Just ahead of the Ironman world championship, Boardman Bikes launched its new AiR/TTE, a time trial/triathlon bike that was three years in the making. Boardman launched the bike in Kona, where last year Pete Jacobs won the title on a Boardman AiR TT 9.8.
The new machine features an integrated bar/stem system with full internal routing. "There's not a cable, nut or bolt in sight," said Chris Boardman, the legendary former racer and current R&D director of Boardman Bikes.
The aero aesthetics of a track bike - with 22 electric gears
"The mechanic friendly design boasts huge variation capabilities, with only two allen keys needed to make all the adjustments," Boardman said. "The whole design process has been an emotional and full-on process of design, test, redefine, re-test and has involved a variety of new technologies never used in the cycling industry before."
Boardman said the three-year development process included laser body scanning, CFD design and of course feedback from the company's pro riders.
The trick with fully integrated front ends on such bikes is always the adjustment. On this bike, there is 10cm of height and 2.5cm of fore/aft adjustment on the arm pads, said Boardman's Andy Smallwood. "And we have an additional two bar/stem rise options planned which will increase adjustment further," Smallwood said. The bike is compatible with Zipp's Vuka system should more fit adjustments be required, he said.
More information including pricing will be released in early November. In the meantime, Boardman has confirmed the spec on two bikes and a frameset module below.
AiR/TTE 9.8 Ultegra
- Frame: AiR/TTE full carbon
- Fork: AiR/TTE full carbon with integrated brake and cable routing
- Headset: FSA Integrated
- Shifters: Shimano Ultegra Di2 11-speed
- Front Mech: Shimano Ultegra Di2 11-speed
- Rear Mech: Shimano Ultegra Di2 11-speed
- Chain: Shimano Ultegra 11-speed
- Brakes: TRP Aero V rear/AiR/TTE integrated front
- Chainset: Shimano Ultegra
- Wheels: Shimano RS31
- Tyres: Continental GP4000
- Saddle: ISM Adamo
- Seatpost: Cboardman AiR/TTE Carbon 4 position
- Handlebar: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
- Stem: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
- Extension & Pads: Cboardman AiR/TTE
AiR/TTE 9.8 Dura Ace
- Frame: AiR/TTE full carbon
- Fork: AiR/TTE full carbon with integrated brake and cable routing
- Headset: FSA Integrated
- Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 11-speed
- Front Mech: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 11-speed
- Rear Mech: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 11-speed
- Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace 11-speed
- Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace 11-speed
- Brakes: TRP Aero V rear/AiR/TTE integrated front
- Chainset: Shimano Dura-Ace 11-speed
- Wheels: Zipp 808 Firecrest rear/ Zipp 404 Firecrest Front
- Tyres: Continental GP4000
- Saddle: ISM Adamo
- Seatpost: Cboardman AiR/TTE Carbon 4 position
- Handlebar: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
- Stem: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
- Extension & Pads: Cboardman AiR/TTE
AiR/TTE 9.8 Frameset
- Frame: AiR/TTE full carbon
- Fork: AiR/TTE full carbon with integrated brake and cable routing
- Headset: FSA Integrated
- Brakes: TRP Aero V rear/AiR/TTE integrated front
- Seatpost: Cboardman AiR/TTE Carbon 4 position
- Handlebar: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
- Stem: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
- Extension & Pads: Cboardman AiR/TTE
