In the past week, cycling media has begun announcing Canyon’s new Aeroad. It’s an updated version of their flagship race bike, and seems to be a strong upgrade over the previous model from 2021. Given the media blitz for the new frame, it’s not surprising that they coordinated with Zwift to launch it in game as well.
The Canyon Aeroad 2024 is available in Zwift’s drop shop once you’re updated to game version 1.70.0. Here’s how it’s described in the Drop Shop:
“Aero, stiff, light, and all-around rapid. From high-speed Grand Tour stages to the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, the Aeroad is a contender at any road race on the planet. All thanks to its complete performance and profile: game-changing aerodynamics, superlight builds, and benchmark stiffness.“
It’s rated 3 stars for aero performance and 4 stars for weight on Zwift, which is an improvement over the Aeroad 2021’s 3-star weight rating. But new stuff doesn’t come cheap: at a price of 1,100,000 Drops, it costs 250,000 more than the older Aeroad, 2021.
Big news for Zwift n00bs, though: the new Aeroad is available at level 10+, while the old one was unlocked at level 27. That’s quite a shift.
Since Zwift’s 5-star rating system isn’t granular enough to communicate in-game performance in a precise way, we ran the Aeroad 2024 through our battery of speed tests. Given that it’s the updated version of the Aeroad 2021, which already is a strong all-arounder, we expected the new Aeroad to perform well in our tests. And it did!
Here’s everything you need to know about the performance of the new Canyon Aeroad 2024 frame in Zwift.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
The new Aeroad is faster on flat roads than the 2021 Aeroad, but just barely. Strava rounds times to the nearest second, so while we compute that the two frames are separated by ~1.6 seconds, Strava shows it to be a 1-second gap.
The Aeroad 2024’s flat test time of 51:18 puts it just 1 second behind the “fast four” (Cervelo S5 2020, Felt AR, Specialized Venge S-Works, Uranium Nuclear) which all turn in identical times of 51:17. That means it’s 7 seconds faster than our “baseline” Zwift Aero frame on our test course, which is two laps of Tempus Fugit totaling 34.6km.
Climb Performance
With its ultra-light 4-star weight rating, we knew the new Aeroad would perform well in our climbing test. It turned in a top-10 time, in fact, coming in at #10 on the list of non-Tron bike Alpe times.
The Aeroad 2024 turns in an Alpe climb time of 48:58.5, which is 29.5 seconds faster than our Zwift Aero baseline and 8.5 seconds slower than the best climbing road frame in game – the Specialized Aethos.
Note: all test results above are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using Zwift’s stock 32mm carbon wheelset.
All-Arounder Comparison
Up to this point, the Scott Addict RC has been considered the best all-arounder in game, at least if you remove the Tron bike from the equation.
The Aeroad 2024 is 3.5 seconds slower than the Scott Addict RC on our climb test, but it’s also 4.5 seconds faster in our flat test compared to the Addict. So you could say the two frames are quite evenly matched, with the Aeroad 2024 having the edge in terms of aero performance, and the Addict having the edge on climbs.
What if we compare it to the Tron bike, or to the older Aeroad 2021? Here’s an updated version of a very useful chart that makes comparison easy.
Tron vs Top Performers
Colored based on frame. Mouse over each point for details.
Zwift Concept Z1, Specialized Venge S-Works, Canyon Aeroad 2021, Canyon Aeroad 2024, Scott Addict RC, Specialized Aethos
The enlarged leftmost blue dot for the Aeroad 2024 is the biggest outlier here. It shows that the Aeroad is just 1 second slower than the fastest aero setups on flat ground, while being 7.5 seconds faster in the climb test. That’s a solid tradeoff in many races!
Zwift Academy
Zwift Academy 2024 includes a ZA paint job unlock for this new Aeroad frame, but you’ll have to buy the frame to use the paint job. Unlock the paint job by finishing the full Academy (6 workouts and 2 races). Here’s what it looks like:
And don’t forget, if you finish Zwift Academy 2024, you be entered into a giveaway for a Zwift Academy-painted Canyon Aeroad 2024 bike!
Conclusions
Zwift nailed the performance of the Aeroad 2024 frame, in our opinion. It’s marginally faster than the previous Aeroad, and pushes the performance curve of the game’s top bikes just enough to make it compelling.
Three reasons why the new Canyon Aeroad 2024 frame is about to become very popular with Zwift racers:
- It’s a better choice than the “fast 4” frames in races with any climbing thanks to its superior uphill performance
- It can be paired with ENVE 7.8 wheels to basically become a climb-advantaged Tron bike
- It’s available at level 10
The only bummer is that you don’t get a color slider: “You can have any color as long as it’s black.” But the paint does have sparkles, just like the IRL bike.
