220Triathlon Edição 334

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1 The frameset was a winner – compliant, stiff under hard efforts, with balanced and neutral handling 2 Braking in the dry proved to be exceptionally good, but
the tubs’ V-profile lacked speed and stability in anything but calm conditions 3 The bar has a nice long drop, but there’s no Garmin mount and it can’t take clip-ons
I n its new XR4 guise, Bianchi’s Oltre has come
of age. Thanks to its new superlight sibling,
last year’s Specialissima, the Oltre is finally
free to be a full-gas aero bike.
Speed was the goal during this bike’s
development and Bianchi approached it from
two directions. The first was aerodynamics, the
highlights of which include a more slender, tapered
head tube with an air-piercing ‘nose’ and a reduced
1.4in lower bearing; a new bowed fork that reduces
pressure caused by forward rotating spokes
fighting incoming air in a small space; and a new
profile for the down tube and seatstays.
The Oltre XR4 is claimed to save 20W at 50km/h
over the XR2, which itself wasn’t a slow bike. Five of
those watts are attributed to the new Vision 5D
one-piece handlebar and stem, which is fitted to all
but the Chorus- and Ultegra-equipped entry-level
models. The bar can be added to those and to the
frameset for an extra £550 but it can’t take clip-ons,
so it’s a false drag-saving for triathlon.
The second path to speed was comfort. Bianchi
is proud of its Countervail vibration damping
technology, and say it’s used in the Oltre XR4 to
enable you to hold an aero position for longer and
feel fresher when you pull on your running shoes.
The Oltre XR4 is available in eight complete
builds with mechanical and electronic versions of
Campagnolo and Shimano groupsets, plus SRAM
Red eTap. Each build has at least one optional
upgrade wheel and the top models can be specced
with a Rotor INpower crankset. Our test bike is the
mechanical Super Record version, upgraded with
Campagnolo Bora Ultra 50 tubulars in place of
Fulcrum Racing Zeroes, pushing the price into five
figures. Vittoria Corsa G+ tyres and a carbon-railed
Fizik Arione R3 complete a thoroughly lavish build.
BEAUTIFUL BUT COMPROMISED
In this spec, it’s beautiful. But it’s also compromised.
The tubs are very light, stiff and the dry braking is
exceptionally good, but their skinny V-profile lacks
speed and stability in anything but calm conditions.
The 25mm Vittorias are excellent but too wide
for the rims. Super Record shifts with an exquisite
crispness, but the thumb lever is awkward to reach
and stiff, so it’s too easy to multi-shift down the
block. This bike’s 50/34, 11-27 gearing would suit a
very hilly event but we’d prefer a less gappy 11-25.
The frameset is fantastic. It’s stiff under hard
efforts, the handling is balanced and neutral, and
it’s compliant, though the 25mm tyres do lots of the
work on poor surfaces. The bar has pleasingly long
drops but no Garmin mount, can’t take clip-ons and
comes in limited sizes. The Fizik saddle isn’t suited
to tri use but the post to which it’s mounted is – you
can flip the head from +25mm setback to -10mm
for a glute-friendly forward position.
The Oltre XR4 could be a great tri bike for all
types events but we wouldn’t choose this build.
Go for the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Red
eTap build with Zipp 404s and the Rotor power
meter, spec a normal bar, add clip-ons and
then fit them with satellite shifters to enjoy
push-button changes from your aero position.
Now that would be spectacular.
1 2 3
TECH BIANCHI OLTRE XR4
Size tested 57cm
Overall weight 6.54kg
FRAME AND FORKS
Sizes available 47, 50, 53, 55,
57, 59, 61cm
Frame Oltre XR4
Fork Full carbon aero profile
TRANSMISSION
Chainset Campagnolo Super
Record, 50/34
Bottom Bracket Campagnolo
Ultra Torque
Cassette Campagnolo Super
Record, 11-27
Chain Campagnolo Super Record
Derailleurs Campagnolo Super Record
Shifters Campagnolo Super Record
WHEELS
Wheels Campagnolo Bora Ultra
50 tubs
TyresVittoria Corsa G+ 25mm tubs
COMPONENTS
Bar/stem Vision Metron 5D
Headset FSA Orbit C-33
Saddle Fizik Arione R3
Seatpost Bianchi carbon aero
BrakesCampagnolo Super
Record, dual-mount
DIMENSIONS
1 Head angle73°
2 Seat angle 73.5°
3 Effective top tube56cm
4 Stack 55.7cm
5 Reach 39.5cm
6 Chainstay40.7cm
7 Wheelbase 100cm
8 Head tube 15.5cm
90%
Fast, light, comfortable, adaptable
and very tri-friendly, but costly
››VERDICT
FEBRUARY 2017 I I 73
TEST
CENTRE