Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8

Refined and well-mannered racer
On the Ultimate CF SLX 8, Canyon nailed the bike’s handling, which balanced nimbleness and stability, a surprise given the relatively slack head-tube angle of the extra-small model. I was expecting a stable, verging on sleepy steering response, but the Ultimate CF SLX was great fun in corners and carves a beautiful line. It’s a reminder that bikes are more than a collection of numbers on geometry charts. The German brand also imbued the Ultimate with a composed ride without giving up snap under power. The bike gave me a feeling . . .