We’ll be updating various posts soon to add the Aeroad 2024, including:
- Zwift Shopping Guide: What To Buy from the Drop Shop at Each Level
- Fastest Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level
- Zwift Speed Tests: Frame Ranking Charts
- Speed Tests: Zwift’s Fastest Bike Frames for Flat/Rolling Races
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.
Canyon is blue but name above is in black type.
Does that mean it is still slower than the Tron in both flat and climbing times? Thanks in advance.
Depends on which wheels you pair with it. (See chart above).
Check the chart Ben. It depends on the wheels. Combined with the Swiss Disc you have a little advantage on the flat, with the ENVE 7.8 you have a little advantage on the climb.
Many thanks Eric for this big news ! So finally we get a NEW frame since round about a decade ;-).
I can’t wait to ride with the new best aero-allrounder in game. The no-color-slider-option is really a bummer … but I would say the black one can be combined with many wheels and kits to have a nice look. But I think they could have added the 3 stripes at the back of the frame to be closer to the original.
I am excited if ZHQ will add some more fresh material to the Drop-Shop (e.g. Spec. Tarmac SL8, Bianchi, Merida, Look …). Did you hear some rumors about this ?
Haven’t heard rumors of many new frames really… but Zwift is definitely taking a look at some garage changes, which will be a good thing.
Thanks Eric … sounds good … hopefully they also add an option to sort our stuff in the WHOLE garage … a big part of the community is waiting since many many years for this 🤷🏻♂️🙈
Biggest and best change they could make is the delete button to get rid of all the junk you don’t need!
How about a sell or donate button? Then have a used marketplace. Perhaps the used gear could have some diminished performance based on age/use.
Ohh yes, a favorite option for Frames, Wheels and Jerseys pretty please.
So they stay on top of the garage 🤞
But how does it compare to the Pinarello Dogma F, which has until now been the slightly less climby, slightly more aero alternative to the Scott Addict?
the Aeroad 24 has 2 times a marginal advantage over the Dogma F … 2s on flats … 0,5s on climbs
Got the new Aeroad 2024 bike delivered just today. Guess choosing this frame in the game is no brainer for me. 🤓
I’m surprised by the low level requirement. I thought one of the ideas behind the gear revamp that was done a few months ago was to get better “gear progression” as you advance through the levels. Now it’s back to the old situation where you just get this frame at level 10 and never have to buy another frame ever again.
Well, when I put the first Aeroad in the game it was at level 23. Made sense progression-wise, but wasn’t great for brand exposure. But I guess the real reason is to even the playing field as far as equipment goes early on. There are pros and cons for doing that.
I do wonder though how many ‘Zwift n00bs’ have 1.1M drops at level 10.
i did 😁
When is this showing up in the shop ? I’m in there now and I don’t see it.
You need to have the latest version installed – 1.70.0 (https://zwiftinsider.com/update-1-70-0-132734/)
Thanks
I’ll be waiting a few releases to see if they change the values like they’ve done so many times before after adding a new bike.
Can we have the Ribble Ultra Pro please!!
Won today using it for first time on Stage 1: Punchy Power – Coastal Crown Loop || LOW END || Using Racing Score
Nice! Must be your lucky bike!
High I am a apple TV users and the color scheme is not available foe the canyon. Or will it be released once you do the zwift academy 2
Zwift Academy color scheme is unlocked when you finish Zwift Academy 2024, as it says above.
Do you know if I can finish ZA 2024 also in workout mode, as the event is finished already. Or is now no more possible to get the color scheme?
Or pearl white would be cool.
I have all of the best ones: frame/wheel.(Canyon Kona & DT Swiss).I thought the Tron bike might be something so did everest.
Not impressed with Tron. If you put in the work, Tron bike is an eyesore.They do a burnout or something as they get passed by. Almost as bad as those who use a coffee cup.Tron bikes cannot keep up but motivation on the climb to get it regardless is worth it to find a better bike..
Hills are Scott Rc, Dogma, Millstein etc.Light as it gets.
Great app.
In order to complete a Zwift Academy workout successfully, do I have to it properly or can I just disable ERG and do a Z2 ride?
My guess is you can fake it… but I haven’t tried. Go for it and report back on your findings!
I’ve finally saved up enough drops for the Aeroad but wondering if I should wait for the Felt AR at Level 23? I’m currently Level 19. Thank you
What did you decide on after?
Went for the Felt AR and complimented it with the Scott Addict RC. Find myself using the Addict RC more as climbs always seem to be the defining points of races.
Would 100% have got the Aeroad if it had been available when I was at Level 10.
I am guessing that the speed tests are done in a non-draft test? I have wondered if the tron is faster in a draft or does it matter? It is important because the race is a bunch until it is not. In most races the hills are important because it reduces the impact of the draft and turns it over to weight. Is there a way to test?
Bikes perform in the draft like they do without a draft. So if a bike is faster solo, it’s faster when drafting.