Bianchi has unveiled its new Aquila RC time trial bike, boasting significantly improved aero performance and an integrated design that looks equally fast.
Bianchi says the new Aquila RC is the result of 20 months of development.
During this time, the brand collaborated with world-class time trial specialist and Arkéa-B&B Hotels WorldTour team rider Kévin Vauquelin.
The Aquila CV was the last remaining rim-brake bike in the WorldTour. The new Aquila RC drops rim brakes in favour of disc brakes to gather all important aerodynamic gains with the RC’s front end.
This has enabled a shift to a wider fork crown, as is the current aero trend, along with smoother integration into the head tube.
The new bike is priced at £4,799 / €5,449 / $TBC.
Design details
The design process involved lengthy CAD analysis, CFD simulations, multiple prototypes and wind-tunnel testing.
The goal "to create the fastest complete system" led to reimagining the bike's geometry.
Bianchi opted for a steep 77.5-degree seat angle and an increased reach at the bar. The brand claims the effect is a much more aggressive riding position that’s also significantly faster.
The Aquila’s tube sections have similar angular curves to the race-proven Oltre RC, but in a much more exaggerated form.
Bianchi says the tube sections are designed to leverage a sailing effect, shifting side forces into forward thrust for both bike and rider.
The resulting bike looks impressive, with one of the smoothest integrations of cockpit and frame we’ve seen. It’s certainly a radical departure compared to the ageing rim-brake Aquila.
Bianchi claims it has paid particular attention to key areas of the bike in terms of aero gains. Those are the handlebar (and its integration), seatpost and bottom bracket shell.
Minimising the pressure drag in these key areas is the reason behind the design’s success in the wind tunnel and on-road evaluations.
Adjustability is key
The fully integrated cockpit combines an aero bar integrated slickly into the head tube, with a single pillar for the tri-bar extensions designed in cooperation with FSA Vision. The single pillar's height is highly adjustable, as is the width, enabling riders to find their optimal position.
The extensions have a maximum height of 75mm from the base bar and come with a selection of 5, 10 and 20mm spacers to enable you to tune the fit.
Testing for time
The Aquila’s testing combined wind-tunnel examinations with plenty of riding hours in an attempt to fully understand how a rider's movements interact with the design and the bike's aerodynamics.
Bianchi developed an innovative tool, replicating these movements with artificial legs as part of the testing process.
The result, Bianchi claims, is a saving of 16.1 watts at 50km/h compared to the previous version. On a 40.7km course, at an average speed of between 50.4km/h and 51.1km/h, the Aquila RC was 37 seconds faster than the previous model.
The Aquila RC consistently outperformed the previous generation, as we’d expect. Bianchi also claims it outperforms the best industry competitor in yaw angles from -20° to 20° (although it remains tight-lipped on what that industry rival is).
Weights, geometry and prices
The Aquila RC frame weighs a claimed 1.3kg (size medium), with the fork adding a further 400g. It's designed to work with tyres up to 28mm wide.
| Size | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube (mm) | 510 | 530 | 560 |
| Top tube (mm) | 510 | 535 | 556 |
| Chainstay (mm) | 410 | 410 | 410 |
| Bottom bracket drop (mm) | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Head tube length (mm) | 75 | 90 | 115 |
| Front centre (mm) | 588 | 610 | 638 |
| Seat tube angle (degrees) | 77.5 | 77.5 | 77.5 |
| Head angle (degrees) | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Fork offset (mm) | 45 | 45 | 45 |
| Fork length (mm) | 370.5 | 370.5 | 370.5 |
| Standover (mm) | 466 | 500 | 524 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 986 | 1008.5 | 1036 |
| Reach (mm) | 402 | 420 | 440 |
| Reach (extensions, mm) | 627 | 645 | 665 |
| Stack (mm) | 486 | 500 | 524 |
| Stack (extensions, mm) | 624 | 639 | 662 |
| Max extension height (mm) | 75 | 75 | 75 |
The Aquila RC will only be available as a frameset, in sizes small, medium and large. It comes in gloss black, black and metallic – and, of course, Celeste.
