Pro Bike Check: Ines Thoma’s Canyon Strive CF
Last Sunday the very first German Enduro Championships took place. Ines Thoma from the Canyon Factory Enduro Team is now one of the first champions! Enough reason to take a closer look at the bike that gave her almost 39 seconds lead on her closest competitor. Here’s her workhorse – a 12.8 kg light Canyon Strive CF Team.
Ines Thoma and her Canyon Strive CF
The basis of the champion’s bike is a standard series Canyon Strive Carbon frame in size medium-race. The bike is available in the same spec as the top model in the Strive series. The suspension is made up of a 170mm version of the Fox 36 Float along with a Float X rear shock. The drivetrain comprises of the light and precise SRAM XX1 group, which Ines uses with a 32-tooth chainring. The robust Mavic Crossmax wheels are fitted with a Charge front tyre for plenty of grip and a Roam rear tyre offering less rolling resistance.
Braking duties are performed by the reliable SRAM Guide RSC brakes. The technical highlight on the Strive is the ShapeShifter technology developed in conjunction with the Canyon Factory Enduro Team. With the ShapeShifter Ines can instantly change the geometry of the frame as well as the rear suspension travel and spring rate on the fly. This saves valuable seconds on pedalling sections and climbs by switching to the XC mode.
Chic: the Strive CF in Factory-Team colours. All cables and hydraulic lines disappear into the frame, which also has room for a bottle cage.
Behind the forged aluminium rocker arm is the heart of the Canyon’s ShapeShifter technology, which allows Ines to adapt the geometry in less than a second.
Ines rides the 170mm version of the Fox 36 Float with 60psi pressure, nine clicks of low speed- and just one click of high speed compression damping (from closed). Currently a blue air volume spacer is installed to slightly increase the progression.
Next to the brakes, shifters and Reverb lever you’ll find the adjustment lever for Canyon’s ShapeShifter on the 740mm Renthal Fatbar Carbon bars. The 40mm Renthal Apex stem has one 10mm spacer installed.
SRAMs popular 11-speed drivetrain solution ensured the victorious bike at Schöneck always had rapid and precise shifting.
In-spite of the alternating tooth profile SRAM XX1 chainring Ines isn’t happy without a chainguide – just in case…..
Ines rides the powerful SRAM Guide RSC brakes with a 200mm front rotor and 180mm rear.
Congratulations to Ines once again on her championship title and we wish all the best for the next season.
More info at www.canyon.com
Words: Daniel Schlicke