Do Aero Components Make You Faster? These Cockpits Help You Ride Faster with Less Effort.

Want to crush your next triathlon? Speedmax’s innovative cockpit options help you get, and stay, aero.

Vernon Felton Published: Nov 25, 2025

Do Aero Components Make You Faster? These Cockpits Help You Ride Faster with Less Effort.

Seventy percent (or more) of your effort when pedaling a bike is dedicated to plowing your way through the air. It doesn’t matter if you are a multi-time World Champion triathlete or an absolute newbie, if speed is what you seek, the first thing you need to do is to get as aerodynamic as possible.

If you already own one of our Speedmax models, or are considering getting one, you’ll find our adjustable aero cockpit options the key to riding faster than ever before.

Content

What does it mean to get “more aero”?
Canyon Speedmax aero cockpit options—unrivaled fit and adjustability.
Ready to go faster?

What does it mean to get “more aero”?

Engineers and designers at brands like Canyon obsess over making their road and tri bike as aerodynamic as possible. Our latest iteration of the World Championship-winning Speedmax, for example, underwent 442 CFD (computational fluid dynamics) computer simulations and 312 wind tunnel analyses in our bid to make it the fastest bike in the worlds of triathlon and track racing.

But bear this in mind, you account for the vast majority of air resistance you experience when riding.

Your body is one big, floppy, decidedly un-aerodynamic object—especially when you’re riding upright in the base bar position. Your chest is a sail. Your arms disrupt air flow and create all sorts of turbulence. Your head sticks up way too high.

If you want to get more aero, you need to reduce this unruly frontal area. As soon as you bring your arms together and lower your chest and head into the aero position in the extensions, everything changes. The wind no longer hits your upright torso, arms, and head. Your body becomes a smaller, more streamlined object, allowing the air to flow smoothly over you. In that moment, you become significantly more aerodynamic.

Since aerodynamic drag increases dramatically the moment you move out of this position, the key is to find an aero position that is both comfortable and sustainable over long distances.

What defines your own ideal aero position depends on individual physical factors such as your flexibility and core strength as well as the length and profile of the course you’re racing. These factors can change over the span of a career or even a single season, which means that your ideal position isn’t static. “Getting aero” is an ongoing process of adjustment and refinement.

Extension length, grip angle, arm pad stack, reach, and width are the decisive variables when it comes to dialing in your aero position. Your ability to precisely adjust each of these variables with ease makes all the difference when it comes to finding your fastest position. We’ve designed the Speedmax cockpit systems to let you fine tune and improve your aerodynamic profile.

To learn more about why aerodynamics matter, check out our Ride faster: Pro tips for speeding up on your road bike article.

Canyon Speedmax aero cockpit options—unrivaled fit and adjustability.

When it comes to getting as aerodynamic as possible, the Speedmax has few rivals. No other bike gives you the same ability to dial in your perfect aero fit, down to the millimeter.

Step #1: Find the Right Basebar for Your Riding Style

Speedmax basebars differ in basebar rise and stem length, directly influencing your fit and handling. Here's how to choose

Basebar rise

Flat Basebar– Ideal for fast, flat courses and riders seeking an aggressive, aerodynamic basebar position.
Rise Basebar– Designed for a more upright posture, offering comfort especially on hilly courses where more time is spend in the basebar position.

Basebar length

Short– Standard reach for a classic fit.
Long– Adds 20mm of reach for a more modern, progressive fit
X-Long– Maximum reach for a pro-level, stretched-out position.

CP0019 Flatbar short | 65mm

Stem Length: 65 mm 
Basebar Rise: 0 mm
Best for: Compact seating position and agressive drop in basebar position.

CP0019 Flatbar long | 85mm

Stem Length: 85 mm
Basebar Rise: 0 mm
Best for: Stretched seating position and moderate drop in basebar position.

CP0019 Flatbar Mid-Rise X-Long

Stem Length: 115 mm
Basebar Rise: 20 mm
Best for: Stretched seating position and moderate drop in basebar position.

CP0021 Risebar short | 65mm/40mm

Stem Length: 65 mm
Basebar Rise: 40 mm 
Best for: Compact seating position and agressive drop in basebar position.

Step 2: Choose Your Extension Length

Select your extension size based on your forearm length:

Small – Suitable for forearm length between 255–355 mm.
Medium – Suitable for forearm length between 315–390 mm.
Large – Suitable for forearm length between 350–480 mm.

Canyon GP0242

Aerobar Short

Telescopic mono extension with ergonomically optimised dual grip.
Size: Short
Length: 305-365 mm
Grip adjustment: 60˚

Canyon GP0242

Aerobar Medium

Telescopic mono extension with ergonomically optimised dual grip.
Size: Medium
Length: 325-405 mm
Grip adjustment: 60˚

Canyon GP0242

Aerobar Long

Telescopic mono extension with ergonomically optimised dual grip.
Size: Long
Length: 360-440 mm
Grip adjustment: 60˚

Step 3: Dial in your fit

Choosing the perfect basebar and extensions are just the first steps of the process of dialing your perfect fit on Speedmax.

You can use the fitting kit included with each Speedmax to precisely tune your arm-pad stack, and extension angle.

Want even more angle adjustment? With the Angle Fitting Upgrade Kit (sold separately via the Canyon Webshop Canyon Speedmax Angle Fitting Kit), you can unlock effective extension angles up to 22.5° and an additional 25 mm of reach — perfect for riders looking for a stretched-out, high hand position.

Ready to go faster?

Aero isn’t just theory — it’s free speed. The Speedmax shows what happens when every detail is tuned for performance, from cockpit adjustability to drag-cutting design. Want to unlock your own aero advantage? Dive into our road bike buying guide and road bike geometry article to find your perfect setup and use the bike finder and comparison tools to easily compare models and make a guided choice for the bike that takes your performance to the next level.

See you on the road — on your new Canyon.

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