Bicycles

On test: Wilier Imperiale

Details

Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: Wilier

Published on Monday, 01 February 2010 07:22

Written by Luca Salvatelli

A stiff, responsive and very fast bike

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Wilier Imperiale is a new product son of a careful study in the wind tunnel, which led to the definition of the shape of each tube. The goal was to create a bike "Wind Friendly" (as called from the Factory) that could have the best possible aerodynamic drag, but without going to extremes of his bike time trials. A bike, then, from traditional design, but innovative in finding the best speed performances. Designed with the collaboration of John Coob, world-renowned experts in the application of aerodynamic studies to the bike, the new Imperiale is based on a monocoque frame. The tube section has a large complex, with stiffening ribs and an airfoil. The central movement, oversize, integrates the seat tube with integrated seatpost, even in this case by the aerodynamic profile. The same pipe near the rear wheel was shattered the rear to improve the rigidity, making the cart more compact and improve aerodynamic flow. The rear, with symmetric profile, provides the low-profile wing tubes, large size, while still very high and join crushed above the rear brake in a house which then surrounds the tube and is unique in the tube. This is slightly curved and has several stiffening ribs; joins the headstock, with ball 1 inch and 1/8, short, but with a section plentiful. The fork blades have the wing section, with stiffening ribs. The weight of the frame is declared in 1130 grams, the fork weighs 360 grams. The available colours are black and silver. The sizes available are XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL. The bike test is assembled with the new Shimano Ultegra group, with compact crankset, controls, brakes, front and rear derailleur, chain and sprocket. The wheels are Fulcrum Racing 1 clincher tires with Vittoria Rubino Pro, the classic measure 700x23. The saddle is a Selle Italia XC SL Pro, stem and micro seatpost are Ritchey WCS, while the handlebar is Ritchey Logic Pro 2. Series also Tacx bottlecage and Look Keo Classic pedals. Thus assembled in size L, with 172.5 mm cranks, the bike has a weight of 7.440 kg without pedals, they have a weight of 260 grams, all observed with our instrumentation.

Road test

The new bike Wilier Imperiale confirms the image that has managed to build over the years for a Company that produces bicycles made and finished. Excellent paint, assembly cured, well guided cables, protection of the car being hit in the chain: everything you need for a quality bike. Among the positive features we liked the micro Ritchey seatpost that skips the long saddle, pre find a riding position typical of the time trial or triathlon bike. What could improved the handlebar, inferior to the rest of the components. In saddle you can always find the right driving position, excellent opportunity to advance the saddle to find the place time trial/triathlon. The seat is good in a sporting sense, has little padding and is associated with a good pad, but ensures good comfort and good pedalling efficiency. The handlebar is comfortable and allows you to stay long on taking down without hassle. The new Ultegra group behaves very well, with sections for report states, though not very fast, and a brake rather than good and adjustable. Good wheels, new Fulcrum Racing 1, sliding and rigid; feel little crosswind and I saw the best of Vittoria Rubino Pro which has the only drawback of not being very light. From the first pedal stroke you understand that a bicycle is not suited to those looking for comfort, every hole, every little disconnect is immediately perceived and transferred from the frame and fork to the body. This is the price you pay for a rigid frame and a wagon very reactive. Since the first rides one understands how the transfer of power is very excellent, with very minimal dispersion. Rigidity is also much appreciated in raises in action, where the bike is able to have good progression rate, although the weight is not just content (always referred to the price category). But the real ground of election of this frame is the mild hill or plain, where, after taking a good driving position, you can download to ground all its power, with notable speed performances and facilitated by the high rigidity of group frame/fork and also by good aerodynamics. The trajectory and the accuracy of driving is always good, even if it remains a handy bike more stable and reactive. Falling steering is held firmly to get a precise behaviour, particularly on bumpy, where the geometry "fast" and the rigidity of the steering frame and fork require greater attention. The security, however, is never less, but is not, and did not want to be one of those bikes that will "drive from one hand", mainly on the tripped. On the other hand the handling is very good, so you can have entries in the fast corners and quick changes of direction. In addition to the frame and wagon, has also hit the fork, just as rigid and that it "marries" perfectly with the character of the bike. Uphill we suffer a bit, but only for those in more than 150 grams should be made to lighter products, not because of the characteristics of stiffness of the frame. The pace is always maintained, even though this is not the ideal ground on which to challenge opponents. Where, however, this bike has no rivals in the paths is fast, flat, where she expresses the most of its features, speed up to medium, in reality, there is no particular advantage over other products of the same price range, but already more than 40 km/h is able to fully exploit the settings of a bike built with the objective to be especially fast. The result is that it manages to have a higher average speed, even if only slightly, while developing the same watt. We do not know, you should specify how this behaviour can be attributed solely to the aerodynamics or stiffness of the frame, but it is certain that on certain routes with this bike you have a technical advantage should not be underestimated. A bike, in conclusion, great having the foresight to focus to best intended use. It's not a touring bike, but bike racing suits, and that manages to express its potential in fast paced and flat, where the rigidity of the chassis and aerodynamic study, may give the rider a technical advantage. For this, more than with the wheels with which we have been given, should be completed with high-profile aerodynamic wheels. A bike suited to sprinters or fast athletes, to triathletes and those who want a bike, high-level, to try even in the triathlon or duathlon. Outside of this area of election remains a very good bike, but not superior to direct competitors in price range. The comfort of course can not be at the top, which is justified by the rigidity of the frame, while the handlebar, that our model was slightly lower than the overall quality of the bike, should be improved and it does not understand how a study has not provided accurate aerodynamic so the transition cables inside the frame, but John Coob will have had his reasons ...

