CyclistLapierre merges its Aircode and Xelius bikes in the new Xelius DRS all-rounderThe new Lapierre Xelius DRS has improved aerodynamics, which has allowed Lapierre to replace its Aircode aero road bike and Xelius climbers bike with the single lightweight/aero Xelius.The main aero improvements have been in Lapierres distinctive seatpost cluster, which has been retained in the new bike, as well as the seatstays, seat tube, head tube, down tube and fork blades.Theres a weight increase of around 50g over the previous generation Xelius, but a decrease of over 100g over the Aircode.Lapierre will sell the new Xelius in six spec levels, of which four will be available in the UK, with prices ranging from 3,699 to 7,399.Two bikes become oneThe new Xelius is the sixth generation of Lapierres lightweight climbers bike. The Xelius has been in Lapierres quiver for 15 years, but whereas it previously sold the Aircode aero bike in parallel, now it has merged the two platforms.The lightweight/aero path is well trodden, with the Trek Madone Gen 8 a recent convert, merging the aero Madone and lightweight Emonda platforms. The Specialized Tarmac SL8 is another example. In fact, there are relatively few brands that still market a separate aero and lightweight bike; Giant and Merida are probably the most prominent examples.Lapierre claims that the new Xelius DRS is 15 percent more aero than both the previous generation Xelius, beloved of Thibaut Pinot, and the Aircode. It says that the aero gains amount to 7.6 watts and make the new Xelius DRS faster than its predecessor on inclines of up to 10 percent gradient for a 70kg rider pushing out 300 watts. When riding at 180 watts average power, that figure is 7.5 percent.Lapierre says that this power saving equates to a time gain of 34 seconds per hour at 38.4km/h on a flat road, 48 seconds per hour on an 8 percent downgrade and 14.6 seconds per hour on a 4 percent climb.Other lightweight bikes that have taken the aero route come with similar claims. The Bianchi Specialissima, for example, is claimed to be faster than an aero bike on gradients of 6.2 percent.Despite its aero credentials, the new Xelius DRS sports a development of the previous generation bikes 3D Tubular seatstay shape, which rather than joining the seat tube connects to the main frame at the top tube. Its been a feature of the Xelius platform since 2015 and leaves the seat tube less braced. Lapierre says that the design increases vertical compliance and comfort and, at the same time, helps save weight.The latest fourth iteration of Lapierres 3D Tubular seatstay design is claimed to make the bike more aero than the Aircode and the 2022 Xelius, although that bike was already close to the Aircode in its aerodynamic performance.Lapierre says that its achieved this by making aero improvements in the bikes seatstay shape and their top tube bracing. Its also switched from a round to a D-shaped seat tube and seatpost. Further forward, it says that there are aero gains at the head tube, fork and down tube, thanks to new tube profiles.Tyre clearance is another must-have in a modern bike and the Lapierre Xelius DRS retains the 32mm clearance of the previous generation bike, but exceeds that of the Aircode, which was 28mm. Despite the available space, Lapierre fits 25mm wide tyres across the range.Four UK specsAs is often the case with carbon frames, Lapierre will offer the new Xelius DRS in two carbon grades. These are designated UD SLI and UD SLI Team, with the Team variant adding around 30 percent high modulus carbon fibre to the frame composition.Lapierre claims that the UD SLI frame weighs 908g and the fork 425g for a size M, while the higher spec UD SLI Team frame weighs 790g and the fork 390g. Both represent a weight increase of around 50g over the previous generation Xelius, but a decrease of 185g from the low modulus and 104g from the high modulus Aircode DRS. Lapierre points out that 50g is just 0.7 percent of the weight of a complete bike weighing 7kg.The Xelius 5.0 spec (which wont be sold in the UK) and the 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 specs, which will be available in the UK, all use the UD SLI frameset Its only the highest spec Xelius 10.0 and the frameset-only option that use the UD SLI Team frameset, and neither will be available to UK buyers.Lapierre now has six frame sizes available, with the addition of an XXL option, designed to fit riders over 1.95m in height.New bars, seatpost and wheelsOn higher spec bikes, Lapierre has narrowed the Xeliuss 325g carbon bar/stem by 1cm and added semi-integrated hose routing under the stem. Theres also a new stem and carbon bar design for the 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 spec bikes which supports semi-integrated hose routing.Theres a new aero carbon seatpost with a claimed 128g weight, available in two lengths and two setbacks. The new thru-axles are more streamlined as well.Lapierre has teamed up with DT Swiss to produce a carbon wheelset, the ERC 1600, thats exclusive to Lapierre and fitted to some higher specs of the Xelius DRS. The wheels have a 45mm deep profile with 22mm internal width and DT 350 Spline hubs and are tubeless-ready.All UK specs are fitted with DT Swiss wheels and all specs are also equipped with Shimano Di2 electronic groupsets, with higher specs fitted with a 52/36t crankset in place of the 50/34t on the Xelius DRS 6.0.Lapierre Xelius DRS UK range and pricesXelius DRS 6.0Frame/fork: UD SLIDrivetrain: Shimano 105 Di2, 50/34t, 11-34tBars: Lapierre Carbon AeroStem: Lapierre CarbonSaddle: Prologo DimensionWheels: DT Swiss E1800 Spline alloyTyres: Schwalbe One Perf 25mmClaimed weight: 8.4kgPrice: 3,699Xelius DRS 7.0Frame/fork: UD SLIDrivetrain: Shimano Ultegra Di2, 52/36t, 11-34tBars: Lapierre Carbon AeroStem: Lapierre CarbonSaddle: Prologo DimensionWheels: DT Swiss E1600 Spline alloyTyres: Schwalbe One Perf 25mmClaimed weight: 8.2kgPrice: 4,499Xelius DRS 8.0Frame/fork: UD SLIDrivetrain: Shimano Ultegra Di2, 52/36t, 11-34tBar/stem: Lapierre Combo AeroSaddle: Prologo DimensionWheels: DT Swiss ERC 1600 Spline carbonTyres: Continental GP5000 S TR 25mmClaimed weight: 7.5kgPrice: 5,399Xelius DRS 9.0Frame/fork: UD SLIDrivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, 52/36t, 11-34tBar/stem: Lapierre Combo AeroSaddle: Prologo DimensionWheels: DT Swiss ERC 1400 Spline carbonTyres: Continental GP5000 S TR 25mmClaimed weight: 7.2kg Price: 7,399 Related Posts Aero vs lightweight vs all-rounder: which is the fastest road bike? Best lightweight bikes reviewed 2024: Road bikes for climbing Best road bikes 2024 reviewed by Cyclists experts Best aero road bikes 2024: Ride faster for less effort The post Lapierre merges its Aircode and Xelius bikes in the new Xelius DRS all-rounder appeared first on Cyclist.