Damn! No wonder the Van Rysel is so cheap! 3 watts LOST!
/s
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I think thereās a little too much room for error when they have a person trying to replicate a position on almost a dozen bikes with different geometries and bar sizes. Granted a mannequin would still be tricky to set up identically across the bikes but Iād certainly trust the data more, personally. I like Tourās leg only test since the legs are mostly what interact with the bike anyway, and the trouble with setting up a full body mannequin is whether the position they use is relevant to you. Maybe some people canāt hold that position or have a different physique, but our legs are mostly similar.
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Agreed on all of the above. Also went and double checked. The CyclingNews test was done at 40kph instead of 45kph for the tour mag. That likely helps account for the increased difference between the bikes.
I wonder how much data like this reeeeally changes people buying habits? Like if you were a Trek fanboy, would this sway you into buying a Canyon for 10-13w at 45kph? The Canyon in my size also STILL comes with a 42cm wide bar in the CFR trim which is bonkers . Would the Trek with their standard 39cm bars make me faster out of the gate? Probably? Choices choicesā¦
Iām a huge TREK fanboy and would get pretty much anything over the Gen 8. Maybe Iām biased cause I own a Gen 7 though which was pretty broadly agreed to be faster, more comfortable, and didnāt have the t-shirt sizing fit issues. Even if you take TREK at their word on the aero claims those two latter issues with fit and comfort still donāt seem to exist (at least not as widespread) on the SL8 or SSE, and as a bonus they test faster in the Tour test which granted you may not feel.
No the Aeroad comes with adjustable bars that go from 37 to 42 cm. Also with the price difference between the two you could buy like 10 barsā¦ Or those super expensive syncross wheels and make it even fasterā¦
But unless youāre a hardcore racer I donāt think basing your decision on the aerosavings of a frame is really s thing (provided the geometry allows you to be aero on the bike), ride what feels good to you.
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I always forget about Canyonās fancy adjustable bar. Thatās slick.
I got lucky being able to try out the Gen8 after a warranty issue with my Gen6. But even if I had all the money to buy any top end road bike right now. I honestly have no idea what it would end up being.
Edit - Ok just saw that new Time Aero bikeā¦ yes please 
I just got a gen 8 sl frame set on warranty to replace my gen 6 sl frame after a few years owning it. Iād requested a gen 7 but apparently they had no frames left and discontinued them totally.
Had chronic isospeed issues with that gen 6. Iād bought the madone slr cockpit as well so they also gave me the aero rsl cockpit to cover that.
Iām grateful they did this but the bike defo doesnāt feel as fast on the straights, although the whole thing shaved pretty much a kilo off the previous bike which is welcome.
The gen 8 is clearly a cost cutting exercise, I do wonder if theyāll reintroduce another aero bike in a couple of years though. Cervelo have their new S5, Van Rysel, Canyon, Ridley and Scott all have their aero bikes, most of which funnily enough weigh less than the gen 8 with the same builds/price points 
The 8 is made in Cambodia as well which I found interesting, the 6 was made in Taiwan, which is where the SLRs are now made I believe.