The fastest bike for Empire Elevation

26.0 km with the 1.8 km lead-in
266 m of climbing
10.8 m/km climb ratio
2 named climbs, 3 sprints
All tarmacSurface

0 km13.0 km26.0 kmThe dashed start is the lead-in, which has no measured profile, so its shape is approximated.

Fastest eligible setup · Standard (Road) · verified data only · Halo bikes hidden

with Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc wheels

50:08

31.1 km/h averageestimated for 1 lap with the lead-in

Data: Frame and wheels bot-tested
Upgrades: Ranked at upgrade stage 5, assumed for bikes you don't own

See the full ranking

If time-trial frames are allowed

Canyon Speedmax CFR with Shimano DURA-ACE C99 + Disc (Time Trial)

TT frames are barred in many races.

48:37

1:31 faster

What's the fastest bike for Empire Elevation?

ZwiftBikes predicts the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 with Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc is the best bike and wheels for Empire Elevation in New York: the fastest road setup for a 75 kg rider at 225 W, finishing in 50:08 (~31.1 km/h). The Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71 Team with Shimano DURA-ACE C99 + Disc is 1.0 s behind. Where TT bikes are allowed, the Canyon Speedmax CFR with Shimano DURA-ACE C99 + Disc is 1:31 quicker.

75 kg / 175 cm / 225 W / solo; 1 lap, including any lead-in once. Standard (Road); verified only; unowned Halo bikes excluded.

Every setup, ranked

Gap to the fastest. Open a row for its wheels, upgrades and the numbers behind it.

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Pick up to 3 setups in their rows to compare them.

All columns

#	Frame and wheels	Time	Gap	Aero / climb	Style
1	Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc	50:08	fastest	95 / 83	all-round
2	Shimano DURA-ACE C99 + Disc	50:09	+1.02 s	94 / 82	climbing
3	Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc	50:09	+1.42 s	93 / 83	all-round
4	Same frame in another paint: Canyon Aeroad CFR Alpecin Premier-Tech Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc	50:11	+2.57 s	95 / 74	aero
5	Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc	50:11	+2.83 s	94 / 78	aero
6	Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc	50:11	+2.84 s	95 / 75	aero
7	Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc	50:11	+3.08 s	96 / 72	aero
8	Shimano DURA-ACE C99 + Disc	50:11	+3.12 s	93 / 81	climbing
9	Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc	50:11	+3.35 s	95 / 75	all-round

Something here look wrong? Report it – corrections with a source get folded back into the data.

Why this bike wins here

Empire Elevation is rolling, with 10.8 m of climbing per kilometre, the kind of course where aerodynamics usually counts for clearly more than low weight. The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 is an all-round frame. Disc or regular wheels is a close call: the Cadex 4-Spoke/Disc is 3.0 s faster than the SwissSide HADRON Ultimate 650, but 0.37 kg heavier.

What the terrain rewards, from its climbing alone: aerodynamics against low weight

Aerodynamics 71%Weight on climbs 29%

Drag area against the stock bike: −0.0360 m²
Mass against the stock bike: −1.59 kg
Rolling resistance change: −0.0003
Time lost to rough surfaces: none
Physics model: Dynamic, measured geometry

The course

1 lap; kilometre positions include the lead-in, ridden once.

Fastest bike for The Peristyle Sprint Rev.
Sprint · km 3.0 to 3.4
0.4 km · 0.1%
Fastest bike for Center Sprint
Sprint · km 4.9 to 5.1
0.2 km · -2.2%
Fastest bike for The Hill KOM
Climb · km 6.0 to 6.5
0.5 km · 3.7% 19 m
Fastest bike for Manhattan Sprint
Sprint · km 11.7 to 12.0
0.2 km · 0.3%
Fastest bike for New York KOM
Climb, category 4 · km 24.6 to 26.0
1.4 km · 6.1% 83 m

Mapped surfaces; the shares describe one lap.

Surface	Share	Distance	Extra watts
Tarmac	100.0%	24.2 km	-

Extra watts are what the fastest setup needs to hold its pace on each surface rather than on tarmac, averaged over the ride - they appear once a ranked setup and mapped surface positions are there to simulate .

Dynamic physics model active

Every time below is simulated for your weight, height and power over this route’s real, measured elevation data.