Bianchi Intrepida
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Bianchi have launched a host of new bikes for 2016, including the Freccia Celeste
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The Freccia Celeste enters the fray as Bianchi's lightweight aluminium race bike
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Bianchi's 'endurance racing' family has grown with the introduction of the Intrepida. While the bike above is pictured with Shimano Tiagra, the Intrepida will only be available in the UK in Shimano Ultegra, 105 and Campagnolo Veloce builds
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The Sempre Pro may not have the standout features of the Specialissima or Oltre but it's still a lightweight racing bike in its own right
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The Bianchi Infinito CV Disc has been redesigned with thru-axles for 2016
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Bianchi's 2016 women's range covers seven bikes
Bianchi Intrepida
Bianchi’s ‘endurance racing’ family is aimed at long distance/sportive riders – or the LottoNL-Jumbo team during the Classics – and the bikes place a little more emphasis on comfort, whether that’s through frame material and/or a more relaxed geometry.
The collection comprises the top-end Infinito CV and Infinito CV Disc, the Intenso and Intenso Disc, the Impulso and Impulso Disc, the Via Nirone 7, and this, the brand new Intrepida. In terms of the heirachy, it slots in between the Intenso bikes and the Impulso and Via Nirone bikes as an entry-level carbon machine.
The Intrepida pairs a monocoque carbon fibre frame with a carbon fork, which has a tapered 1-1/8″ to 1-1/2″ tapered steerer. Other frame features include internal cable routing and a BSA bottom bracket, though Bianchi have opted for a 31.6mm seatpost as opposed to the 27.2mm diameter usually used by manufacturers to add in a little more comfort (the narrow diameter post is able to flex a little more).
Claimed weight for the frame is 1.230kg (55cm), so about the same as the Freccia Disc, and it’ll be available in five sizes from 48cm to 60cm. Like all bikes in Bianchi’s ‘endurance racing’ category, the geometry is designed to offer a more relaxed riding position than an all-out race bike, with a taller headtube and shorter toptube putting the rider in a more upright position.
The Intrepida comes in three builds, based around a Shimano Ultegra (£1,700), Shimano 105 (£1,500) and Campagnolo Veloce (£1,350) groupset respectively. All three bikes come with a compact 50-34t chainset to sportive climbing-friendly gears.
