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TECH NEWS

Bianchi reveals Arcadex gravel bike

Italian brand says the new model is aero optimised and has clearance for 650Bx47 tyres

Bianchi has introduced a new full-carbon gravel bike called the Arcadex that will sit in the range alongside the existing aluminium alloy Impulso Allroad.

2021 Bianchi Arcadex studio - 1.jpeg

Bianchi says that the Arcadex frameset has been aerodynamically optimised, featuring like deep-section fork legs, dropped seatstays, and an internal seatpost clamp. No specific aero claims have been made, though.

2021 Bianchi Arcadex studio - 6.jpeg

It comes with clearance for 42mm wide tyres if you run 700C wheels, and 47mm tyres if you go with a 650B setup (for comparison, the Impulso will take 700C tyres up to a maximum width of 40mm).

2021 Bianchi Arcadex studio - 8.jpeg

The bike features eyelets for the installation of mudguards and a rear rack, so you can equip it for bike-packing – or even weekday commuting, come to that.

Bianchi says, “Arcadex can run manual or electric drivetrains, with an ACR compatible headset and a streamlined connection between frame and stem courtesy of custom head tube and spacers. As a result of these features, the rider will enjoy a sleek fully integrated cockpit.”

2021 Bianchi Arcadex studio - 10.jpeg

ACR is FSA’s Aerodynamic Cable Routing system, which allows for the internal routing of cables, wires and hoses through a handlebar/stem and into the frame or, in the case of the front brake hose, the fork steerer.

The Arcadex's gear cable runs externally between the handlebar and the top of the down tube.

Bianchi claims a weight of 1,100g for the frame (size 55cm).

2021 Bianchi Arcadex studio - 2.jpeg

The Arcadex comes in two colour options, gold storm and classic celeste, both of which get a dark blue front end.

Five different sizes are available from XS to XL. The medium sized model, for example, features a 550mm effective top tube, 520mm seat tube, and 150mm head tube. The head tube angle is 71° and the seat tube angle is 73.5°.

2021 Bianchi Arcadex studio - 5.jpeg

Bianchi gives a stack height of 595mm and a reach of 374mm for the medium sized frame, meaning a stack/reach of 1.59. That suggests a riding position that’s considerably more relaxed than that of the Impulso Allroad bike which, as the name suggests, is intended for rolling on various different types of surface rather than being a full-on gravel bike.

2021 Bianchi Arcadex action - 3.jpeg

Bianchi is offering the Arcadex in two different models. The higher level model is built up with a Shimano GRX 800 1x (single chainring) groupset and Alexrims GD24 Disc wheels with WTB Riddler Race 700x37 tyres. 

Bianchi says that the plan is for this one to be priced £3,150, although it could be 14% higher (about £3,590) if no Brexit deal is achieved.

2021 Bianchi Arcadex action - 11.jpeg

The second model features a Shimano GRX 600 groupset (the level below GRX 800), also 1x, with GRX 400 brakes. The wheels and tyres are the same. This one is £2,800 (or about £3,190 in the event of a no deal Brexit).

Each of these bikes has a 40-tooth chainring and an 11-42-tooth cassette, and shifting is manual rather than electronic.

They are being delivered to dealers now.

Check out our complete guide to Shimano’s GRX gravel groupsets. 

 

Go to www.bianchi.com for more details.

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. 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.

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25 comments

Avatar
RobD | 3 years ago
1 like

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

Avatar
Housecathst replied to RobD | 3 years ago
1 like

Its horrible, why have they made it look like an ebike, crazy 

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bobrayner | 3 years ago
0 likes

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.

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Prosper0 | 3 years ago
0 likes

Quite hideous, no idea what Bianchi were thinking..

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 3 years ago
1 like

Qual è la parola italiana per FUGLY?
 
 

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Jimthebikeguy.com | 3 years ago
0 likes

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

Avatar
Blackthorne | 3 years ago
2 likes

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. 

Avatar
Dingaling | 3 years ago
1 like

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

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Joe Totale | 3 years ago
1 like

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!

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the infamous grouse replied to Joe Totale | 3 years ago
0 likes

looks like they've included a charging port cutout for the Mahle system there

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mpdouglas | 3 years ago
1 like

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!)

Avatar
Miller | 3 years ago
1 like

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.

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Joe Totale replied to Miller | 3 years ago
6 likes

I've got a Fairlight Secan which is huge amounts of fun and is even more practical than this Bianchi. Most importantly though it hasn't been beaten repeatedly with the ugly stick.

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WeLoveHills replied to Joe Totale | 3 years ago
0 likes
Joe Totale wrote:

I've got a Fairlight Secan which is huge amounts of fun and is even more practical than this Bianchi. Most importantly though it hasn't been beaten repeatedly with the ugly stick.

I second that!

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to Miller | 3 years ago
0 likes

Miller wrote:

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.

Plenty of reason to want a gravel bike, but not this one.  The Colnago yesterday on the other hand makes me consider leaving my lock at home.

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kenobe replied to Miller | 3 years ago
0 likes

I have a gravel bike, love them but not this one.

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bobrayner replied to Miller | 3 years ago
0 likes

Any gravel bike sells well at the moment, because gravel is fashionable (and rightly so). You could put 40mm tyres on a potato and it would sell.

Bianchi will sell at least a few of these, but I think it erodes their brand.

Avatar
mbprouser | 3 years ago
0 likes

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!

Avatar
Sriracha replied to mbprouser | 3 years ago
3 likes
mbprouser wrote:

It just strikes me as a way for the bike industry to get us to buy bikes, components for something they just invented

How? You'd have to get your wallet out, which requires your active participation. Unless you decided you needed another bike, it doesn't matter what they call it.

Avatar
IanEdward replied to mbprouser | 3 years ago
1 like

Quote:

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.

What is your point? Are people being led to the bike shops at gun point to buy gravel bikes?

Or are you saying that we should all be happily riding gravel roads on our road bikes or mountainbikes? Why wouldn't a newcomer (or n+1 enthusiast) welcome a bike specifically designed for the task?

I'm as enthusiastic a proponent of 'gravel' riding as the next guy, but before gravel came along I was still riding 'gravel' just on a CX bike with 32mm tyres, and before that I was riding it on a mountainbike with 1.5" semi-slicks. Both were great, but my modern gravel bike is better. Happy days.

Now, ask me about disc brakes on road bikes and I'll gladly join you on your anti-progress soap box 

 

Avatar
RobD replied to mbprouser | 3 years ago
0 likes

mbprouser wrote:

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.

There are a lot of people out there who are kidding themselves then, the 'pro effect' sells a lot of bikes to the majority of people, in the same way that almost all pro level sports equipment does, this is why sponsorship is so valuable.

I have a gravel bike with lovely round steel tubes, I bought it for the ride quality and durability, which is what many also do, but there's equally a large proportion of people who will want whatever is seen as the most high tech of anything out there, and brands know it.

All that being said, it is one hell of an ugly bike

Avatar
joules1975 | 3 years ago
2 likes

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.

Avatar
kenobe | 3 years ago
1 like

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.

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Drinfinity replied to kenobe | 3 years ago
0 likes

I think that's unfair. Clearly what happened is they left it on the roof rack then drove into a multi-storey car park, but had to take the photos anyway.

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wycombewheeler replied to Drinfinity | 3 years ago
0 likes

Drinfinity wrote:

I think that's unfair. Clearly what happened is they left it on the roof rack then drove into a multi-storey car park, but had to take the photos anyway.

certainly explains the cut and shut appearance of the paint job

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