Performance measured using Polar CS-600 Power

Explanation of why the test:

We decided to use the instrumentation Polar CS 600 Power to analyze the performance of the bike. Other tools we can see the values of stiffness of a frame, important information, of course, but they say little about the overall goodness of the bike that the passionate will to buy and its real value for money. It’s clear, in fact, that is not just a bike frame, but also components that are assembled and which determines the overall performance. With the Polar CS 600 Power we know how many watts the athlete must develop to go to a speed X. The more rigid frame is the best crankset, wheels are excellent, very good the rest of the components, the lower will be the demand for power to reach that speed X, the better the goodness of the bike as a whole. Conversely, a good frame, but with components on top, may have worse results of a mid-range, but the assembled frame with good components. We evaluate then the bike as a whole, as well as the retail purchase and not a single element of it, albeit important. Polar CS 600 Power is also the only instrument that detects the power developed without replacing crank or rear wheel.

The completion of the test:

installed and calibrated properly, the CS 600 Power, the athlete has come a perfectly flat stretch of road and in excellent condition, wind and other interference. The athlete has run several sections first 30 km/h constant, then at 40 km/h constant, and finally at 50 km/h constant, always with the relationship longer available. These are the powers needed to maintain the speed

30 Km/h 160 Watts

40 Km/h 210 Watts

50 Km/h 350 Watts

The commentary to the instrumental test

The test confirmed the impressions on the road, with performance that is increasingly attractive as the speed increases. Compared to competitors up to 30 mph, the differences are practically nil. A 40 km/h is already beginning to have a nice advantage that it drastically increased and sensitive to 50 km/h. The large frame rigidity and good aerodynamics allow therefore an excellent power transfer and aerodynamic drag, the more evident the more developed watts and speeds are high. Performance, very good, could be further improved by adopting high-profile wheels and then a group lighter. In general, however, the test confirmed the goodness of the chassis, its rigidity and the effective preparation of the series.

Price

The frame kit is priced around 2699 Euro, the bikes were assembled costs that range from 4159 Euro model Campagnolo Chorus (with Fulcrum Racing 3 wheels) to Euro 7199 the model Campagnolo Super Record (with Zipp wheels). The cost of the kit frame is placed on the high end of the market and adequate performance expressed, to be considered good scores on the used market bike Wilier. The cost of the assembled bike is essentially aligned with the competition and proportional to the "blazon" Wilier, performance and quality of components expressed adopted.

Positive aspects

Build quality

Design and aesthetics sought

Finishes

Frame rigidity

Fast performance

Aerodynamics

Handiness

Negative aspects

Handlebar level just below the rest of the components

To learn more:

Wilier Triestina

Website: www.wilier.it

Tests carried out in collaboration with: