The original Bianchi Oltre XR was one of the first bikes that truly stunned me. Equipped as it was with Campagnolo’s Super Record EPS groupset and a set of tubular Bora wheels, it seemed to glide along. It was stiff, it was aerodynamic, but above all else it was fast.
The new Oltre XR4 is like a futuristic concept drawing of that bike. The traditional Italian bling has been replaced with disc brakes, concealed cabling, an aerodynamically integrated front end and an abundance of Japanese electronic shifting. Has the modern world been kind to Bianchi, though?
Despite its long history, Bianchi has always been a forward-thinking company (indeed, it was one of the first companies to branch into then-newfangled motorbikes at the end of the 19th century). And far from relying on its heritage, Bianchi views the Oltre XR4 as evidence of its technical abilities. At the centre of that is the use of ‘Countervail’ technology in the frame’s carbon.
Divine Countervail
Countervail was once the preserve of Bianchi’s cobbled Classics endurance bikes such as the Infinito CV. The technology works by combining specific carbon fibres with viscoelastic resin to dissipate vibrations from the road.
Bianchi has since introduced it to the Oltre XR4 with the goal of attaining that most coveted of double acts – an aero bike that is rideable on rough terrain and tolerable for a long day in the saddle.
Image 3 of 7
I’m usually fairly sceptical of claims about superior carbon fibre because the differences between production methods and materials tend to be exaggerated. However, Countervail seems to have weight behind it. In fact, the company behind Countervail is using Bianchi as a showcase for the effectiveness of the technology, which it hopes to use for industrial applications. Crucially, those Bianchi bikes with Countervail have a palpable difference to those without it.
The theory is that, by filtering out the low-level buzz of the road, Countervail prevents fatigue and allows the rider to hold an aerodynamic position for longer, which is far more valuable in terms of speed and efficiency than any number of aerofoil tube shapes. Of course, the Oltre XR4 has those as well, and now incorporates a cable-free front end with a carefully sculpted bar/stem combo.
So it should be fast and it should be comfortable. In fact, this disc brake version could quite possibly be even more comfortable than the previous rim brake version, because the discs allow extra clearance for wider tyres.
Some disc bikes can undermine that advantage by overbuilding the rear triangle to deal with the twisting force of the disc brakes. But if the Oltre XR4 Disc manages to preserve the carbon fibre wonders of the rim brake version it will certainly be a tempting premise – not least because it’s nearly £3,000 cheaper than the Campagnolo Super Record-equipped rim brake version.
Image 4 of 7
The control room
When reviewing a Bianchi, there’s no avoiding the issue of appearances. To me, Celeste is best. I know that some people think the colour is ugly, but I believe it evokes the classic heritage of the brand. I also think the neatness and aerodynamic efficiency of the Oltre XR4’s design has been coupled very well with its classic looks. It is distinguished but it also looks fast, and looking fast is important for a bike such as this.
In my younger years all I cared about was speed and rigidity. When I rode the original Bianchi Oltre XR, the harshness of the ride was of no concern – I just loved how rapid it was. These days I demand more from an aero bike, partly because several brands have managed to successfully combine stiffness with compliance, but primarily because we have come to realise that comfort and pure aerodynamic speed aren’t contradictory.
To my great relief, the Oltre XR4 Disc was every bit as smooth as I had hoped. Not only that, but the way it filtered vibrations from the road, coupled with the rigidity of the frame, gave the bike a sense of excitement. I found myself able to feel the speed through the road yet not be disturbed by it. It was a bit like walking down a busy street with noise-cancelling headphones. Crucially, though, the speed was there to back it up.
On my normal weekend rides I was posting some of my fastest segments for months, and I just felt animated when riding the XR4. I was up for every sprint and pushing every descent.
That was down to more than the bike’s aerodynamics. The stiffness of the rear end and the integrated bar/stem certainly contributed to the sharp response of power inputs, aided by the aggressive geometry of the front end (the head tube is only 140mm tall for a 55cm top tube). But in a way it was the Oltre XR4’s ride quality itself that contributed to the speed.
Image 5 of 7
The Oltre’s smoothness gave me a sense of control that was palpable when cornering or descending. I felt confident carving into every corner. The bike rolled over rough ground almost silently, and the stopping power of the discs made that sense of control even stronger.
Let’s talk money
Usually one of my gripes about Bianchi bikes is that they seem overpriced. And granted, £7,700 is not cheap, however with top-end bikes spiralling well over £10k in price, the Oltre XR4 Disc in this spec represents a dream bike without a ludicrous pricetag.
The only real sacrifice I can see for the price is trading down to Ultegra rather than the Dura-Ace found on the £8k+ version. For me, though, the performance difference between the two groupsets is not significant enough to warrant the extra money for the higher-spec model.
While it’s tough to say that it outdoes the very best in class on speed alone, there’s something innately charming about the ride quality of the Oltre. I may be a second faster here or there on another bike, but I’d be happier on the Bianchi.
Image 6 of 7
Spec
| Frame | Bianchi Oltre XR4 CV Ultegra Di2 Disc |
| Groupset | Shimano Ultegra Di2 |
| Brakes | Shimano Ultegra Di2 |
| Chainset | Shimano Ultegra Di2 |
| Cassette | Shimano Ultegra Di2 |
| Bars | Vision Metron 5D integrated bar and stem |
| Stem | Vision Metron 5D integrated bar and stem |
| Seatpost | Bianchi Oltre Full Carbon Aero |
| Saddle | Fizik Arione R3 |
| Wheels | Fulcrum Racing 418 Disc, Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ Isotech 25mm tyres |
| Weight | 7.8kg (size 55cm) |
| Contact | cycleurope.com |
• Want more in-depth reviews of the latest bikes and must-have kit? Subscribe to Cyclist magazine today and try 3 issues for JUST £5 (saving 84% on RRP) and get a FREE Ass Saver as a welcome gift.
