The latest Celeste addition to Bianchi’s line up is the Aira, an aero roadie that, according to the Italian brand, is based on a highly aero frame and fork, ready for any race and easily set up for the tri-curious among us.
- Bianchi Oltre XR4 review
- Gallery: Robert Gesink's Bianchi Oltre XR4
- Best aero road bikes: 13 of our top picks
Bianchi Aria highlights
- Aero shape frame design
- BB PF86
- Internal cable routing
- Compatible with both mechanic and electronic groupsets
- Carbon dropouts with metal insert
- Frame weight in size 55cm: 1100g ( /- 5%)
The Italian brand already has an aero road platform in the Oltre XR4 and XR3, as well as Aquila CV TT bike, and the Aria serves as the trickle-down beneficiary of Bianchi’s flagship tech from these bikes.
For the new aero road bike, Bianchi says the design has been heavily influenced not only by extensive wind tunnel testing but also by input from Bianchi pro riders.
The bowed fork legs, which are claimed to reduce turbulence, and dropped seatstays come from the Aquila CV’s design. Bianchi has also neatly integrated the fork crown into the downtube, something that’s becoming quite standard among aero road platforms.
The Italian outfit has also hidden the seat collar in the top tube, and the seat tube hugs the rear wheel again for ultimate aero performance. This also allowed Bianchi to tuck the rear wheel right up under the saddle with diminutive 407mm chainstays in a size 55.
It’s not pitched to be particularly lightweight, with the size 55 frame claimed to weigh 1,110g. The bike also doesn’t get Bianchi’s comfort enhancing Countervail technology.
The geometry is almost a mirror image of the Oltre XR4, however Bianchi stresses that the Aria will suit triathletes well, saying this geometry lends itself to the aero tuck position
“Getting the required horizontal-back aerodynamic tuck position... is easy to achieve with Aria's triathlon configuration. Just clip-on aero bars, set the bars’ stack height if required and adjust saddle height and angle, and Aria instantly becomes triathlon ready,” Bianchi said in the press release.
With that said, we’re not sure why you couldn't do this with any other road bike, should the drop bars be compatible with clip-on aero bars.
The Aria will be available in eight sizes, and is set to come with Vision Team 30 Comp wheels and a Campagnolo Centaur groupset, though the compact 50/34T chainring is an interesting choice.