Build
Frameset
- Frame: 53cm XR4 - 1006g
Fork: 360g uncut
Seatpost: ~190g
- Crankset: Power2max Type-S 5-arm Campag 52 *36, 172.5 mm
BB: Campagnolo PF86
Shifters/RD: Super Record
DM Brakes/Chain: Record
FD: Chorus
Cassette: Ultegra
Cables: Campagnolo
- Bars/Stem: FSA K-force 400 x 110 mm
Bartape: Lizard Skins 1.8 mm
Saddle: Specialized Romin Evo Pro - 181g
Cages: Specialized S-works
Pedals: Dura-ace 9000
- Wheels: Reynolds Aero 58 - 1600g w/o rim tape
Tires/Tubes: Specialized Turbo/Vittoria Latex
Skewers: Campagnolo
- Sense of Power Transfer: 8.5/10
Acceleration: 7/10 (Keeping in mind I'm using the frame with relatively heavy aero-carbon clinchers, so its still pretty good)
Climbing: 7.5 (seated efforts are more gratifying than punchy attempts to accelerate)
Sense of flatland speed: 8.5/10
Handling: 7/10 (take this with a grain of salt, I'm a poor bike handler and compared to other bikes I've never felt confident on Bianchis - they dont feel planted, however, they dont feel unstable either)
Comfort: 9/10 (This rating is relative to other 'racing' frames I've tried)
Other comments:
Mr. Sheen does a fine job of getting the matt finish clean. Its not perfect however.
There were no issues building it - the only tricky part was the internal routing through the seat-stay which proved to be quite stubborn. The inside finish of the frame looks to be quite poor.
The Reynolds Aero wheels are decent, though I do experience brake rub out of the saddle which I find pretty irritating. The DT240's feel surprisingly smooth - smoother than the Dt240s in the Enves I had... but maybe that's just cause they are new. In terms of the subjective sense of speed, they are indistinguishably as fast feeling as Xentis 5.8s, Enves, Zipps and Hed's. (Easton Aero 55's are the fastest feeling wheels I've ridden. I think that sensation is probably due to the awesome hubs. They had really bad brake rub so I sold them). They climb quite well and feel plenty stiff for seated efforts. Cross wind performance is very good - they are perfectly fine for everyday use. Braking performance is poor in absolute terms and also lagging behind the above mentioned wheels (thought slightly better than the Enve 6.7s)