2012 Bianchi Bicycles are on the horizon.

The media got a sneak peak of Bianchi Bicycles 2012 product range last month in Bergamo, Italy.

Bikeradar.com was there to cover the goods and here's the photo gallery of the new Impulso...[more]. These images are not representative of the US spec bikes but the frame construction obviously is.

I'm really excited about the Impulso for a couple of reasons. As those around me know, I've been loving my 1885 since I got it last year. Part of my bike criteria has always been stiff and quick. Notice I didn't say...FAST here; as that is a component of the engine of said bike. And well, I'm not all that FAST but do love a quick handling bike.

The quickness of the 1885 is partially due to it's Triple Hydroformed tube set which has found way over to the new Impulso. Heavily manipulated to the point where the top tube and head tube appear to be monocoque like it's carbon brother.

Photo courtesy of Road.cc

I really like the clean lines of the front end. The tubing is hydro-formed, welded then hydro-formed again which smooths out the welds nicely. Another atheistic is the head tube height is now paired up with the top tube. The head tube lengths should be relatively close to the Infinito and the increased surface area of the top tube/head tube weld should stiffen up the handling a bit.

The fork of the Impulso remains familiar to the C2C line employing Bianchi's K-Vid technology which is now moving into it's fifth model year of use.

Photo courtesy of Bianchi USA, Inc.

The chart above shows the factory test results of our Bianchi K-Vid fork.

We also utilize this technology on the Gran Fondo bikes; the Vigorelli, Imola and the Brava since 2009. As you can see by the carbon+kevlar (K-Vid) constructed fork's sign wave, it's frequency rate is noticeably reduced. Test rides by my dealers and Velonews who tested an Infinito on the cobbles during the spring classics, concur. Similar to the reason why some ski manufacturers uses Kevlar in the construction of skis; to reduce tip and tail chattering on crusty, icy snow, K-Vid keeps the wheel firmly planted when cornering the bike on not_so_great road surfaces. The Infinito implements this technology additionally at the seat stay.

I'm excited for the carbon road bike sector as well as the Turismo and Gran Fondo line of bikes...none of which I can reveal at this moment but will post as soon as I get the green light.

Now go out and ride!