{"id":36337,"date":"2022-05-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=36337"},"modified":"2022-05-17T10:35:48","modified_gmt":"2022-05-17T08:35:48","slug":"bianchi-specialissima","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/2022\/05\/13\/bianchi-specialissima\/","title":{"rendered":"Bianchi Specialissima"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
PERFORMANCE<\/span><\/h5>\n\n

Bianchi Specialissima<\/h2>\n\n

\u00a311,206<\/span> A very special ride indeed from the Italians<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Weight <\/strong>7.17kg (59cm) Frame <\/strong>CV carbon Fork <\/strong>CV carbon Gears <\/strong>Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed 50\/34, 11-30 Brakes <\/strong>Dura-Ace disc Wheels <\/strong>Vision SC40 Finishing <\/strong>kit, <\/strong>Reparto Corse stem, bar and seatpost, Fizik Antares R1 saddle, Pirelli P Zero Race 26mm tyres<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
<\/div>
\n

The Good <\/strong>
Handling balance, smooth ride, brilliant drivetrain<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bad<\/strong>
Wheels not quite as exclusive reducing the length of road-borne vibrations by up to 80 per cent.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

More than Zero<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The Bianchi has Pirelli\u2019s range-topping P Zero tyres. Though only 26mm wide, these contribute to comfort that matches bikes with wider tyres<\/p>\n\n

Vision on<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Vision\u2019s tubeless carbon SC40s are quality wheels, but you can find them on bikes much less expensive than the Specialissima<\/p>\n\n

On Corse<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The cockpit features Reparto Corse\u2019s 3D-forged aluminium stem, compact UD carbon bar and a Reparto Corse\/FSA seatpost<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

\n\n

THE BIANCHI SPECIALISSIMA<\/strong> Dura-Ace Di2 is very different to the bike that was our 2014 \u2018Superbike of the Year\u2019 \u2013 most obviously, with its disc brakes and aerodynamic tube profiles. Despite this, a 55cm frame still weighs just 750g.<\/p>\n\n

The frame features Bianchi\u2019s Countervail CV technology. This material sandwiches a viscoelastic material between carbon layers,<\/span> The frame\u2019s parallel 73-degree angles shout \u2018performance bike\u2019.<\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s long and low and designed for a racing mindset, and this is reflected in its ride, and within minutes of being astride the Specialissima, I knew I was onto something very good. The chassis is stiff and responsive and <\/em>lively \u2013 something often amiss on flyweight carbon bikes.<\/p>\n\n

It accelerates with ease, but it handles wonderfully and is a great climber. The steering requires so little effort because the perfectly weighted front end lets you dart in any direction. It\u2019s so responsive that swiping between hazards on poor roads is never a challenge.<\/p>\n\n

I\u2019ve ridden comfort-oriented bikes \u2013 with tyres wider than the 26mm Pirellis \u2013 that don\u2019t handle knocks as well as the Specialissima. It glides over rough tarmac without complaint, and its ability to track straight and nullify vibrations makes this one of the very best bikes for descending.<\/p>\n\n

The Specialissima\u2019s price is reflected in its top-level components, which notably showcase Shimano\u2019s new and impeccably performing 12-speed semi-wireless Dura-Ace Di2, along with Vision\u2019s Grand Tourinspired SC40 tubeless carbon wheels and Pirelli\u2019s range-topping P Zero 26mm tyres.<\/p>\n\n

And while Bianchi may have moved away from classic styling, I think it\u2019s still a handsome machine and one that doesn\u2019t disappoint when it comes to the most crucial factor \u2013 the ride. It\u2019s fast, flighty and nimble, yet composed and confident on sub-optimal surfaces or when pushing yourself to the limit. It\u2019s a bike I found myself wanting to live up to, not a bike I felt like cruising on. This Bianchi is one of the best bikes I\u2019ve ridden in recent times \u2013 it\u2019s long, low and luxurious \u2013 and I\u2019m smitten.<\/p>\n\n

Warren Rossiter <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

Verdict<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Jaw-dropping blend of speed, handling, control and smoothness. Pure superbike gold<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a311,206 A very special ride indeed from the Italians<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":36984,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"54","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"54","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_54-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_54-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"July-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"July-2022","purple_external_id":"July-2022-54-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"July-2022-54-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000111757||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000111757||","purple_android_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.393","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.393","purple_ios_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.393","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.393","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"d6ad2395-23ab-4326-a10d-940b8b948490","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-05-17T08:35:53Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"16c6321f-1db3-4274-8de4-10eb28374136","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-05-17T08:35:53Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AFsYyHx2zQnSN5BDrKDdBNg","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[146],"tags":[14],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/453IO5ZVUD0GOB83U3N1UABBWGF7-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/453IO5ZVUD0GOB83U3N1UABBWGF7-1.jpg",2048,1634,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/453IO5ZVUD0GOB83U3N1UABBWGF7-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/453IO5ZVUD0GOB83U3N1UABBWGF7-1-300x239.jpg",300,239,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/453IO5ZVUD0GOB83U3N1UABBWGF7-1-768x613.jpg",768,613,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/453IO5ZVUD0GOB83U3N1UABBWGF7-1-1024x817.jpg",800,638,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/453IO5ZVUD0GOB83U3N1UABBWGF7-1-1536x1226.jpg",1536,1226,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/05\/453IO5ZVUD0GOB83U3N1UABBWGF7-1.jpg",2048,1634,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"\u00a311,206 A very special ride indeed from the Italians","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36337"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36337"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36337\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37098,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36337\/revisions\/37098"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}