18/06/2026
A $13,000 Canyon Speedmax CFR with Dura-Ace Di2… running on stock aluminium DT Swiss wheels.
We had questions.
This red and matte black Speedmax came in after surviving an Ironman, carrying the usual evidence of triathlon warfare: sweat, dirt, rust, crystallised salt around the cockpit, and what we can only describe as “triathlete seasoning.”
So Irfan de Greaseman gave it the full treatment.
The bike was stripped down completely, cleaned, inspected, sent through the ultrasonic cleaner, repacked with fresh grease, and rebuilt properly. The bottom bracket was so seized with grime that even Irfan had to call in Felix the fish keeper for backup.
But the biggest transformation?
The stock aluminium wheels were removed.
In their place:
Pertual Sharp ADV front wheel — 540g, with bonded one-piece carbon spokes and fl**ge hub construction.
Pertual Aero 9 disc rear wheel — 970g of proper time trial intent.
Final weight: 10.05kg.
Now the Canyon finally looks like the race machine it was always meant to be.
So here’s the debate:
If you had a top-end TT bike like this, would you upgrade the wheels immediately, or are stock aluminium wheels perfectly acceptable until the engine gets faster?