Wilier Triestina Cento10 NDR review

Wilier Triestina Cento10 NDR review

Wilier’s resilient Roubaix rival is one of our Superbike of the Year 2020 contenders

Our rating

4

4999.00

David Caudery / Immediate Media

Published: May 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm

Our review
A great ride that could be one of the greats if rolling on better rubber

Pros:

Clever comfort that doesn’t compromise handling and speed

Cons:

Average tyres need changing ASAP

The NDR in Wilier's Triestina Cento10 name is a shortening of endurance, but its Italian heritage ensures this is no sit-up and chill riding position.

A 604mm stack and 389mm reach on my XL test bike places it at the sporty end of sportive. It’s also at the comfortable end thanks to its ‘Actiflex’-equipped rear seatstays.

It’s an interesting concept. Most rear-end suspension comfort derives from the forward and back movement afforded in the seat tube and post, seen most clearly with Trek’s IsoSpeed. Here, however, there’s separation at the junction between seatstays and seat tube; the connection between the two is through the Actiflex section.

This polymer’s fixed on a horizontal plane yet compresses vertically, creating movement when needed, while the distance between saddle and bottom bracket remains constant. That eliminates bobbing.

It’s rider tuneable with three durometers (densities) of Actiflex insert available, and easy to change via an Allen key. The additional junction and inserts elevate frame weight to 1,080g on my XL. That’s a small penalty when facing rough terrain.

Bike of the Year 2020

The Wilier Triestina Cento10 NDR is part of our annual Bike of the Year test.

Head to our Bike of the Year hub for the full list of winners, categories and shortlisted bikes, as well as the latest reviews – or read our behind-the-scenes feature on how we tested Bike of the Year 2020.

Wilier Triestina Cento10 NDR ride impressions

On the road, the back end doesn’t feel as active as an Isospeed-equipped Trek or Specialized’s Roubaix, but that’s no bad thing because it’s remarkably smooth.

The generous-width 28c tyres – there’s room for 32s – help here. The Wilier’s handling is what I’d call spirited. The steep seat angle means you can set the short Prologo saddle in the optimal position over the cranks.

That and the lower-than-average endurance front end makes for quick yet balanced handling. The chassis feels suitably taut and responds superbly to sprinting pedal inputs.

Wilier’s Stemm and Barra are nicely finished – as is the integration between stem and head tube that helps to conceal cable routing internally for a clean-looking bike

The Wilier/Miche-produced wheels feature a 38mm-deep blunt-edged profile rim and are tubeless ready. The internal width of 17mm is narrower than contemporary designs but suited to tyres up to 28mm. Miche’s hubs are smooth, and the 1,665g weight for a pair is more than acceptable.

Killing road buzz

Upfront, Wilier’s-own carbon stem and bar, poetically named Stemm and Barra, are nicely finished – as is the integration between stem and head tube that helps to conceal cable routing internally for a clean-looking bike.

It’s not just a visual treat, with the Barra bar’s carbon layup killing road buzz for a front end that matches the rear.

Shimano Ultegra Di2 with 50/34 chainset and broad 11-32 cassette is pretty much the optimal choice for long days and long climbs, although you might think for five grand you’d expect Dura-Ace. That might have been the case a few years back but not now.

But don’t worry. Ultegra works as well as Dura-Ace and is only a few grams heavier. That might matter to the pros but, unless you have a serious amount of disposable income, opt for Ultegra and spend the difference on riding somewhere nice.

Where I do have concerns is Wilier’s tyre choice. Vittoria’s standard Rubinos aren’t bad and are popular, but on bikes a third of the Wilier’s RRP.

They roll okay and are pretty tough, but compared to better tyres – such as Vittoria’s own Corsa range – they feel a little sluggish. Unfortunately, the Rubinos are more safety boot than sprinter’s spikes.

I switched out the NDR’s wheels for a set of similar carbon wheels with 28mm Vittoria Corsa G+ tyres fitted and the bike really sparkled.

Wilier Triestina Cento10 NDR overall

All in all, the Cento10 NDR lives up to Wilier’s 100-year-plus history of making innovative and beautiful road bikes.

It handles and rides with resolute comfort and confidence, and rolling on better rubber would only enhance that. (Also, check out the Ramato finish that the NDR is also available in. Delicious!)

Wilier Triestina Cento10 NDR geometry

  • Sizes (* tested): XS, S, M, L, XL*, XXL
  • Seat angle: 73 degrees
  • Head angle: 72.5 degrees
  • Chainstay: 41.1cm
  • Seat tube: 56cm
  • Top tube: 57.4cm
  • Head tube: 19.1cm
  • Wheelbase: 1,012mm
  • Stack: 60.4cm
  • Reach: 38.9cm

With thanks to...

BikeRadar would like to thank 100%, Q36.5, Lazer, Garmin and Facom for their support during our Bike of the Year test.

Product

Brand wilier_
Price 4999.00 GBP
Weight 8.3000, KILOGRAM (XL) -

Features

Fork Carbon
br_stem Wilier Triestina carbon
br_frame Carbon with Actiflex elastomer linkage
Tyres Vittoria Rubino Pro 28c
br_brakes Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc
br_cranks Shimano Ultegra Di2, 50/34
br_saddle Prologo Dimension
br_wheels Wilier Triestina NDR38KC carbon by Miche
br_shifter Shimano Ultegra Di2
br_cassette Shimano Ultegra Di2, 11-32
br_seatpost Ritchey Pro carbon
br_handlebar Wilier Triestina Barra H-Bar
br_availableSizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
br_rearDerailleur Shimano Ultegra Di2
br_frontDerailleur Shimano Ultegra Di2