Playboy Magazine: Bianchi Pista, December 2012

As featured in the 2012 Holiday Issue of Playboy Magazine;

Road Bike Action: Being There: Inside The Bianchi Factory, November 13, 2012

2013 Oltre XR Felice Gimondi Limited Edition, Road Bike Action

 

 

 

 

"Who would guess that over 125 years later the bikes bearing his name would still be winning races, carrying people to new heights of physical activity, and providing a greener mode of transportation for people the world over."

Read the whole article here

LA Times: Bianchi Infinito Review, September 2012

Bike review of Bianchi Infinito Ultegra appearing in LA Times, September 2012

Cycling News: Eurobike 2012 tech: Bianchi 2013 road and mountain bikes, September 4, 2012

2013 Sempre Ultegra, courtesy of Bke Radar / Cycling News

Oltre XR

"The company have introduced the newly tweaked Oltre, now called the Oltre XR, for 2013. Layup alterations have further reduced the overall frame weight (859g for a 55cm size) and the addition of more Nano Tube carbon and UHM fibres has improved stiffness too."

Read more

Sempre Pro

"The race-ready Sempre has had significant upgrades to its frame for 2013, in the form of a new tapered head tube from 1 1/8in down to 1 1/2in. The bottom bracket is BB30 and cable routing is now fully internal. The bike is dual compatible between mechanical and electronic groupsets."

Read more

Infinito

"Bianchi’s more sportive focused Infinito also has fully internal routing and dual compatibility for next year. Up front, the head tube rises above the line of the top tube. Bianchi claim this is to reduce the need for too many headset spacers, which can have an adverse effect on front-end stiffness."

Vertigo

"The latest addition to Bianchi’s road line - the Vertigo - is a first for the classic Italian brand, pitching them at a whole new carbon price point.

It was the only 2013 bike Bianchi could confirm pricing on at Eurobike. At £1,500 the full carbon Vertigo features a Campagnolo Veloce group, and Bianchi’s in-house Reparto Corse finishing kit and wheels (courtesy of Maddux). US pricing is still to be confirmed.

With a frame weight of about 1.2kg (2.5lb) it’s looking impressive for the price, and we will be getting a first test on the new platform as soon as possible."

 See thumbnail photo gallery

Bike Radar: Bianchi 2013 road and mountain bikes - Eurobike 2012, September 3, 2012

2013 Oltre XR Super Record EPS, courtesy of Bike Radar

Oltre XR 

"The company have introduced the newly tweaked Oltre, now called the Oltre XR, for 2013. Layup alterations have further reduced the overall frame weight (859g for a 55cm size) and the addition of more Nano Tube carbon and UHM fibres has improved stiffness too."  

Read more at Bike Radar 

Sempre Pro

2013 Sempre Pro Ultegra, courtesy of Bike Radar

"The race-ready Sempre has had significant upgrades to its frame for 2013, in the form of a new tapered head tube from 1 1/8in down to 1 1/2in. The bottom bracket is BB30 and cable routing is now fully internal. The bike is dual compatible between mechanical and electronic groupsets."

Read more at Bike Radar

Infinito

2013 Infinito, courtesy of Bike Radar

"Bianchi’s more sportive focused Infinito also has fully internal routing and dual compatibility for next year. Up front, the head tube rises above the line of the top tube. Bianchi claim this is to reduce the need for too many headset spacers, which can have an adverse effect on front-end stiffness."

Vertigo

2013 Vertigo Veloce, courtesy of Bike Radar

"The latest addition to Bianchi’s road line - the Vertigo - is a first for the classic Italian brand, pitching them at a whole new carbon price point.

 It was the only 2013 bike Bianchi could confirm pricing on at Eurobike. At £1,500 the full carbon Vertigo features a Campagnolo Veloce group, and Bianchi’s in-house Reparto Corse finishing kit and wheels (courtesy of Maddux). US pricing is still to be confirmed.

With a frame weight of about 1.2kg (2.5lb) it’s looking impressive for the price, and we will be getting a first test on the new platform as soon as possible."

Velo News: Bianchi unveils new lighter, stiffer Oltre XR for 2013, July 26, 2012

2013 Bianchi Oltre XR, courtesy of Velo News

"LOURDES, France (VN) — Extensive research and development and a series of changes in new carbon fiber layup design have allowed Bianchi to make its brand new Oltre XR a claimed 20-percent stiffer and 30 grams lighter than the previous Oltre, dropping frame weight down just below 900 grams for a 55cm.

The new Oltre XR, which Bianchi launched just a few steps away from the Tour’s rest-day press room in Pau, France, is the Italian company’s latest high-end offering, and offers up mostly beneath-the-skin updates over the old Oltre model."

Read more at Velo News

Road.cc: Updated: Bianchi launch new Oltre XR (+ video), July 18, 2012

2013 Oltre XR Super Record EPS, courtesy of road.cc

"Bianchi are launching a new version of their Oltre high-end road bike for 2013. The Oltre XR is said to be 20% stiffer than the current version with a 30g weight reduction.

Bianchi are claiming a frame weight of just 895g (+/- 5%) for a 55cm model. The name XR derives from ‘extreme rigidity-to-weight ratio’."

Read more at road.cc

Bike Rumor: Bianchi Unveils Oltre XR – Lighter, Stiffer Racing Road Bike, July 17, 2012

2013 Bianchi Oltre XR Super Record, courtesy of Bike Rumor

"Bianchi has just announced their next level racing road bike, the 2013 Oltre XR.

