The all-new Bianchi Oltre RC is the brand’s first ‘hyperbike’ and gets unique, patent-pending vents on the head tube to redirect air to low-pressure zones.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Bikerumor.
The new head-tube vents, a fully integrated one-piece handlebar and stem, and new Reparto Corse aero wheels offer 45-second savings over 40 km at a 250W output.
Bianchi Oltre RC ‘Hyperbike’
Designed as a bike-plus-rider system, the scoop in the bar/stem funnels air into “low-pressure vortices aimed at the rider’s moving legs.”
The scoops below it direct the air around the head tube, smoothing flow into the low-pressure zone directly behind it. The combined goal appears to be to reduce turbulence and low-pressure zones that cause drag.
And Bianchi says it helps even in crosswinds, improving CdA (coefficient of aerodynamic drag) by 5.1% compared to the Oltre XR4.
The Reparto Corse (Bianchi’s Racing Department) RC50 and RC65 wheels aid the aerodynamics. The carbon fiber, tubeless-ready 50mm (front)- and 65mm (rear)-deep rims are designed to be stiff, light, and fast. The hubs use the brand’s SPB (Super Precision Bearing) construction to ensure they roll smoothly.
These join a new 165g Reparto Corse saddle with a carbon fiber shell and 3D-printed padding as a reboot of the brand’s in-house, top-end component effort. Together with the cockpit, this is the most “Bianchi’d” bike Bianchi has ever made.
The wheels have a 21mm internal width, and the bike will fit up to 700 x 32mm tires.
A specific RC-level fork adorns the top model, but all levels get small aero touches on the lower legs.
Bianchi Oltre Versions
Three models are offered, plus an RC-level frameset. They share the overall frame design, but the spec differs, and the base model loses the RC wheels, saddle, and cockpit.
Designed as a pro-level racing bike, a complete Bianchi Oltre RC weighs in at a claimed 15.1 pounds in size 55, as shown above. The frame is only compatible with electronic drivetrains, and complete bikes are available with SRAM Red AXS, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, and Campagnolo Super Record EPS — all with power meters. Prices range from €13,849 to €15,149 (about $13,535 to $14,805).
The Bianchi Oltre Pro uses the same 50mm-deep front and rear rims as well as keeps the Reparto Corse saddle and integrated cockpit. But it has a slightly different fork that incorporates the brand’s CV vibration-reduction material.
Drivetrain options include SRAM Red or Force AXS and Shimano Dura-Ace or Ultegra Di2. Prices range from €7,999 to €12,199 (about $7,818 to $11,922), and claimed weight is 16.09 pounds.
The base-level Bianchi Oltre gets yet another fork and comes with new Velomann 50mm-deep carbon wheels, cockpit (with aero stem), and saddle. Groups include SRAM Rival AXS and Shimano Ultegra or 105 Di2.
Claimed weight is 17.86 pounds, and prices span €5,399 to €6,249 (about $5,277 to $6,107).
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