Cinelli Pressure ADR review | Endurance Bike of the Year contender

The Pressure ADR is Cinelli’s new take on the long-distance endurance bike, the ADR in the moniker standing for ‘all day racing’.

It follows the same racing template and geometry as the original Pressure, but relies on carbon fibre and tube manipulation to introduce the added comfort required of an endurance machine.

The Pressure ADR is an interesting twist on the endurance bike, exhibiting a race-bike ride position but built around a more compliant frame and fork – it’s certainly worth considering for fast sportive riders.

Cinelli Pressure ADR frameset details

The original Cinelli Pressure, released in 2021, was the brand’s take on the aero road bike. It combined aero-profiled, high-modulus carbon tubing and an aggressive geometry and ride position, typical of the latest race bikes today.

The Pressure ADR frameset uses a mix of more compliant fibres rather than the Pressure’s high-modulus mix, the latter of which is both stiffer and lighter.

That said, the Pressure ADR’s frame and fork aren’t exactly heavy, at 990g for the frame (claimed, size medium) and 420g for the fork (also claimed, with an uncut steerer).

Up front, a wide-spread fork with a slight bow to the legs features, Pinarello Dogma F style.

The Pressure ADR brings dropped seatstays and short chainstays, as you’d expect on a pure race bike. It’s also UCI-approved, just like its racier sibling.

Rather than go with a dedicated cockpit system and aero-shaped post, Cinelli has kept the Pressure ADR simple, with a standard 27.2mm-diameter seatpost, while utilising FSA’s ACR internal routing system up front.

This should bring the benefits of an integrated system, like that found on Canyon’s Endurace, but with more choice of stem lengths and handlebars (that accommodate the system).

Cinelli claims the extensive work done on the ADR’s carbon layup, along with slimming down the aero profile of the seat tube (while replacing the aero post of the racier Pressure bike), brings the comfort required by the ‘modern fast endurance’ rider.

Like the Canyon Endurace, the Pressure ADR doesn’t have provision for mudguards, which is worth considering if you intend to ride the Pressure ADR year-round.

The bike operates around a press-fit 86.5mm bottom bracket and has clearance for up to 30mm tyres – on the narrow side for an endurance bike in 2024.

Cinelli Pressure ADR geometry

While positioned as an endurance bike, the geometry is still quite racy stuff.

It has a short 1,017mm wheelbase on my XL test bike, with a 72.7-degree head angle and 72-degree seat angle.

The frame’s stack is low at 583mm, and the reach is long at 403mm. The 50mm fork offset, with 28c tyres fitted, creates a short 54mm trail for keen handling characteristics.

In comparison, the sporty Giant Defy has a 58.6mm trail, 596mm stack and 392mm reach, and Canyon’s Endurace is taller again at 611mm and the reach is 387mm.

Cinelli Pressure ADR specification

The build is good for the money, with a welcome selection of proven mid-range components, a superb groupset and very dependable wheels.

FSA provides its clever ACR stem, with internal routing that flows into the bike, hiding both brake hoses.

Cinelli has opted to spec a longer than usual stem (120mm on my XL test bike) to clamp to the Deda Elementi Zero Evo DCR bar, which is completely compatible with the ACR stem.

The bar is ergonomically shaped, with a compact drop and short reach (120mm and 75mm respectively). It has a deep and flattened aero-shaped top section, which doubles as a comfortable place to rest.

It’s wrapped neatly in quality polyurethane Cinelli bar tape.

Deda Elementi also provides the seatpost in the form of the Zero 2 alloy model, topped by Selle Italia’s Model X saddle.

This has a short-nose compact design that follows the same shape as the Novus Boost, a saddle I rate highly, but at a much more affordable price.

Of course, it’s always worth noting that saddle choice and comfort are highly subjective.

The Pressure ADR, in this specification, rolls on Mavic’s Ksyrium 30 UST disc wheelset.

At 1,790g a pair (claimed), they’re not exactly light. However, the steel-spoked build and 30mm-deep alloy rims (that Mavic rates for drop impacts of up to 15cm) with a road-ready 19mm internal width, is contemporary.

The Ksyrium 30s are solid road bike wheels that retail for £350 – decent for a bike at this price, but no match on paper for the carbon wheels found on the cheaper Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2.

The Ksyrium wheelset employs Mavic’s UST (universal standard tubeless) rim design. Mavic has been on the tubeless train longer than most, and my experience is they seal easily and retain air well (bearing in mind the rim is only one part of the equation).

That said, it’s worth noting the Pressure ADR doesn’t come with tubeless tyres installed, so you’ll need to purchase them as an upgrade.

The wheels are wrapped with Schwalbe’s Lugano 2 tyres in 700x28c trim. The Lugano 2 may not be as speedy as Schwalbe’s racier Pro One, but it’s a tyre that’s quick enough and plenty tough enough for all-day, every-day, three-to-four season riding.

The bike features a full Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 groupset, which we rate very highly. The gear range selected by Cinelli certainly matches its all-day mantra – a compact 50/34T chainset matched to a broad 11-34t cassette.

Cinelli Pressure ADR ride impressions

The Italian take on the endurance bike has always been much more ‘aggressive’ than most.

The Italian cycling community takes its Gran Fondo (sportive) scene very seriously, after all, with sponsored teams and top-class riders aiming to win most of their ‘non-competitive’ road events.

With that in mind, the Pressure ADR could be the ideal bike for them. It has the ride position of a race bike and the snappy responsiveness in its handling you’d expect.

That said, it’s very cleverly tempered by a ride that, while firm, has enough forgiveness in the frame and fork to smooth over poor road surfaces.

It’s in no way as compliant as the Future-Shock enhanced Specialized Roubaix SL8 Comp, and not as smooth as the the Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2, but it's leagues better than your average aero race design.

The handling is superb – the steering requires the minimum of input to respond, feels nimble and reacts rapidly, making it perfect for navigating poor road surfaces and sudden line changes mid-corner.

The Pressure ADR is surefooted with it and remarkably balanced. On rapid descents, where confident accuracy is key, the fast reactions feel very controlled.

The Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 drivetrain is similarly swift and assured; the gear changes are slick, quick and accurate, and the braking delivers Shimano’s usual balanced blend of power and feel.

On this example, though, the rotors got a little noisy in the wet, but it’s entirely possible this is down to some contamination.

The Mavic wheels are plenty stiff, the freehub picks up quickly and it has a satisfying low-buzz on freewheel.

On rolling terrain, the Ksyriums are quick enough to accelerate, but you can feel the combination of their mass and the Lugano 2 tyres' weight on top.

The Lugano 2 is described as an ‘endurance’ tyre, mainly because of the reinforced tread and toughness, as opposed to speed and low rolling resistance.

I’ve been impressed by the grip in damp conditions, but on longer extended climbs I’d have preferred something with a little more zip.

My suggestion would be to keep the Lugano 2s for winter training miles and switch in something quicker and lighter come spring and summer. The same argument could be levelled at the wheels, too.

Cinelli Pressure ADR bottom line

The Cinelli Pressure ADR is unique in the sphere of endurance bikes – and not just because Cinelli offers some of the boldest colourways of any bike brand.

It doesn’t follow the same geometry codes you’d expect – on paper, it’s practically a race bike.

Thankfully, it rides with a bit more forgiveness. It's clever that it retains the fun of a fast aero-optimised race machine but lays on a layer of user-friendly smoothness that should appeal to non-racers and fast sportive riders alike.

Ideally, it needs a better set of tyres and would bear a smart wheelset upgrade (whether your priority is weight or aero performance). As a package, however, the Pressure ADR is definitely worth serious consideration.