Voted at last year’s Interbike as the Innovation Award winner, Bianchi has obviously done something right, as it turned many heads and gathered attention at the largest bicycle trade show in the U.S.
THE FRAME
The aluminum frame paired with the carbon fork stands out with the signature Bianchi Celeste color. The Impulso starts with a triple-butted frame that has gone through their THT (triple hydroformed tubing) process as well. Front- and rear-wheel clearance will allow up to a 40mm tire. The front fork is a flat-mount disc with a 12x100mm thru-axle, while the rear wheel has a 12x142mm thru-axle. The 12mm thru-axles both have twist handles, which means the scenario of fixing a flat and not having an Allen wrench to remove the axles is not a concern. The bottom bracket is a Shimano Press-Fit BB72.
To expedite the all-road theme, you’ll find fender mounts on the front fork and rear seatstays. Internal cables route through the downtube of the frame and front fork to offer a very clean look. The welds are rather apparent and on the larger side throughout the frame. THE PARTS
With the Shimano name found on the drivetrain and brakes, you can always rest assured that the parts will deliver good performance. For true all-road use, running two chainrings makes sense, and you’ll find a compact 50/34t set mated to an 11-32t cassette to provide the easy-on-the-knees gearing. The stem, (flared) handlebar and seatpost are all Bianchi’s own in-house Reparto Corse alloy parts. A Selle San Marco saddle tops things off.
The aluminum wheels share the in-house Reparto Corse branding. It’s nice to see that the wheels are tubeless-ready. Kenda takes care of the tires with a 35c Flintridge sport.
THE RIDE
One of the biggest differences of riding on the road versus riding on more multi-surface terrain is that the bike’s weight is more apparent with the latter. At 22 pounds, the Impulso All Road 105 tips the scales on the heavier side. With the slower speeds and accumulation of dirt, which you don’t quite glide over, you also feel the weight in the aluminum Reparto Corse wheels. An upgrade here would give the Bianchi a drastic change in performance and nimbleness. The bike’s geometry offers a comfortable, upright position to provide confidence when riding over rough terrain.
The aluminum frame paired with aluminum parts (and the large diameter seatpost) kept any ride-friendly compliance to a minimum. With proper tire size always being a topic for discussion on these range of dual-purpose bikes, it was nice to see that the 35mm Kenda tires still had plenty of room to grow.
THE VERDICT
With the current trend in the industry showcasing the popularity of consumers choosing to ride more multi-surface terrain, it’s great to see a historic brand such as Bianchi jump into the fold with an attractive, entry-level price point (for $400 less, Bianchi offers the All Road Tiagra that uses the same frame with lower-spec’d Shimano components).
Other than feeling hindered in acceleration by the weight, the Bianchi still offered up a good time. Maybe it’s just us, but a splash of wet dirt on the Celeste frame offered up a great contrast and made the bike look right at home. The Bianchi rode smoothly on the road thanks to the Kenda tires.
Some of our test riders aren’t big on the flared handlebars found on other gravel bikes, but the compact size on the Impulso provided a much better feel.
It was over 125 years ago that Edoardo Bianchi founded his bike brand, and now over a century later, the Bianchi marque returns to the world of rough roads with a modern take on a capable two-wheeled option. From the compact cranks to the hydraulic disc brakes, the Impulso All Road would make for a sturdy touring bike. Thanks to its entry-level price, pretty paint and, yes, historical legacy, the Impulso is attractive on
many levels.
PUNCH LINES
- That beautiful Celeste color
- On the heavy side
- Entry-level price to get you out on gravel
Price: $2100
Weight: 22.43 pounds
Sizes: 47, 50, 53, 55 (tested), 57, 59, 61cm
