Argon 18 launches new Nitrogen Disc at Canadian WorldTour races

This article first appeared on BikeRadar.

Argon 18 has unveiled its new Nitrogen Disc aero frameset, which is being used by Astana's Hugo Houle during this weekend's Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and GP Cycliste de Montréal.

As well as introducing disc brakes to the Canadian brand's aero frameset, Montreal-based Argon 18 also claims to have increased lateral stiffness in the forks by a massive 80 per cent, while retaining the same levels of comfort, increased tyre clearances to allow for 30mm tyres, and offering the benefits of disc brakes without any weight penalty.

The monocoque carbon frame and fork use DT Swiss' 12mm thru-axle standard.

Gervais Rioux, Argon 18 founder and President, said on the launch of the bike: "We could not have thought of a better place than the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, a WorldTour race on our home turf, to showcase this new bike.
 
"Knowing that the Nitrogen Disc frame being raced is the same as the one that will become available to consumers in the coming weeks makes this introduction even better."

The company's head of research and development, Martin Faubert, added: "This new Nitrogen Disc is way more than a Nitrogen with disc brakes. Sure, it does offer great braking power and modulation, but it's the increased torsional rigidity that really makes it shine, especially in out of the corner accelerations.

"Its internal cable routing, ease of maintenance, adaptability to different riding styles, along with its great ergonomic adjustability, are other key elements that make the Nitrogen Disc an exceptional modern race bike."

Argon 18 says the new, adjustable head tube setup allows for three different head tube heights for every frame size without compromising front-end stiffness.

Astana's Hugo Houle, who comes from Quebec, raced the bike at the GP Cycliste de Québec on Friday and will also ride it at the GP Cycliste de Montréal on Sunday, said: "One of the aspects I like the most about the Nitrogen Disc is how very versatile it is. The bike is as stiff as one would expect a great aero bike should be.

"In a sprint, it will transfer positively all the power you put into it. But the Nitrogen Disc is much more than a sprinter's bike. It handles as well on serious mountain climbs or high-speed descents as it does on the flat, making it a lot of fun to ride."