Bianchi reveals Arcadex gravel bike

The more I look at it the more I dislike it (usually it's the other way around with aesthetically challenged bikes). The edges and creases look like they've been designed for different bikes, while the front is kind of weird, it has a bit of curve and flow to some of the lines, whilst the back seems far more boxy, especially around the seat clamp protuberence. You'd have to hope that it really is functional because the form is awful

Do you remember when Bianchi made beautiful bikes? They built up a great brand. And now they put their name on this.

At least with a Pinarello Grevil you can look at all the bumps and creases and convince yourself that maybe, possibly, they're all clever engineering features which shed a few grammes or improve laminar airflow or whatever. But this Bianchi... no, it's a step too far; it's like nonfunctional vents that a boy-racer glues onto to a cheap hatchback to make it feel like a sportscar.

Quite hideous, no idea what Bianchi were thinking..

Qual è la parola italiana per FUGLY?
 
 

Its a bit, er, interesting to look at eh. People buy with their eyes, and all that.

I've always associated the bianchi name with Italian design excellence, like Campagnolo, Ferrari or Pinninfarina. No more I guess. Their new 'design' direction is uninspired, ill-proportioned, soulless. 

I agree, that is one ugly bike nor do I think it will be a big seller. 

If you're going to have a bottom bracket area as swollen and ugly as the one on this Bianchi there should at the very least be a motor in it!

Wow! We go from the highs of those beautiful GreenEdge team Bianchis, yesterday, to this franken-monster. One of the ugliest bikes I've ever set eyes on. The head tube looks like it's been too close to a radiator and partially melted. And I don't have a downer on gravel bikes - I've embraced gravel riding this year with some 40mm Terra Trails on a Boardman cyclocross frame and it's great fun (even if it does take a lot of time afterwards to get it clean!)

Grumble away but this bike will sell perfectly well. Bikes like this are massive fun to ride, you feel like you can roll over anything. Practical and fun, why would you not want one? Let go of prejudices and enjoy.

While I appreciate change and innovation I get very, very tired of gravel and adventure bikes. It just strikes me as a way for the bike industry to get us to buy bikes, components for something they just invented. Gravel roads have been around longer than tarmac and yet there's this enormous push. 

Aero? Give me a break, on a gravel bike. It always makes me chuckle when they spout all these savings in watts over a time for certain speeds. Fine if you are pro racer, but joe-schmo I don't think so. Plus you are so kidding yourself if you think otherwise. I fully expect the industry to launch the aero commuter bike with 650b wheels to allow off-road detours next year.

End of my grumble for the day, looking forward for all said bikes and components prices to increase massively when Brexit kicks in; yahoo!

Wow, that's a strange and rather hideous looking bike.

I would say function over form, but when the bike will be equipped with wide (likely knobbly) tires, I'm not sure the frame being aero really matters much, so it's not even a question of function.

Plus, if you spend that money on an aero frame, why would you then fit mudguards?

Definately one for the 'more money than sense' brigade.

One positive though - nice to see a decent number of cage mount eyelets (especially top tube) on the frame - there are plenty of brands that should take note of that.

One of the ugliest bikes I've ever seen. Market for ugly aero gravel bikes that cost probably north of 2k must be miniscule. Make it beautiful, not a plodder and under 2k, sell loads.