Boardman launch Elite Series flagship, the AiR/TTE

Boardman Bikes have added a brand new top-end time trial/triathlon bike to their Elite Series which they say has aerodynamics that are 20% better than those of its predecessor.

We showed you a video teaser of the bike a couple of weeks ago. Now Boardman have revealed more details. 

Boardman say that the AiR/TTE (the E stands for ‘Evolution’) has been in development for the past three years and that as well as using CFD (computational fluid dynamics) in the design process, they’ve made use of technology derived from F1 and never used in the cycling industry before.

"The new AiR/TTE has a visible DNA link to its predecessor - the 2012 Ironman World Championship winning bike,” said Chris Boardman, Australia’s Pete Jacobs having ridden an AiR/TT on his way to victory in Hawaii last year.

“The new model has evolved to include a fully internal front brake, internal cabling and fully integrated handlebar and stem system – there's not a cable, nut or bolt in sight. The mechanic friendly design boasts huge variation capabilities – with only two allen keys needed to make all the adjustments.

“The whole design process has been an emotional and full-on process of design, test, redefine, re-test and has involved a variety of new technologies never used in the cycling industry before. [It has been] developed from the >B56 Boardman R&D development centre with input from all of our Elite athletes at every stage of the evolution.

“The improved aerodynamics came through new laser body scanning technology and CFD design to produce improvements of over 20%."

When we did our round-up of 2014 time trial and triathlon bikes recently, we noted that many manufacturers were producing very similar looking designs. While the AiR/TTE certainly displays features common to many of its rivals, it manages to look quite distinctive, largely thanks to a very curvy (it’s a technical term!) front end.

As you can see, the integrated sloping stem/handlebar flows into the head tube/top tube, while the front brake is integrated into the fork. The rear brake is tucked away behind the bottom bracket.

Interestingly, Boardman haven’t chosen to integrate the fork crown into the head tube – it extends out the bottom in traditional manner. We’ll be interested to hear the reasoning behind that, with many other manufacturers having stepped the head tube so that the fork crown doesn't increase the size of the frontal area.

We’ll have more details, including pricing, when the AiR/TTE is released officially on 7 November. We’ll be there for the launch, of course.

In the meantime, Pete Jacobs will be racing the new bike at Ironman Hawaii this weekend.

We’ll leave you with the spec options that will be available…

AiR/TTE 9.8 Ultegra

Frame: New AiR/TTE full carbon
Fork: New AiR/TTE full carbon with integrated brake and cable routing
Headset: FSA Integrated
Shifters: Shimano Ultegra Di2 11 speed
Front mech: Shimano Ultegra Di2 11 speed
Rear mech: Shimano Ultegra Di2 11 speed
Chain: Shimano Ultegra 11speed
Brakes: TRP Aero V rear/AiR/TTE integrated front
Chainset: Shimano Ultegra
Wheels: Shimano RS31
Tyres: Continental GP4000
Saddle: ISM Adamo
Seatpost: Cboardman AiR/TTE Carbon 4 position
Handlebar: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
Stem: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
Extension & Pads: Cboardman AiR/TTE

AiR/TTE 9.8 Dura Ace

Frame: New AiR/TTE full Carbon
Fork: New AiR/TTE full carbon with integrated brake and cable routimg
Headset: FSA Integrated
Shifters: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 11 speed
Front mech: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 11 speed
Rear mech: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 11 speed
Chain: Shimano Dura Ace 11speed
Brakes: TRP Aero V rear/AiR/TTE integrated front
Cassette: Shimano Dura Ace 11speed
Chainset: Shimano Dura Ace
Wheels: Zipp 808 Firecrest rear/ Zipp 404 Firecrest Front
Tyres: Continental GP4000
Saddle: ISM Adamo
seatpost: Cboardman AiR TTE Carbon 4 position
Seatpost: Cboardman AiR/TTE Carbon 4 position
Handlebar: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
Stem: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
Extension & Pads: Cboardman AiR/TTE

AiR/TTE 9.8 Frameset

Frame: New AiR/TTE full carbon
Fork: New AiR/TTE full carbon with integrated brake and cable routing
Headset: FSA Integrated
Brakes: TRP Aero V rear/AiR/TTE integrated front
Seatpost: Cboardman AiR/TTE Carbon 4 position
Handlebar: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
Stem: Cboardman AiR/TTE integrated
Extension & Pads: Cboardman AiR/TTE