If you’ve ever wondered about those blue Shimano road bikes you sometimes see in pro bike races, well wonder no more.
At this year’s Tour de France, we got up close and personal with one and in this video Simon reveals all of its secrets – including what bike it really is, why it’s the only bike in the pro peloton to use a dropper post and how much it weighs.
We also explain why, despite it’s flagship Dura-Ace groupset and wheels, no pro at the Tour de France wants to ride one of these bike, except in an emergency.
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31 Comments
Ah ! The famous karjolo !
Very cool bike.
"I think it saved my day quite a bit." Tadej referring to this bike at his post Paris-Roubaix interview. That quote should resolve any disagreements
I'll admit I do like the bike in general, but it does stand out on the Tour. It's the non-integrated cockpit for me. If it was semi-int that'd be a different story altogether.
2:59 you can see there’s one on the car rack that has a quick release seat collar. Looks like an alloy frame?!?
Which drivetrain is on the bike? Shimano, Campag or SRAM?
"The only bike in the pro peloton to use a dropper post" – Mohorič shaking his head.
Looks like a great bike.
All bikes are cool… do they sell them off ?
Great bike! Send me one!
For me it is a cool bike, but it needs a cooler paint job.
pretty clever bike set up for its purpose
I am still on a 2017 TCR. It was sort of Neutral service this week. I missed my train and had to ride 40 miles in the rain. It functioned almost perfectly, other than the old Fizik bar tape slowly melting in the wet.
thank you !!
Losing a few watts here and there surely beats standing on the side of the road waiting for your team car to get through traffic.
Same tyres as I use on my Caad12 rolls well and plenty light. It's a solid bike tha and it's the way it is cause it has to be, a newer bike would be very little better once you fit the older style stem and bar and add the weight of a dropper post so no point changing.
In past years they used to be Scott addict.
anyone can see the canyon thru axle covers
i was always fascinated for the blue bees :D. i want the frame so bad and put my 7000 groupset on it.
Still weird to use a 10 year old frame.
There are plenty of more up to date games that take round seat posts…
Id rather ride the Lego bike behind you
Welp, imagine if one of the riders said its an amazing bike, or even a good bike. I am not into marketing but my guess is the team managers and its bike sponsor won't love it.
I have a 10 year old Canyon Ultimate that I still use for my work commute
Because bikes haven’t changed much. Lets be honest. Its all bs. Decent tyres and gear range is all you need.
Anyone consider a strategy where you have a flat and need neutral service at the top of a mountain.. then can use dropper to get lower more aero for a crazy descent?
How Can you buy one?
Frame is actually a Velobuild VB-R-066, they are still in production and can be had for $459 plus shipping (wow!)
At this point, everybody knows that this bike is the Canyon Ultimate. So many outlets are talking about it each year. The idea with Merida is a solid one, and I don't see a reason why changing the stem would be any more difficult than on the Canyon. Cables are not routed through the stem, but rather just underneath, and you can swap it as easily as the normal one.
6:40 I hope you mean 2026
A really interesting presentation. Thanks. I’m not a fan of the colour. I imagine with the addition of lights, power meter, tool-kit, head-unit and water bottle that bike would come in a lot heavier for the everyday Road Warrior than just the 8+ kg the Pro’s are dealing with.
I'm just some average 60 year old cyclist. I would kill for that bike. I would still be a slow ageing old dufffer but look at the bike.