FUJI TRANSONIC 2.9
£1529 › Distinctively smooth riding, distance friendly drag racer
Fuji’s heavily aero-influenced Transonic has been around for a while and as a result prices of this UCI-accredited machine are creeping lower every year. The most recent price drop from importer and country-wide bike chain, Evans Cycles, slices another £270 off this entry-point model.
That puts this Shimano 105-equipped machine bang on par with other direct-sell/single outlet options, despite the fact you can walk into an Evans near you, have it set up by a pro mechanic and ride out of the door rather than getting it in a box. Not that it’s a difficult bike to set up, as sizing is exactly where we’d expect in terms of top-tube/ seat-tube balance and so on, with only a slightly shorter than average head-tube to assist aerodynamics.
Unlike a lot of aero road bikes we end up taking a saw to, there’s plenty of depth in the wheelhugging seat-tube to drop the oval seatpost if you’re short in the leg but long in reach. Dual-pivot direct-mount brakes on the fork front and behind the extended seat fin mean no messing about with fussy/filthy hidden positioning or integrated callipers. The fact they’re powerful and richly communicative is a bonus, and the Shimano 105 gearing with external cable adjusters is similarly flawless in function.
It’s a friendly bike in terms of ride feel considering its category. Despite the deep, drag-reducing sections from fork to far end, the C5 carbon is naturally damped and shock absorbing so you can relax into the ride rather than flinch at the sight of any roughness. The longer you ride the more obvious this becomes in terms of fatigue reduction, and stable handling means it’s a natural home for a set of clip-on aero bar extensions for multi-sport use or just efficient
Prices of this UCI-accredited machine are creeping lower every year
solo speed. Even the fat nosed saddle suits a fast forward position, and without an aero bar we repeatedly found ourselves with our forearms on the bar rolling round a big gear with relaxed rapidity.
The 52/36-tooth split on the top quality Praxis chainrings reflects the fact this is a faster than average cruiser and the Vera Corsa rims get a slight aero profile too. From experience they’re great paired with a deeper section wheel to fully realise the power multiplying aero potential of the frame.
While it’s a great speed sustaining ride on flatter terrain, actually getting it up to that speed in the first place isn’t its forte. While they look seriously stout, the damped feel of the fibre lay up also extends to the chainstays. The 30mm bottom bracket shell is actually home to downsizing adaptors and a 24mm crank so power supply is steady compared to the snappiest bikes here. It’s got the heaviest wheelset here - even including those with brake rotors on - and it’s the heaviest overall weight too, at around a kilo heavier than the other rim brake bikes on test.
If your priorities are about distant horizons rather than dizzying climbs, along with genuine flatland advantages without the all-too frequent discomfort downsides, they will only be improved with upgrading too. Considering the potential for instant gratification in-store set-up and sale it’s well priced too.