To coincide with its sponsorship deal with Tuscany’s famous L’Eroica event, Bianchi has launched a range of vintage-inspired bikes.
The initial three-bike range mixes classic and contemporary, and will start at £825, rising to £1,500.
There's also a fourth bike that's yet to be launched – this fully vintage-inspired machine will be called the L’Eroica and will be based on the classic steel Bianchis of old, ridden by such legends as Felice Gimondi and Fausto Coppi. Details are scarce at the moment, but it will have a butted steel frame and feature a smattering of vintage-inspired parts and a Campagnolo drivetrain.
Here’s a run down of the Vintage line that'll be in UK stories in February.
Bianchi Lupo
£825
The Lupo is based around a chromoly frame and fork, designed for large tyre clearances (it comes with 35c Kenda Kwiks fitted). The frame also features eyelets for mudguards and racks. The drivetrain is full Shimano Sora and the brakes are Tektro’s 992 cantilevers.
The Lupo is a close relative to a 'cross bike, but its geometry is a little more aggressive (steeper), so it could make a great commuting option.
Bianchi Volpe disc
£1,150
The Volpe comes in the same understated gunmetal-silver livery as the Lupo, and is again based around a butted chromoly steel frameset, but has additional mounts for disc brakes alongside its rack and guard mounts.
The bike has a full Tiagra drivetrain and Hayes CX Expert mechanical disc brakes. The Volpe also shares the same fast road geometry as the Lupo. The retro look should be at odds with fat tyres, disc brakes and deep section rims, but we think it works. It should offer a decent alternative to the likes of Genesis and Charge in the cool disc-equipped commuter stakes.
Bianchi Vigorelli
£1,500
The most ‘classic’ looking of the new lineup is the Vigorelli, a butted chromoly frame with traditional forged dropouts and bosses for mudguards. You'll spot it comes in the Bianchi celeste colour, which more in keeping with the blue shade of Bianchi's vintage bikes.
The carbon fork includes K-Vid technology, which was first introduced on Bianchi’s C2C carbon bikes (the predecessors to the all-conquering Infinito CV). The K-Vid refers to the fork ends (the last few inches), which have Kevlar woven into the structure to reduce vibrations from the road. The Vigorelli comes with full Shimano 105 (11-speed), FSA Gossamer brakes and Fulcrum Racing sport wheels.
