Charlie Tanfield's Canyon Speedmax

An early-season shakedown proved that both rider and rig are more than ready for the year ahead

- Simon Smythe

Former team pursuit world and Commonwealth champion Charlie Tanfield rode this blacked-out Canyon Speedmax to victory - and a course record - in a road 10-mile time trial on the J4/20 course south of Manchester earlier this month.

The younger of the Tanfield brothers, aged 26, has signed with UCI Continental team Saint Piran this year and said he entered the event, which is local to him, to "get into the swing of things" though the bike he used is already in full battle mode.

"It's quite old, but still really good," he says of the rim-brake Speedmax, his former team bike from his Canyonsponsored days. Saint Piran will be riding Trek Emondas this year following the breakdown of their deal with Lapierre but won't be given time trial bikes, which means Tanfield is free to use his own kit. As a master of aero in the Dan Bigham mould this suits him perfectly.

The Canyon is packed with watt-saving dodges. Most prominently, the prototype bars were designed by Tanfield himself and manufactured by carbon specialists Fibre-Lyte.

"I used Wattshop bars last year," he says. "They're really well manufactured and have great adjustability, but these have a more aggressive scoop at the end that allows a smoother airflow transition between bar and wrist." Tanfield is planning to bring the bars to the market at the end of the year. Notably there's an integrated computer mount missing. "There's a bit more work to do," he agrees, "but they're pretty close."