Selling exclusively to the public through their own website, Canyon have long been a source of good value, well specced bikes - road and mountain. This approach means it will be difficult to throw a log over one of their machines before you buy, but that is one of the few downsides for the punter who otherwise generally gets a great bike for a great price.
The Endurace - as its name might suggest - is intended as the combination of an endurance, sportive bike for all day riding with an out and out race machine. This means blending all out stiffness for power transfer with some compliance for long term comfort in the saddle. A Shimano 105 groupset carries out braking and shifting duties while quality DT Swiss wheels keep things turning when you are out there.
By developing frames using their VCLS (Vertical Compliance, Lateral Stiffness) system Canyon have created a frame that is relatively pliable in the vertical direction - the direction road buzz comes up from the ground - while remaining stiff in the lateral direction - supporting the side to side motion of pedalling. This has resulted in a bike that cuts out the fine bumps and rattles which can be remarkably fatiguing over a whole day in the saddle while feeling perky and responsive when the pedals are stamped on. It also drops the rider into a slightly more upright position than your average racing machine, again helping with extended saddle time.
The advantages of buying direct from the manufacturer shout their loudest when you look closely at the spec sheet of the Endurace 8.0 though, with Shimano 105 specced throughout. No corners have been cut here, even with the excellent DT wheelset, and that - hanging off this quality of carbon frame - is remarkable at the price.
The Endurace CF 8.0 is a genuine steal of a road bike, perfect for everyday use and if you are lining up for some sportives in the future. With that matt carbon finish it certainly looks far beyond its price tag too.
