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."

Infinito Reviews Online

Bianchi Introduces New Infinito in 2009 Giro d'Italia - Bike Radar, June 6, 2009

    Photo courtesy of Bike Radar

What better way to road test a brand new model than racing it in the second biggest Pro Tour competition?

"South Africa's Robert Hunter tested the bike for Bianchi-equipped Barloworld at this year's Giro d'Italia. He told Cyclingnews: 'It doesn't have much more weight that the Superleggera. At the same time it is stiff and good for me in the bunch sprints, slightly stiffer than the Superleggera. The slightly longer wheelbase handled really well on the descents. I think they came up with a really good bike with this one.'"

Read full report at Bike Radar...

First look: Bianchi Infinito road bike - Bike Radar, July 18, 2009

 

 

     Photo courtesy of Bike Radar

"The latest piece of Italian exotica to grace the BikeRadar office is this Bianchi Infinito carbon road bike, as tested by South Africa’s Robbie Hunter at this year’s Giro d’Italia."

Read the full preview at Bike Radar... 

Interbike 2009: New Bianchi Infinito - Bike Rumor, October 6, 2009

     Photo courtesy of Bike Rumor

"Taking the comfort cues from the C2C geometry and frame designs, they made it stiffer, stronger and more race-oriented. The result is a bike they claim is a race-worthy performer that you can still ride comfortably all day. In development for two years, it was raced by the Barloworld professional cycling team at this year’s Giro d’Italia."

Read the full preview at Bike Rumor...

Bianchi Infinito C2C - Italian Cycling Journal, October 27, 2009

     Photo courtesy of Italian Cycling Journal

"CICLISMO's (magazine) review concluded that in this new frame Bianchi has been successful in building a frame that is both more aggressive and comfortable. It is very responsive and lighter, and much more competitive for climbing and responding to accelerations. The frame, according to CICLISMO, is ideal for granfondos and suitable for those that are fairly ambitious but not necessarily obsessed about every second..."

Read full report at Italian Cycling Journal...  

Bianchi Ultegra - Women's Adventure Magazine - March 14, 2010

 

" The Infinito’s frame stiffness is noticeable at the take-off, shooting out of the gate like a thoroughbred at Churchill Downs, but there’s no harshness as you cruise along."

"The Infinito has a magical ability to amplify your efforts, transforming even a mediocre rider into a contender in a sprint."

Read full review at women's Adventure...

2010 Infinito Ultegra Review - Bicycling Magazine, April 2010

"And after a year's worth of race testing under riders on Team Barloworld, Bianchi revised the layup for a hair more stiffness and added certain features, like a more responsive full-carbon "semi" straight-blade fork, to create snappier handling."

Read full review at Bicycling Magazine... 

Bike Tests: RBA Review: Bianchi Infinito - Road Bike Action, April 30, 2010

    Photo courtesy of Road Bike Action

"While not in the featherweight class, the Inifinito climbed remarkably well and with confidence. On descents, the bike was a smooth partner, not prone to make quick moves, but responsive enough to encourage speed and confidence. On two long rides, the Infinito stood out as not only a comfortable bike for longer days in the saddle, but it also has some more performance-focused attributes when we needed to sprint or corner at speeds."

Read full review at Road Bike Action...

Bicycling Magazine Buyer's Guide 2011 - Thumbs Up

 

"A slacker head angle, taller top tube and longer chain-stays than Bianchi's race bikes smooth the way and keep you fresher on long rides. The Infinito Ultegra gives you an FSA cockpit and a full Shimano Ultegra group, with a compact crankset built to tackle any hill. The saddle, a Fi'zi:k Aliante, keeps you thinking Italian."

Read summary at Bicycling Magazine... 

Bianchi Infinito 105 Review - Bike Radar, May 31, 2011

     Photo courtesy of Bike Radar

"Bianchi delivers a beautifully buoyant ride for more relaxed, long distance riders"

"As the flex is throughout the bike rather than from just one element it’s a balanced and predictable ride. That means once you’ve learnt to trust it it’s perfectly happy swooping and swinging through country lanes all day long, aided by Shimano’s 105 transmission and FSA compact crank."

Read the full review at Bike Radar...

RBA: Latest News; Bianchi at Flanders

Carbon or Aluminum?  Bianchi's Coast to Coast line offers both to Vacansoleil-DCM riders racing Tour of Flanders.

"Stijn Devolder's choice is Infinito whilst Bjorn Leukemans and Marco Marcato preferred Impulso to perform better under the specific conditions of the Belgian classic race: both models assure the best absorption of the strong vibrations due to the cobbles of Northern Classics' roads, thanks to Kevlar insertions in the seat stays and the carbon fork and to a rear triangle featuring a horizontal pipe section narrow and high."

“For this kind of courses I always prefer aluminum. - Leukemans stated -. Impulso is a rigid frame on asphalt and a comfortable on cobbles, without wasting power transmission".  Italian Marcato confirms: “I was never so quick on the cobbles. As for stability and reactivity, the Impulso is the perfect bike to run the Northern Classics”. 

"The Infinito is incredibly stable over demanding courses and offer the riders the optimal riding position for long distances."

Read the full report on Road Bike Action...

RBA Latest News: Bianchis in Belgium

"Bianchi bikes are in the spotlight on the Belgian roads, where World Tour Team Vacansoleil-DCM equipped by the Italian company is riding three different models: Oltre, Infinito  and Impulso. ...  The Infinito model features a ride-tuned lightweight carbon performance frame, whilst Impulso is the new Bianchi triple hydroformed ride-tuned aluminum frame. They both are part of the C2C family (Coast to Coast) and were tested and chosen by Team Vacansoleil-DCM’s riders specifically for the Belgian campaign. The frames' special geometry assures the best absorption of the strong vibrations due to the cobblets of Northern Classics' roads. One of the most satisfied of the Impulso aluminum frame was Italian Marco Marcato, sixth placed on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad’s finish line."  Road Bike Action

 Infinito in action on the cobblets at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

The Infinito is available with Shimano's new Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, Ultegra, and 105.  It is also available with Campagnolo's Athena group or as a frameset for a completely custom build.  All Infinito models feature the same carbon formulation and identical carbon fork with carbon steer tube as used by the Vacansoleil team. 

At first glance, the Impulso resembles a carbon fiber frame due to the unique, seamless shape of the top tube and head tube junction made possible through triple hydroforming.  Bianchi's proprietary Triple Hydroformed Technology creates a stiffer and lighter frame over standard hydroforming processes.  The Impulso retains its racing DNA while offering a slightly more relaxed ride position and Bianchi's exclusive K-VID carbon fork to dampen road vibrations.

The Impulso is available in Shimano Ultegra and 105 versions.   

Read the full story at Road Bike Action and watch for future race results as Team Vacansoleil-DCM continues its season on the Oltre, Infinito, Impulso and D2 Pico Crono time trial bikes.