If enough drag can be eliminated, you could go airborne. That kind of thinking inspired the design of the new Time Skylon Frameset. The goal was to reduce the wind resistance that the frame represents. Time started with the geometry they wanted and then created the frame using computational fluid dynamics to meet that geometry. They wanted to design without constraint.

The Time geometry is based on the belief that a ride where the cyclist feels comfortable and in control is the bike that the cyclist will pedal the hardest. They design their bikes with Grand Tour distances in mind, something everyone can get on and pedal all day every day and still feel ready to ride the drops.

The shaping of the tubeset is where Time put their focus. The head tube has gotten larger, with a tapered 1 1/8” to 1 1/2” steerer tube. The fork meshes with the downtube and head tube for both stiffness and aerodynamics. The downtube is teardrop shaped, the seat tube shrouds the rear wheel, and the seat stays have been shortened and extensively shaped. The seat post is likewise designed for aerodynamics.

Time is one of the few bike companies that weaves their own carbon-fiber tubes. This way they’re better able to control not only tube shapes, but tube characteristics. With the Skylon, the main triangle is monobloc, created out of a single carbon-fiber “sock,” and shaped around a wax form. The rear triangle is attached in two pieces, with a U-shaped end for the chain stays and a wishbone for the seat stays. Besides being better able to control stiffness and compliance with this method, the frame is also more crash-worthy. The frame is covered by a lifetime warranty, and if the rear triangle gets damaged, Time can remove it and replace it.

Time’s new seatpost helps with overall system rigidity. They’ve found the Skylon 45% stiffer than their ZXRs. The bottom bracket standard is BB386, which, thanks to its oversized width and diameter, increases torsional rigidity 30% over the ZXRS.

While this is an aero bike, and the stiffest in Time’s lineup, they made a conscious decision to keep a great degree of comfort in the frame. That’s why the shapes aren’t as large as you’ll see elsewhere. They also made liberal use of Vectran, a liquid crystal polymer that is woven into a fiber and damps vibration. Vectran is a hallmark of Time carbon-fiber, ever since they started employing it in their forks, making the forks the most-sought after carbon-fiber fork of its era.

Weight for the frame, fork, seatpost, clamp, and headset is 1380g in the Small, including paint.

Being a bike of the moment, the frame is designed to run both brake and derailleur cables internally. Derailleur cables can be electronic or mechanical. A full set of plugs are included, and both Campagnolo and Shimano will work. Run the battery inside the seatpost for Shimano, seat tube for Campy.

Time innovates when they see the opportunity. The front derailleur hanger is a new design that has more material to clamp the front derailleur. This should make overzealous mechanics rest easy as well as stiffen up front shifting. It’s also replaceable.

The seatpost has zero setback and comes with two clamps, one for metal rails, one for carbon. Max tire width is 25mm.

The Time Skylon is the rare aero road bike that is also comfortable enough to ride all day.