With the Cento Uno hogging the limelight in an already well represented stable, Wilier gild the lily with the Zero 7. Everything about the bike is astounding: its £8,250 pricetag, its looks, its weight (or lack of it!), its performance and design.
The first thing everyone does is pick it up. The response is always a gasp, followed by a laugh of astonishment. At just 6.48kg (14.28lb) our test rig was well below the UCi minimum of 6.8kg, with an ultra-low frame weight of about 850g and 335g for the fork.
The Wilier’s new BB386 bottom bracket design is the result of a partnership with FSA. It’s essentially an evolved BB30 concept that provides a lighter yet much more secure interface between the bearing structure and frame, improving stiffness and power delivery. Inside the frame you’ll find clean, highly compacted carbon fibre, with smooth surfaces. A lack of internal clutter is down to simple and well placed slotted external cable guides.
Riding the Wilier, there’s no holding it back. Its aggressive geometry and long, low position mean its race ready. Light and nimble at all speeds, it wants to surge ahead with every pedal stroke. Climbing on a bike like this is liberating, as nothing else you’ve ever ridden is likely to be as light or responsive: it just rockets ahead.
Our rig came with the best kit: Campagnolo Super Record, a magic melange of superbly engineered materials that provides maximum performance at all times. With rakish Campagnolo Bora deep carbon wheels and Vittoria Corsa CX tubulars the Zero 7 was always going to be lightning fast. But it’s controllable and comfy too, despite a bit of buffeting in crosswinds and at high speeds; a small flaw that’s easy to ignore.
Whether climbing sharp, short ‘murs’ and longer ascents, sprinting at high speed or just motoring along flats, this finely tuned machine has all the bases covered. It'll flatter any rider while unleashing their maximum potential.