Over the past few years, bike industry veteran Markus Storck has gradually worked his way up to the top of the world's fastest aero racers with the Aerfast. Sometimes the frame was aerodynamically optimised, sometimes the fork, and the handlebar unit also underwent several updates. With the model presented last year, whose frame was revised to meet the new UCI regulations, the manufacturer from Idstein in the Taunus region has finally reached its goal: with a slightly different design, the Aerfast.5 has held the title of the fastest road racing bike since this year, at least in our recognised wind tunnel test set-up.
Storck Aerfast.5 Pro: fast and suitable for everyday use
However, Storck had to pull out all the stops to beat the previously faster Simplon Pride (199 watts). A single aero chainring without a front derailleur and special aero tyres from Conti were needed to push the Simplon's record down by one watt to 198 watts. The Aerfast.5 Pro tested here is chained with 2x12 gears and is much more suitable for everyday use and not quite as fast, but remains the leader in the wind tunnel in this comparison.
At 203 watts, it is only slightly slower and takes the top spot in this ranking, just ahead of the Canyon Aeroad and Scott Foil. Remarkably, the test bike scored just as well as the significantly more expensive record holder at the beginning of the year. One reason for this is that both bikes scored an even 1.0 in the aero rating. On the other hand, Storck reduces the weight of the Ultegra model with in-house wheels with carbon spokes, soft time trial tyres and TPU tubes, thus at least partially compensating for the higher weight of the Ultegra drivetrain.
The more expensive Aerfast.5 with SRAM Red AXS and slightly faster, but including tyres almost 300 grams heavier DT Swiss wheels was not even 200 grams lighter in total. The Zeitjaeger Platinum with 56 millimetre high carbon rims were not in the configurator at the time of testing, but will follow and are also a recommendable upgrade in terms of riding dynamics. For 500 euros more - the basic model costs 6299 euros - the bike reacts even more nimbly to acceleration and rides as manoeuvrable and direct as an old-school lightweight racer.
Storck Aerfast.5 Pro: compact and sporty
Once up to speed, speeds above 30 km/h are almost effortless to maintain, thanks not only to the good aerodynamics but also the smooth-running time trial tyres. The compact, very sporty riding position supports the feeling that the bike is constantly hungry for speed.
The handlebar is only 36 centimetres narrow (measured from centre to centre) and feels easy to handle. We found the oval profile of the lower handlebars took some getting used to at first, but in the long run it worked well, providing a good grip for the hands even when pedalling hard. The ends, which are pulled far back, offer slightly more grip options than other handlebars.
Despite the good first impression, we learnt why it wasn't quite enough to win the test as soon as the surface deteriorated. The Aerfast.5 rides hard as a rock and mercilessly passes on bumps in the road surface to the saddle. Our measurements confirm the riding impression; on the comfort test bench in the TOUR lab, the seatpost barely yields under load.
The seatpost as the only weakness
The Aerfast.5 shares this weakness with many other aerodynamically fast bikes. However, Canyon and Scott show in this comparison that even the aero elite can do things differently. Overall, it remains the only notable weakness of the bike - if you can cope with it and are looking for a fast, sporty competition bike at a fair price, you should consider Storck as well as Canyon, Scott and Cube.
Especially as the Aerfast can at least be customised to a limited extent in a configurator. Even with top groupsets - the modular system offers options from Shimano and SRAM - the Pro version still remains in the four-digit range. There are a few wheel models from DT Swiss and the Zeitjaeger own brand, but they fit the bike well. In addition to the bright cherry red metallic colour, the bike is also available in a more discreet white. However, customers will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets to actually enjoy the fastest bike in the world: The fastest wheels (62 millimetre rim height from DT Swiss or 65 millimetre from Scope) are only available with the "Team Edition", which costs a good €10,000. At the top of the portfolio is a limited edition for Storck's 60th birthday, starting at around 13,000 euros.
