Canyon Lux Worldcup CFR: Luca Schwarzbauer's race bike - perhaps the fastest in the world?
Max Fuchs
· 04.04.2025
The professional: Luca Schwarzbauer
Name: Luca Schwarzbauer
Size: 1.79 metres
Body weight: 76 kilos
Greatest success: Overall winner of the 2023 XCC World Cup
The bike: Canyon Lux Worldcup CFR
- Name: Canyon Lux Worldcup CFR
- SizeS, 430 millimetre reach
- Weight10.7 kilograms ready to drive
- Spring travel110/100 millimetres
- Suspension forkRockshox Sid SL Ultimate Flight Attendant / 87 psi / 2 Tokens
- DamperRockshox Sidluxe Ultimate Flight Attendant / 104 psi / extra progressive air chamber
- ImpellersDT Swiss XRC 1200 Spline / 29 inch / Tubeless / Turbolight Diamana SL XC inserts
- Tyresfront Schwalbe Racing Ray 2.35; 1.28 bar / rear Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.35; 1.35 bar
- Special featuresK.I.S steering assistant, customised dampers
More pro bikes in the check
The protocol for Luca's bike setup
Delusions of grandeur
Until the end, my bike set-up was probably the most unusual in the entire World Cup: at 1.79 metres tall, I rode an S-frame and sat extremely low. I always pushed my saddle super far back and also fitted a seatpost that was cranked backwards by eight millimetres. Coupled with my low and long front, I sat very stretched out on my bike despite the small frame. I changed my bike fitter for the new season and my setup is now a little more in line with the norm. The biggest change: my seat height has gone up by 20 millimetres. Since then, I've lacked legroom on the downhill, which is why I've recently started using a telescopic seatpost.
Extra sausage
The standard shock setup of the Canyon Lux was too linear for me right from the start. I prefer a very progressive setup so that I don't always have to get out of the saddle to put pressure on the pedals on bumpy trails. In concrete terms, this means that the suspension is very active up to the SAG point and responds super sensitively. For example, I can easily push away root carpets while seated. However, to prevent me from sinking into the suspension travel on harder hits, the counter support increases dramatically beyond this point. To achieve this, Rockshox has given my shock a special air chamber.
Assistance system
Another difference to the standard bike is the K.I.S. system. Two tension springs are tensioned in the top tube when turning. This spring force acts like a centre centring for the front wheel and connects the otherwise free steering with the rest of the bike. For me, this is an absolute game changer, especially on slippery surfaces. Here, the system gives me a new level of control.
Crank squeezer
On the start straight, on the short track or in the finish sprint, things often move so fast that I always run out of gears with a classic 32-tooth chainring. That's why I almost exclusively ride a 38-tooth chainring. This gives me enough pressure on the pedals even at high speeds. The only exception: the extremely steep route in Leogang. There I have always had to downsize to a 36-tooth chainring.
The last gram
Most of my competitors ride 120 mm suspension forks with thicker stanchions. There is only one reason why I, as a relatively strong rider, still opt for the slim Rockshox Sid SL with 110 millimetre travel: the lower weight. A light front end is simply easier to handle - I'm happy to accept the lower stiffness and shorter travel.
The last per cent
The material plays a central role when it comes to performing in the race. But I'm not a tech nerd who always tries to get the last per cent out of his bike. For me, 95 per cent is enough. I prefer to concentrate on performing to the best of my ability.
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Max Fuchs
Editor
