Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

TECH NEWS

Bianchi launch Infinito CV endurance bike

• 'Game changing' carbon technology • Reduced muscle fatigue • Increased control • Available in standard and disc brake versions

Bianchi have launched a new version of their Infinito endurance bike, the Infinito CV, with material technology that’s designed to reduce muscle fatigue and increase control, and it’ll be available in both standard and disc brake formats.

The big news is that the Infinito CV is built with what is called CounterVail Vibration Cancelling Composite Technology – exclusive to Bianchi in the cycle industry – that’s designed to deal with vibration from the road.

The Infinito is designed to be fast and also to be comfortable over long-distances, the new version being the bike that members of the Vacansoleil-DCM have been spotted using for the cobbled Classics. Earlier in the week we showed you Juan Antonio Flecha aboard the Infinito CV at last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders. Team members will be riding the new Infinito CV across the pavé at this weekend’s Paris-Roubaix.

Bianchi have co-operated with the Material Sciences Corp on the development of the Infinito CV. The CounterVail is a viscoelastic material embedded within the bike’s carbon layup. Bianchi claim it has 75% more vibration-cancelling capacity than other (traditional, if you like) carbon frames. It's important to clarify that this is not a suspension system (Bianchi have been down that road on the past in the early 90s) – there are no additional moving parts here.

Bianchi demonstrated CounterVail effect by putting a table tennis ball onto a frame section that was subjected to high-frequency vibration. It bounced around all over the place on normal carbon, but just juddered on the CounterVail.

Bianchi say that the key benefits to using CounterVail are these:

• Reduced muscle fatigue and increased energy savings

• Improved handling and rider control

• Increased rigidity and peak power output over long distances.

They also say, “Traditional passive damping of the frame using superficial rubber inserts and isolators are only marginally effective compared to the integrated carbon Countervail system developed by Bianchi and proven in the extreme conditions of NASA aerospace operations.

“With its patented carbon fibre architecture and viscoelastic material, Countervail carbon material is embedded within our unique Infinito CV carbon layup to cancel vibration while increasing the stiffness and strength of the entire frame.”

That's the official Bianchi line.

So, whereabouts have Bianchi added the CounterVail technology? Well, they're being very Secret Squirrel about that. They say that it's used, "In strategic areas of the frame and fork". They want to keep it to themselves to retain the competitive edge. It's in the stays, definitely, but we don't know the exact positioning of the CounterVail or the exact extent to which it's used.

CounterVail adds very little weight to the frame. A 55cm Infinito CV weighs 950g (+/- 5%, 55cm model) according to Bianchi’s own figures. The new full-carbon aero fork, which uses a 1 1/8in upper bearing and 1 1/2in lower bearing, weighs sub-400g.

The Infinito CV comes with an oversized BB30 bottom bracket and a single model is compatible with both mechanical and electronic shift systems. It’ll take tyres as wide as 28mm and various builds will be available.

The Infinito CV, like its predecessor, fits into Bianchi’s C2C (Coast to Coast) line-up, meaning that it’s designed to be fast and light but with a geometry that’s not quite as aggressive as their Oltre, for example. 

That’s not to say that the Infinito CV is in any way sit-up-and-beg. Far from it. But it is a little taller in the head tube than the Oltre XR for a slightly more upright riding position. The 57cm model, for instance, comes with a 56cm effective top tube and an 18.5cm head tube. It's available in eight sizes, 47 to 63cm.

In a move that's indicative of where road bike design is heading, the Infinito CV will be available in a version for hydraulic disc braking. Very interesting. Bianchi didn’t say whose brakes they have in mind but we reckon you should standby for a new launch into this market very soon.

Bianchi are using the post mount standard and the Infinito CV will accept 140 and, with an adaptor, 160mm rotors. The rear hub on the disc brake version will have 135mm spacing. The frame will be reinforced with extra material around the stays and the fork will be beefed up too. This means that the disc-compatible frameset will be about 100g heavier than the version for standard brakes.

The Infinito CV will be available in Bianchi’s traditional celeste, naturally, and in black, black/red and black/celeste.

It'll be available from June. We'll give you details on builds and prices as soon as we get them.

We're in France for the new bike's launch and we'll be riding it on the cobbles tomorrow. We'll let you know how we get on as soon as we're back.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

11 comments

Avatar
andyspaceman | 10 years ago
0 likes

That is lovely. Disked version moves straight to the top of the 'my next bike' list.

I've heard rumblings that the big S will be retaining a 135mm spacing standard for all disk hubs, MTB, road or otherwise - don't take that as gospel though. No idea if the big C or other S are planning to follow suit.

I don't think heel clearance on the 135mm spacing will be an issue. It's only 2.5mm more than 130mm each side, and that can be taken care of by a bit of extra chainstay curve towards the rear end.

Avatar
Dr_Lex | 10 years ago
0 likes

Very shmart!
"will be available in a version for hydraulic disc braking"
Oh yessss *starts saving*

Avatar
imaca | 10 years ago
0 likes

BB30 and 135mm rear drop outs? are they using mtb cranks? Or are your heels going to be clacking against the chainstays?  7

Avatar
Valentino | 10 years ago
0 likes

Glad I got the current one in 2010, so I can get a CV for next year without being too extravagant. I'll take the Celeste painted version, though. You can never have too much Celeste.
Nevermind the added weight.

Avatar
Super Domestique | 10 years ago
0 likes

Love the look of that.

Avatar
aslongasicycle | 10 years ago
0 likes

I'm not usually a fan of Bianchis (BianchI - plural?) but that is WELL FIT. It just works. And with disks and wing'd wheelstands = total win.

Avatar
sorebones replied to aslongasicycle | 10 years ago
0 likes
aslongasicycle wrote:

I'm not usually a fan of Bianchis (BianchI - plural?) but that is WELL FIT. It just works. And with disks and wing'd wheelstands = total win.

+1 to that! Never been a Bianchi man either, but for the first time I have proper Bianchi bike lust!!

Avatar
dreamlx10 replied to aslongasicycle | 10 years ago
0 likes
aslongasicycle wrote:

Bianchis (BianchI - plural?)

Bianhi is plural as far as I know, the singular would be Bianco.

Avatar
Coleman replied to dreamlx10 | 10 years ago
0 likes
dreamlx10 wrote:
aslongasicycle wrote:

Bianchis (BianchI - plural?)

Bianhi is plural as far as I know, the singular would be Bianco.

Eduardo Bianco? Nah.

Throw in the Flash Gordon winged stand and you've got a deal.

Avatar
Goldfever4 | 10 years ago
0 likes

I am in love with that head tube / down tube. Gorgeous.

Avatar
step-hent | 10 years ago
0 likes

Nice looking bike, and particularly interesting that they are using 135 spacing and allowing for hydraulic discs. Will the caliper version also have 135 spacing?

Best thing about it, though, is those winged wheelstands. If it came with those, I might buy one!

Latest Comments