Competitive Cyclist

WILIER IZOARD

At a glance the Wilier Izoard deceives. Why? Because, at a glance, it's so easy to mistake it for their crème de la crème frameset, the Cento1. The paint schemes? All-but-identical. The tubing shapes? Eerily similar. If it weren't for the Cento1's striking integrated seatmast, from further than 6 feet away it'd be nearly impossible to tell them apart. And for a frame whose foremost intent is to deliver maximum performance-per-dollar, the fact that it's this gorgeous is a delightful bonus.

Like the Cento1, the Izoard is built with full carbon construction. It's made exclusively from Toray carbon, in this case T60 (high modulus/maximum stiffness) and M30J (medium modulus) unidirectional carbon. In the typical calculus of carbon fiber, the tensile strength of the highest grades (such as the 46 Ton carbon in the Cento1) allows frame manufacturers to use less material to achieve requisite rigidity and strength. By using T60 and M30J in the Izoard, Wilier is sacrificing nothing in terms of its ride quality and durability, but rather they just use more material to achieve it. And this is why the Izoard tips the scales at a frame weight of 1150g. Considering the beauty and the raceworthiness of the Izoard, the value is easy to see.

Does a better ROI exist in a race frame priced at sub-$2,000? We can think of one or two that look equally stunning, but lack in the stiffness and lightness of the Izoard. And we can think of one or two that provide equal performance, but in comparison look like a dog. At sub-$2,000, the Izoard fires on all cylinders like none other. Its patented molding process and the carefully-thought-out wall thicknesses and carbon layup choices befit a frameset with a heftier price tag.

One other note about the Izoard: It's named after the Col d'Izoard, arguably the most legendary pass in the French Alps. More so than in any other place, it's where Marco Pantani turned himself into a bike racing immortal. (Racing, no less, on a Wilier frameset.) For all the technology behind the Izoard, its name reminds of the gigantic heritage of the Wilier brand.

The Izoard is available in sizes XS-XXL in two colors. It requires the use of a 31.6mm seatpost, a 34.9mm clamp-on front derailleur, and an English bottom bracket. Like any bike with a sloping top tube, we suggest that you focus on the effective top tube length in determining the correct frame size. It comes standard with a Wilier Monoscocca Monocoque carbon fork and with a Ritchey integrated headset.

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2010 Wilier Izoard Pricing

2010 Wilier Izoard Geometry

Size	Seat Tube c-c	Seat Tube c-t	Effective Top Tube	Head Tube	Seat Tube Angle	Head Tube Angle
XS	41.6	47.0	51.5	11.0	74.5	72.0
S	45.1	50.0	52.5	11.5	74.5	72.0
M	47.0	53.0	53.8	14.5	74.5	73.0
L	49.3	55.0	55.7	16.0	73.5	73.0
XL	52.9	58.0	57.0	19.5	73.0	73.0
XXL	55.5	61.0	58.5	20.0	73.0	73.5