Bianchi's New Aria Aero Bike Is Ready for the Road (or a Triathlon)

Adding to an aero range that includes the Oltre, Bianchi introduces a new performance-oriented aero bike

 

Bianchi just launched the new Aria, an aero road bike with tri-curious capabilities. Adding to an aero category that already includes last year’s Oltre XR 4, Bianchi says the Aria’s new frame design was heavily inspired by wind-tunnel testing and feedback from pro riders.


With tapered head and seat stays, a carbon fork and frame, internal cable routing compatible with both mechanical and electronic groupsets, and seat tube cutaways that hug the rear wheel, the Aria’s wind drag-reducing design borrows some elements of Bianchi’s higher-end time-trial bike, the Aquila. The build includes a Campagnolo Centaur 11-speed compact with a 50/34 up front and Vision Team 35 wheels. The aggressive geometry mimics that of the Oltre XR4.

The bike is road-ready, but all it takes to makes an Aria the first thing a triathlete wants to see after toweling off is aero bars and a few minor adjustments. The company would definitely like the bike to be seen as a great option for the tri crowd.

“Getting the required horizontal-back aerodynamic tuck position for fast tri bike leg is easy to achieve with Aria’s triathlon configuration,” Bianchi says. “Just clip-on aero bars, set the bars’ stack height if required and adjust saddle height and angle, and Aria instantly becomes triathlon ready.”
The Aria comes in eight sizes from 44 to 61cm, and in Bianchi’s lovely trademark celeste. The size 55 weighs 1,100g.