All images provided by Canyon.

Hot on the heels of 32er mountain bikes making their debut in World Cup races this weekend, Canyon is unveiling a cross-country race concept bike. The Canyon Lux Era imagines what a next-generation XC race bike will look like, with 32-inch wheels, an inverted fork, aerodynamic touches, and a “bi-plane” cockpit offering multiple hand positions.

Bigger wheels are the future, apparently

With all the talk of 32-inch mountain bike wheels at the highest levels of mountain bike racing, naturally, the Lux Era leans into the bigger wheel size. The thinking goes that 32-inch wheels, with their larger tire contact patch, offer improved traction plus faster rolling speed thanks to increased momentum. The big wheels are also said to offer improved stability and a smoother ride over rough surfaces.

Real-world results for 32er mountain bikes, though limited, are mixed. At the Lenzerheide World Cup short track (XCC) and Olympic cross-country (XCO) races this month, two riders competed on 32-inch wheels. Thömus Maxon rider Alessandra Keller took third place in the short track race and 19th in the XCO race. Mathias Flückiger was also on a Thömus 32er mountain bike, though his best finish between the races was 32nd place, a disappointing result.

Fork availability is limited for 32-inch wheels, so Canyon, like many other brands with 32ers, is speccing an inverted fork for the Lux Era concept bike. In a release for the bike, Canyon says this choice isn’t just about availability; they argue an inverted fork offers real performance benefits. “The upside-down fork offers both superior high-performance riding – better fore/aft rigidity, better hard braking stability, reduced unsprung mass, better lubrication and sharper handling – and better aerodynamic performance thanks to narrow crown integration,” they wrote in a press release.

XC race speeds are getting faster, so Canyon says now it’s time to think about aerodynamics

For all the talk about how cross-country mountain bike race courses have become more technically difficult, Canyon points out that race speeds have increased dramatically over the past 10 years. According to the brand, the average XCO race speed was 18km/h (about 11mph) in 2016; today, the average speed is 24km/h (almost 15mph), a 33% increase. Though there are likely many factors that have led to this increase, Canyon argues that at these speeds, aerodynamics are worthy of consideration, perhaps for the first time in mountain biking.

So, the Lux Era concept bike specs fairings on the fork, along with a “narrow crown integration,” and introduces a bi-plane handlebar design first seen on previous-generation Grail gravel bikes. The bars feature a thin, bladed design with upper and lower hand positions that allow riders to tuck into an aerodynamic position when necessary. However, we’re already seeing most 32ers, especially at the smaller frame sizes, speccing negative-rise stems to provide a proper fit, which naturally puts riders into a similarly aero position.

Canyon tells us that even the bike computer is designed to cut a low profile and reduce overall drag. Though it may seem minor, Wahoo made a name for itself with GPS units designed to reduce drag. By smooshing the bike computer into the top of the fork steerer, Canyon has significantly reduced its profile. It’s unclear what functions the computer will offer, or if Canyon will partner with a brand like Garmin to provide the electronics.

Though it’s unclear from the photos if this bike actually exists yet, Canyon says the Lux Era will be on display at Eurobike, which begins this week. The brand says the bike is currently undergoing wind tunnel and athlete testing as well.

As this is a concept bike, there is no pricing or release date available, and Canyon notes that they have not submitted the bike to the UCI for approval.