First ride on the Bianchi Oltre XR4 in Franciacorta, Italy

Bianchi took no chances that we wouldn’t feel fast when they sent us out on the roads of Franciacorta for a test ride on the new Oltre XR4. It’s the Bianchi press launch of their updated aero race bike and I am decked out in a Bianchi branded aero road helmet, shoe covers and a snug race kit. As we rolled out of the 17th-century farmhouse which served as the headquarters for the launch, I tried to pay particular attention to how the shiny new Oltre XR4 with Campagnolo Super Record 11 and Bora Ultra 50 tubulars beneath me felt on the Italian tarmac.

As the group rolled along narrow roads, past vineyards and over rolling hills with views of the mountains around Lago d’Iseo the pace inevitably ramped up and soon I found myself at the front pushing the pedals on the CK16 celeste racing machine underneath me. Bianchi set out to refine the Oltre aero bike to be faster, more comfortable, and provide riders with a stable and stiff platform with increased control at high speeds, on descents and when breaking. “You can build a super fast bike, a super stiff bike but then you have to descend and brake,” said Bianchi’s road product manager, Angelo Lecchi.

The ride quality was evident on the flat roads, rolling hills and the 3.5-km climb and descent we rode. I wasn’t able to push the bike to its limits, especially on the descent but when I stamped on the pedals it accelerated immediately. If there was any flex in the frame I had no way of detecting it. Though the pavement is smooth, so is the ride and very comfortable for a stiff race bike. When climbing, it didn’t feel like a bike solely built for speed instead I wished the climb continued.

In 2012, Bianchi quite proudly introduced Countervail. A viscoelastic carbon that was designed in cooperation with Material Sciences Corporation, a company that supplies the aerospace industry and military with carbon and composite materials, that is meant to cancel road vibrations. Since introducing it on the Infinito endurance bike they have gone on to use it on their Aquila time trial machine, the lightweight climbing Specialissima, and this year the Methanol CV hard tail cross country mountain bike and the aero Oltre XR4 get it. Each time they say the formula is refined to offer different behaviors on frames of diferent purposes but always to offer better control and to make the ride more comfortable. Countervail isn’t just in one part of the bike but is in the layup of the carbon fibers of the entire frame and fork.

Out on the road, the presence of Countervail isn’t immediately evident. Bianchi call it an integrated, rather than a mechanical, solution to eliminating road buzz. The ride on the Oltre certainly feels very smooth, the bike is stable and glides over the road as I am able to take corners with confidence. After extensive testing in the lab and out on the road, Bianchi say that the amplitude of vibrations are reduced by as much as 80 per cent with Countervail compared to the traditional carbon they’ve used on their frames.

That means the bike will ride smoother, feel more comfortable over long rides, stay more grounded at high speeds and in corners when descending, and make it possible to hold an aggressive aero position longer. I didn’t have a chance to push the bike to its limits but the sensations I got were all positive. Out on the ride I am told that some members of the LottoNL-Jumbo team who were experiencing back pain with the previous model no longer experienced it when they rode the new bikes with Countervail.

The ride quality of the Oltre XR4 is very pleasant, it immediately gets up to speed and then holds it when I ease off the power to coast. Equipped with a Vision Mentron 5D integrated handlebar (with a different spacer you can run a traditional stem handlebar setup) holding a more aggressive aerodynamic position on the bike is rewarding and comfortable. The introduction of Countervail is designed to help me stay in this position for longer.

The Oltre XR4 received extensive computational fluid dynamics testing in the wind tunnel and refinements to the frame were done using flow visualization, a technology Bianchi has proudly borrowed from Formula 1. Applying a fluorescent paint to the frame, their engineers were able to visualize the airflow patterns and pay special attention to the aerodynamic performance of different parts of the bike.

The result is a frame with thicker tubes than it’s predecessor and an aggressive geometry (the same as on the Specialissima and the Oltre XR2). The Oltre XR4 received a fork with a slight curve very similar to the one found on the Aquila TT bike and a beefy tapered headtube with a 1.4″ integrated headset. The headtube is 5-mm shorter than on the previous model to allow riders to get as low as possible with the integrated handlebar. The frame uses wider chainstays than the Oltre XR2 and the rear triangle is a little smaller, a result of the seat stays joining the seat tube further down, making for a stiffer platform. Like the headtube, the bottom bracket is massive to make the bike more rigid and uses a press fit 86.5 x 41 BB. A 55-cm frame weighs in at 980-g.

Out on the road, the ride quality was responsive and smooth

The Bianchi headpiece is undeniably stylish

The Oltre XR4 is designed to be more aerodynamic and smoother with the introduction of Countervail

The curved forks is largely unchanged from the Aquila TT bike

The headset allows for an aggressive positon and can receive a traditional handlebar/stem setup

The Oltre XR4 is outfitted with the integrated Vision Metron 5D handlebar

Bianchi believe Countervail is game changing to the bike industry offering more control to riders, after the ride it was hard to argue as the bike felt like a comfortable all rounder

The Campagnolo Bora Ultra 50 wheels will be an option when the bike is available for retail

LottoNL-Jumbo are currently racing on the Oltre XR4 at the Tour de France

The bike will be available in five colour schemes but gloss CK16 celeste si definetly eye catching

Compared to the slim elegance of the lightweight Specialissima, the Oltre’s a muscular thoroughbred race machine. The two bikes have the same geometry but are designed for different purposes. Despite the Oltre XR4’s penchant for speed, the bike also feels well refined for climbing, descending and for longer riders. On the short test it was extremely fun to ride with excellent control. The refinements of the new frame certainly make it feel fast and stiff but the introduction of Countervail make it initially feel like a comfortable all-rounder that is well-suited for not just racers. One thing is for certain, I am already looking forward to putting more time on the Oltre XR4 for a more thorough test because my first impression after 45-km have me excited at the prospect of more time with it.

First Look: Shimano’s Dura Ace R9100

Pricing of the Oltre XR4 is not yet available but Bianchi said there would be nine models available with options including Campagnolo Super Record EPS, SRAM Red eTap and the new Shimano Dura-Ace 9100 groupset when it is released. There will be five different colour schemes and an option that comes with a power meter.