 We have the “standard” Oltre in on review, and it’s no slouch in terms of stiffness and weight, but the XR claims to be stiffer and lighter, coming in just under 900g for a 55.

Visually, it’s very similar to the Oltre, which includes the aerodynamically shaped tubes, ultra thin seatstays and angles on the head- and down tubes. The key difference is the combination of UMS40and CN60 Ultra High Modulus carbon fibers, which dropped 30g from the frame while increasing frame rigidity by 20%. Bianchi says this gives it the best stiffness to weight ratio of any bike they’ve ever made."

Read more at Bike Rumor

Bike Radar: Bianchi Oltre XR Unveiled, July 18, 2012

2013 Oltre XR Ultegra Di2

"The current Oltre is being raced by the Vacansoleil-DCM pro team, and carried Thomas De Gendt to third place in this year’s Giro d’Italia. But although it’s an undoubtedly excellent bike, feedback from professional riders and Bianchi’s own development team led to the creation of the Oltre XR. 

Present at the launch was Felice Gimondi, who won the Tour in 1965, was noticed by Fausto Coppi and brought in to ride for Bianchi. He spent the second half of his career with the team. He’s now a Bianchi ambassador and is said to have the company’s famed celeste green running through his veins."

 Read more at Bike Radar (including extra pics)

Road Bike Action: First Look: Bianchi Oltre XR, July 17, 2012

2013 Oltre XR in matte black (offered in US in Dura Ace Di2), courtesy of Road Bike Action

"Oltre XR is a monocoque carbon frame designed for extreme performance. Its increased rigidity and Bianchi’s unique racing geometry are combined to provide fast acceleration, maximum power transmission and enhanced handling.

Watch the Bianchi Oltre XR video.

PID graphics (Pure Italian Design) and performance merge in a technique-oriented design. Oltre XR’s increased lightness results in optimal climbing performance, and aerodynamics were focused in order to assure the highest speeds in both flat and downhill sections.

Bianchi Oltre XR’s most exclusive new feature is the combination of UMS40 and CN60 Ultra High Modulus carbon fibers, allowing a 30-gr weight reduction while also increasing the frame rigidity by 20% compared to the original Bianchi Oltre model, that was also optimized to achieve the most efficient power transmission and the best rigidity-to-weight ratio. 

Featuring X-TEX, Carbon Nano Tech, Carbon Nano Tube Tech, WMP and UTTS technologies, Oltre is the top model of the Bianchi Road range, and is widely regarded as one of the best racing bikes ever made by Bianchi."

See more at Road Bike Action here
 

Italian Cycling Journal: Bianchi "Oltre XR" Launched in Pau, July 17, 2012

2013 Bianchi Oltre XR Super Record EPS, image courtesy of Italian Cycling Journal

"Bianchi launched the HoC (Hors Category) new Oltre XR frame at the Palais Beaumont in Pau today on the Tour de France's second rest day in the presence of 1965 Tour de France winner Felice Gimondi, testimonial and legend of Bianchi brand."

" Oltre XR is a monocoque carbon frame designed for extreme performance. Its increased rigidity and Bianchi’s unique racing geometry are combined to provide fast acceleration, maximum power transmission and enhanced handling. Pure Italian Design and performance merge in a technique-oriented design. Oltre XR’s increased lightness results in optimal climbing performance, and aerodynamics were focused in order to assure the highest speeds in both flat and downhill sections."

 Read more

Outside Magazine: The 7 Best Road Bikes of Summer 2012; Bianchi Impulso Ultegra, June 01, 2012

2012 Bianchi Impulso as featured in Outside Magazine

"BEST FOR: Budget-conscious riders who don’t want to look like it.

 THE TEST: Show up at a group ride on this pretty entry-level racer and you’ll likely raise eyebrows along with the pace. The Impulso is emblematic of a new breed of hydroformed aluminum bikes—the tubes have been rigorously shaped to fine-tune the ride, including a flattened and tapered top tube to add compliance—with the kind of blazing acceleration and hard-edge kick you just can’t get with carbon fiber. With choice bits of Shimano Ultegra where it counts (shifters, rear derailleur), the Impulso packs a lot of value. Unfortunately, it also packs on the weight, especially in those shiny but stout wheels.

 THE VERDICT: Only Italians could make a Fiat-priced bike that looks and performs like a Ferrari. 20.7 lbs

HANDLING: 4
RESPONSIVENESS: 3

 Aluminum bikes are getting lighter and more comfortable through hydroforming, a process that uses injected hydraulic fluid to make thinner tubing that is as stiff and compliant as traditionally formed, thicker tubes."

See full write-up at Outside Magazine

Peloton: Reviewed; Oltre Super Record 11, March 2012

2012 Oltre Super Record 11

"While a pure road racer, Bianchi wanted to do more than deliver a bike that would perform on the climbs or during a sprint. They wanted a well-rounded bike, a bike that would take care of the climber on the long flat days and give the lead out man an extra few watts.

The bike has been tuned to perfection. Each part, from fork to rear triangle, from cockpit to seat post, has just the right level of stiffness to compliment the other features. Under power the bike is a real drag racer of a sprint bike. It lays down big power with incredible stability and predictability, the rear stays planted even when sprinting really low and forward to stay out of the wind. While climbing the bike again displays excellent credentials. It is flawless while seated."

Read full review here