Bianchi Impulso hop up parts kit.

The first crit of the year is this weekend and for the first time ever, I'm rushing to put together something that resembles a competitive bike. A handful of parts from the 'cross bike, another handful from last year's Oltre. 

I've resigned to the fact that I'll never run a stock, out of the box bike unless it's a town/market bike for getting groceries. That being said, I started the transformation this week of a stock Impulso 105 bike.

There are so many places you can get away with middle grade parts on your bike. Two places I never skimp, tires and the chain.

Dura-Ace 10 speed with a Connex quick link. Light, smooth and soon to be covered with a splash of Chain-L lube.

Something old, something new from the basement. I swapped the carbon/alu stock fork from the Impulso which uses a 45mm rake and installed this guy; full carbon 43mm rake, from back in the day... (`the bike fit in that link...geez things have changed since 2005.) Added branding on the inside of the fork legs courtesy of PG-13 Graphics.

More of the build up to come...

Correct tool for the job- Bianchi Infinito & Impulso on the 2012 Rapha Festive 500.

Winter time, base miles- Rapha throws out their Festive 500 to cyclists willing to take challenge of clocking in and doing 500 miles from 12/23 to 12/31.

Long miles in the saddle and a short time to do such. Keeping comfortable while on the bike can be acheived with a little help of the Bianchi Infinito and Impulso . This goal is reached by a taller head tube length and longer than B4P wheelbase, K-VID Tech in the fork and seat stays, and finally a relaxed head tube angle for reduced shoulder/ neck strain during those long miles.





 Check out these two guys as they work on chipping away at the 500 mile mark during their mapped out Rapha Festive 500, from Canada to California.

I joke with my wife that I'm proficient with self portraits due to my monkey arms. Looks like Gary Cruz has me beat with his monopod and had a good time putting in the miles.

Nice edit Gary!

#ragbrai_iowa bike pick up.

At Bicycle Heaven picking up the first batch of Bianchi Impulso bikes. Getting excited!

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!