Boardman Bikes are well respected and the new Elite Air 9.2 is a bike to take seriously if you want a high-performance aero road bike but don’t have silly money to spend. Let’s start with the value for money, because Boardman has specced most of a Shimano Dura-Ace groupset with an FSA SL-K Light carbon chainset, so you’re getting first class gear shift performance and solid power transfer from the cranks. The parts are bolted to a full carbon fibre frame that makes use o the latest understanding of aerodynamics, with every surface shaped and curved to reduce drag, so you can ride faster for less energy.
Some aero bikes can be a handful, but thankfully the Air 9.2 is a very neutral ride most of the time. Considering the amount of side profile, it's really not that much of a handful in the wind. Position-wise the Air 9.2 has another trick up its sleeve. The aero seatpost has plenty of depth and Boardman has made good use of it by tapping a series of four holes into the alloy insert at the top. The saddle clamp screws down into one of them, allowing you to quite simply alter the saddle position and the effective seat tube angle. Boardman sells a lot of these bikes for triathlon; the top-of-the-range Air 9.8 is the bike the Brownlee brothers habitually use to win stuff. The seatpost allows a steeper effective seat tube angle which is better for tri, and also for time trialling. The Air 9.2 would certainly be an effective TT bike with the addition of a set of clip-on aero bars.
The best part of three grand isn't exactly spare change, but the Boardman Air 9.2 scores very highly in the value stakes, stacking up well against the competition. There aren't many aero bikes that offer Dura-Ace below £3,000, and although you're not getting the full groupset it's still a great package for the money.
It's fast, the handling is neutral and responsive, it's firm but not uncomfortable, and it responds well under power. There are a few minor niggles – the brakes aren't the best, and some of the components are worth an upgrade to get the best out of the frame – but if you're looking for a fast bike for racing, triathlon or even time trialling then it's very much one to consider.
Why it's here: Aerodynamics without the eye-watering price tag
David Arthur, road.cc 11/01/17