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The combination of CV and disc brakes provides supreme comfort and confidence on poor surfaces and in adverse weather(Image credit: Russell Burton)
The Bianchi has Shimano’s excellent hydraulic braking(Image credit: Russell Burton)
FSA's flat-topped WIng Bar is a firm favourite(Image credit: Russell Burton)
Bianchi Infinito CV disc(Image credit: Russell Burton)
Bianchi's standard Infinito CV bikes continue to develop the vibration-reducing comfort that the Italian company pioneered in its Kevlar-infused C2C frames in the early 2000s.
Highs: A superb blend of race bike handling and endurance bike comfort – a machine that shows the future of disc braking to the full Lows: Expensive considering you 'only' get Ultegra Di2 and SL-K components Buy If: You want all the benefits of disc braking without any compromises
Its latest models feature Bianchi's unique CV – 'Countervail vibration-cancelling composite' – technology it developed in collaboration with the USA's Material Sciences Corporation. As this is integral to the carbon lay-up and results in some frame flexibility, we were concerned that the extra strengthening, stiffness and material required for disc brakes would hamper CV's calming effect over coarser surfaces.
Well, we needn't have worried – Bianchi has got it right. It has refined the carbon lay-up and design to cope with the stresses of disc brakes, adding a scant 40g to the standard Infinito frame weight but delivering a ride that is just as sublime.
The Bianchi has Shimano's excellent hydraulic braking
The combination of CV and disc brakes provides supreme comfort and confidence on poor surfaces and in adverse weather
The range-topping disc model we tested features Shimano's Ultegra Di2 kit with the Di2-specific (but neither Dura-Ace nor Ultegra) ST-R785 levers. The shifting is crisp, smooth and self-regulating. So even if you do manage to run a big sprocket/big chainring combination the front mech adjusts itself to avoid any unwanted noise.
The wheels, too, are very impressive. They feature Vision's high-quality Metron 40 rims and Shimano's 'cross-specific CX75 hubs. These have improved seals but are still based on Shimano's easy to maintain cup-and-cone design. The deep rims handle superbly in crosswinds in spite of their depth. Hutchinson's Fusion 3 tyres come in a comfortable and cobble-friendly 25mm width.
When we tested the TDF Infinito we found it hard to fault and it scored five. This betters it in spite of 'only' having Ultegra Di2 and FSA's second-level finishing kit. It's probably just as well our marking tops out at five…