Storck Aerfast.5 Pro: Info & test grade
- Price: 6799 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel: 7.5 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
- TOUR grade: 1,9
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 506/550/115 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 536/384 millimetres/1.40
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 588/536 millimetres/1.10
- Wheelbase/caster: 980/62 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Ultegra (2x12; 52/36, 11-30 t.) | Shimano Ultegra (2x12; 52/36, 11-30 t.) Grade: 1.0
- Brakes: Shimano Ultegra (160/160 mm) | Grade: 1.0
- Tyres: Conti Grand Prix 5000 TT TR 28 mm (eff.: 30 mm) | Grade: 1.0
- Impellers: Time Hunter Platinum 56 R
- Impeller weights: 1,092/1,462 grams (f./h.)
Measured values
- Weight of complete wheel: 7,470 grams | Grade: 2.3
- Aerodynamics: 203 Watt | Grade: 1.0
- Driving stability: 7.7 N/mm | Grade: 2.0
- Rear comfort: 297 N/mm | Grade: 4.7
- Comfort front: 91 N/mm | Grade: 2.7
- Ride/ bottom bracket stiffness: 60 N/mm | Grade: 1.0
Advantages and disadvantages of the Storck Aerfast.5 Pro
- Plus: first-class aerodynamics, relatively light, high-quality equipment
- Minus: Hardly any comfort in the saddle
How TOUR tests
Weight (25 per cent of the overall grade): The weighed complete wheel weight in the standardised test wheel size of 56-57 centimetres counts for the evaluation. However, we also show the wheel weights for orientation purposes. The grading scale is designed so that the physical effect of weight and aerodynamics on the average speed is comparable for an average route profile of 1,000 metres in altitude per 100 kilometres. For orientation: the aerodynamic optimisation of the bike can compensate for up to almost four kilograms of weight on such a route. Simultaneous top marks in weight AND aerodynamics are mutually exclusive, but there are racing bikes that find a very good compromise. If the route is more hilly than our reference route, weight becomes more important; if the route is flatter, aerodynamics become more important.
Air resistance (25 per cent of the total score): Dynamically measured in the wind tunnel, with TOUR dummy, rotating wheels, moving legs and over a wide range of flow angles. Summarised to an aerodynamic grade for typical environmental conditions.
Front stiffness (10 per cent of the total score): Important parameter for steering precision and confidence in the bike at high speeds, determined in the TOUR laboratory. The overall stiffness is determined on the fully assembled frame set, i.e. including the fork. The stiffness values are capped. The aim is not an infinitely stiff frame, but one that is sufficiently stable to ride.
Bottom bracket stiffness (10 per cent of the total score): Reveals how much the frame yields under hard pedalling, for example when sprinting. This measurement also takes place in the TOUR laboratory, with realistic clamping, in which the frame can deform as it would when riding.
Rear comfort (10 per cent of the overall score): A measure of compliance under road shocks, measured in the TOUR laboratory. A suspension travel is measured when the seatpost is loaded. The measured value correlates very well with the riding impressions and the feeling of comfort. Good marks also mean decent riding dynamics, which have a positive effect on speed on poor roads.
Comfort front (5 per cent of the overall score): The deformation of the handlebars under load is determined in the same way as for the rear. A good score means a lot of suspension comfort, which takes the strain off your hands on long rides. However, strong sprinters who want a lot of stiffness should look for stiff handlebars.
Switching (5 per cent of the total score): The shifting characteristics are determined in the driving test. It is not the price or the quality impression of individual components that is assessed, but exclusively the function of the entire gearbox. For example, the cable routing, the quality of the cables and the mounted chain also play a role.
Brakes (5 per cent of the overall score): As with shifting, the test on the road also counts here, and the experience from our countless tests of brakes is also incorporated into the assessment. It is not the component itself that is assessed, but the function of the interaction between the brake body, pads and discs: How well can the brakes be modulated? How durable are the brakes, how long are the braking distances?
tyres (5 percent of the overall score): Rolling resistance and grip are evaluated - if known from one of our independent tyre tests or based on driving impressions. The overall score is calculated arithmetically from the differently weighted individual scores (percentages in brackets). It primarily expresses the sporty qualities of the tyre.
The overall score is calculated arithmetically from the individual scores weighted differently (percentages in brackets). It primarily expresses the sporting qualities of the bike.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
