is hardly surprising given that it's Belgian cycling's winter religion. The X-Bow Disc Tiagra's aluminium frame is hung with Shimano Tiagra components with a proper cyclocross-style 46/36 double chainset. The rubber that hits the (dirt) road is from Challenge and it sits on Ridley's own 4ZA wheels with Shimano hubs.

Find a Ridley dealer

Want more cyclocross bike options? See the full archive of cyclo-cross bike reviews here. 

[This article was last updated on August 30, 2017]