Review: Lapierre Aircode

Lapierre’s new Aircode is the French brand’s first offering in the aero road category, replacing the long-standing Xelius as the flagship in its road range. Befitting that status, the Lapierre-sponsored FDJ.fr riders spent the 2014 season campaigning extensively aboard prototypes of the Aircode, giving feedback while racking up an impressive record. Nacer Bouhanni sprinted to three stage wins and the points jersey at the Giro, while Thibaut Pinot climbed on to third place at the Tour aboard one. The results showcase the Aircode’s versatility.

A number of au courant wind-cheating design details are incorporated into the Aircode. The head tube is narrower compared to the Xelius. The down tube features a variation of the truncated-airfoil shape. The seat tube has a cut-out for the rear wheel. Upfront, the direct-mount front brake is recessed into the front fork to blend in more aerodynamically with the fork crown. The top tube is slightly raised where it meets the head tube in an attempt to smooth turbulent airflow coming off of the stem, mimicking the latest time trial bike designs, including Lapierre’s own Aerostorm.

Despite the extensive list of aero features, the Aircode is still more of a semiaero road bike, in the mould of Scott’s Foil or Trek’s Madone, rather than a full on aero road offering, such as Cervélo’s S5. The numbers in the tunnel might not be quite as good as a dedicated aero road bike, but as a result, the Aircode handles and rides much more like a traditional race bike, hence, its versatility. Bouhanni the sprinter used it, as did Pinot the GC man and climber.

The Aircode uses a wide BB86 bottom bracket and long chainstays. Together, they offer a reassuring sense of solidity underfoot when stomping on the pedals. There is no lag when standing out of the saddle, in a climb or a sprint. The price of this solidity, though, is a ride that is on the jarring side. Even the presence of a round seatpost does little to mitigate the firm ride, but it’s no more jarring than any other aero road bike.

In addition to the stout drivetrain, the Aircode is also stiff torsionally, which shows up in its excellent descending manners. On one of my regular test loops, there’s a steep corner with a decreasing radius, tightening up as you go around it. You need a stiff frame that will keep the front and rear wheel in plane. To add to the challenge, there is a manhole cover mid-corner you need to avoid, which makes picking the correct line and sticking to it critical if you want to get through at speed. Any handling quirks or deficiencies of a bike will often show up on that corner. On new test bikes I’m unfamiliar with, I frequently find myself making small mid-corner adjustments, thus losing speed, to get through the turn. My first time dropping into that corner aboard the Aircode, I was able to get through as confidently as aboard my regular ride, and I was able to do it over and over again.

The brakes on the Aircode are another highlight. Usually, an under-the-bottom-bracket mount and internal-cable routing is a recipe for mushy brakes. Not so with the Aircode; its well-designed cable path, which runs without housing within the down tube, ensured the Shimano Ultegra directmount brakes retained their crisp feel and powerful braking.

My first time dropping into that corner aboard the Aircode, I was able to get through as confidently as
aboard my regular ride.

One thing to beware of when considering the Aircode is the sizing runs large, with more than one tester commenting that the small (roughly the nominal equivalent to 52 cm) looked and felt more like a medium (54 cm). A proper fitting at your dealer is a good idea before settling on the frame size. The radical shaping of the Aircode was polarizing in the office with half loving the advanced wind-cheating looks, and the more traditional half finding it a bit much. One thing everyone agreed on is the tricolour paint scheme: it looks great and really speaks to Lapierre’s heritage.

The Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels spec’d on the Lapierre Aircode are a reliable set of everyday training wheels. Fitted with some deeper-section race wheels, the Lapierre Aircode would make an excellent weapon at a flat criterium, hilly road race or even a spirited group ride where you are looking to rip your buddies’ legs off. And you are unlikely to see someone else with the same bike at the start line.