ARGON 18 NITROGEN PRO £5499.99

› Is this World Tour newcomer’s frameset a race-only option?

s ridden during the 2015 Tour, the Nitrogen Pro satisfies the need for a windcheating bike that allows Argon 18 to at least keep up with the Joneses. But does it have more to bring to the party?

Aero bikes commonly offer quite similar features, and the Argon 18 has almost every base covered but still manages to introduce some twists. There’s a slim hourglass head-tube that blends into the recessed fork crown, and the front brake is tucked neatly behind the fork, with only the cable protruding.

Argon 18’s 3D system consists of

Astructural screw-in head-tube extenders that negate the need for piles of spacers, giving more rigidity and better performance. Here, the system has been adapted with Aero 3D extended sections to smooth airflow. Another neat positional option is the extendable stem, which has an alloy rear half, with toothed interface for the carbon forward part of the stem and integrated bar. Different length alloy sections can be added to fine-tune the length.

The down-tube, seat-tube and seatstays are all exposed to the onrushing wind, but buck the Kamm tail tubing trend, having symmetrical foil profiles instead. The down-tube SPECIFICATION 7.18kg (M) HM8003 Nanotech tubing Monococque carbon

Shimano Ultegra Di2, 50/34, 11-28

TRP V-brake

Fulcrum Racing Quattro

Carbon

Weight

Frame

Fork

Gears

Brakes

Wheels

Finishing kit

Argon 18 bar, stem and seatpost, Prologo saddle, Vittoria Open Corsa CX 25mm

tyres is fatter and truncated on the leading and trailing edges, and flows into the BB86 bottom bracket and large, boxy asymmetric chainstays. The beautifully hidden rear V-brake is situated behind the slim seatstays, which are bridgeless, thanks to being dropped for rear triangle stiffness and extra seated comfort.

From the off, the Nitrogen Pro behaves like the epitome of a prolevel aero road bike. Its planted feel begins with the 24mm-wide, 40mm-deep Racing Quattro Carbon wheelset, with supple Vittoria tyres. These Quattros combine rampant acceleration with stability and allweather agility. Braking in the dry

The Nitrogen Pro doesn’t play by the accepted aero rules, but is all the better for

doing so