Boardman Bikes

Elite AiR/TT 9.4S Complete Bike - 2015

Chris Boardman earned the nickname "Mr Prologue" in response to his prowess at the first stage of the Tour, which is a race against the clock. He has broken records at every distance, from the 4km Individual Pursuit to the hour record, over which he covered a distance in excess of 56 kilometers. He has proven his prowess with with the AiR frame, a bike so fast it helped propel Pete Jacobs to a victory in Kona. 

Boardman was able to experiment with many different combinations of fiber types, fiber directions, resins, and tube shapes to ultimately come up with a TT frame design. He did this with the help of the latest Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel tests. Every tube on the AiR TT was meticulously examined and tested to be efficient, lightweight, and aerodynamic. Boardman carefully designed the AiR TT's tubes with shapes that not only efficiently handle head-on winds, but also those less-than-ideal crosswinds encountered in racing situations. These wind-tunnel-tested tubes wear a fairly slender width profile throughout, which creates the optimal balance between vertical compliance and aerodynamics. The top tube remains fairly round, while the down tube, seat tube, and integrated (and reversible) seatpost have been shaped to maximize airflow and reduce wind resistance.

The material selected for the AiR TT's frame is an ultralight, high-modulus, unidirectional carbon fiber that's been constructed in a full monocoque design. Similarly, the fork was built out of the same predictable, race-tested, and ultralight carbon fiber. The AiR's mold also incorporates a one-piece PF30 bottom bracket and oversized box section chainstays, which, with a steep taper design at the dropouts, maximize power transfer and strength at the rear junction. Along these lines, the full carbon fork was built with a 1-1/2 to 1-1/8in tapered steerer tube for increased stiffness and steering precision.

The AiR Elite TT's fork was also designed to be exceptionally stable, comfortable, and to efficiently handle variable wind conditions. But it isn't just gusts and gales that affect the fork's handling. The proximity of a spinning wheel to the blades of the fork creates a "micro-climate" of wind flow. Boardman computer-modeled the blades of the fork to manage these small wind conditions. Because of this, Boardman flattened the insides of the blades and curved the outside surfaces for an enhanced airflow interaction between the fork and wheel. This same principle is also true for the seatstays, which is why they feature a similar profile.

Looking at every detail, Boardman neatly tucked the front caliper up inside the back of the fork, which still makes it accessible for maintenance and adjustments. The rear brake system is similarly tucked behind the bottom bracket, keeping it hidden and out of the way. The cabling is completely internal.

The workhorse of the Shimano line, Ultegra Di2, completes the AiR TT 9.4S build. The frame is specifically designed for Di2, you won't need to do any hacking of cables and batteries. The 9.4S rides on durable Shimano RS31 wheels that have been built with Continental GP4000 tires. The handlebars are Vision, and the stem and seatpost are Boardman Carbon. The seatpost features a 4-position clamp system for you to perfectly dial in your position. To finish off the build, you'll sit on the ISM Adamo saddle which is specifically designed to meet the needs of triathletes.

The Boardman Bikes AiR TT 9.4S is available in four sizes from X-Small to Large. It comes in the color Silver.