The Bianchi Specialissima CV ... Disc!

by Casey Thompson © 2021 Bike It! Bellagio, photos by Federica Roselli Photography

New colors, integrated seat post, a slightly more aero design, and disc brakes--Bianchi's new Specialissima Disc is the new top-of-the-line "all-rounder" road bike in 2021. We will have five of these lightweight, race machines available to rent this season! A couple of them already arrived in our sizes, so Luca and I took them for a little test ride last week. Where is a short, punchy climb to put the Specialissima's climbing prowess to the test? The Muro di Sormano, of course! 

First of all, we love the new color scheme (CK16/Mermaid Scale), essentially a more vibrant version of the classic celeste with an iridescent touch. It also comes in "carbon black" and "greenish blue," as well as other colors from the Bianchi signature collection. The frame is ultralight (especially for a disc brake road bike!) at 750grams. With carbon wheels, our rental Specialissimas weigh  7.2kg each--now that's light! Another great thing-the Specialissima has fully integrated cables giving the bike a refined, clean look on top of its classic design.​

With the frame updates and disc brake addition from the classic Specialissima, we're happy to say that the new Specialissima's soul remains unchanged: it's just as quick, reactive, and comfortable, thanks to Bianchi's CV (Countervail) vibration-eliminating technology and the minor frame changes to become more aero (overall the bike still maintains its "classic" look). When descending, the disc brakes of course offer more confidence and security, but the bike itself has proved to be even more fluid and easier to control downhill that it comes naturally when riding. The classic Specialissima could sometimes feel even too light beneath your body (especially with a pair of ultralight wheels), but now the new disc version gives you a safer, more grounded feeling on the descents.

If you're a climber by nature, the Specialissima Disc is the bike that will allow you to enjoy the climb and feel quick (just like the classic Specialissima, it's predecessor). It accelerates with you and your climbing rhythm, helping you reach the top and perform as you desire and with less effort. The perfect ride to try out the Specialissima Disc this summer is the Ghisallo & Muro di Sormano route from Bellagio or our Into the Wild route from Varenna. ​Get ready to ride Bianchi's top steed at top speed! Reserve your Specialissima!

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