Bianchi

Oltre XR.2 Road Frameset - 2015

The 2015 Bianchi Oltre XR.2 Road Frameset remains unchanged for the new model year because, honestly, we're not sure how Bianchi could have improved on it. With its name fittingly translating to "beyond," the Oltre has earned its place at the top of the race-specific herd with exceptional stiffness and stability, lightning fast responsiveness, and effortlessly efficient power transfer.

The present generation still owes the 20% increase in rigidity over the previous model to Bianchi's Carbon NanoTube technology, an innovative process that utilizes nano-scaled particles to reduce the microscopic gaps between the resin and the carbon. NanoTube also increases strength and fracture-resistance by a claimed 49% compared to standard epoxy resin, so it'll transfer power better, longer. The increased strength means less carbon fiber is needed to maintain structural integrity, which explains the claimed 30g of lost weight compared to the first generation Oltre. It's all laid-up with Bianchi's Wrinkleless Molding Process, which compresses the carbon internally, eliminating resin deposits and imperfections for a uniform inner wall. This increases strength, reduces weight, and — along with the thin, compliant seat stays — makes for a smoother ride.

That smoothness is surprising considering the frame's responsiveness, which is further complemented by Bianchi's X-Tex carbon technology. X-Tex involves laying the fibers in an X-shaped grid in the head tube and bottom bracket, where power input from the rider torques the frame most, yielding even more stiffness. The tapered head tube, oversized bottom bracket, and massive chain stays add yet more efficiency to the drivetrain.

The current Oltre XR.2 returns with the same aerodynamic advantages over the previous model, which is a required feature in an age where even standard road helmets are aerodynamic. The key areas for this improvement are in the head tube, down tube, and fork, which see Bianchi's fork "wing" concept developed beyond (which is appropriate, considering the bike's name) where it was before. The head tube was reworked to better shield the top juncture of the down tube, taking full advantage of the integrated fork's slippery profile. These areas retain their mechanical and electronic compatibility with internal cable routing throughout and the same improved head tube entry port for brake cable routing.