The Bianchi Aria Brings Italian Race Heritage For Less

A complete bike with Bianchi’s Aero Technology for less than the cost of the Oltre XR4 Frameset.


Matt Jacobs |

Price: Around R38,000* price dependent on fluctuating currencies.
Weight: 7.98kg (53cm)
Sizes: 47, 50, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61cm
The Right Bike For: Anyone who wants an Italian aero bike at a good price
Get it now: jjcycling.co.za

Bianchi bikes come with a rich heritage and racing pedigree – and usually a high price to match. The Bianchi Aria brings that history and speed into a more affordable price range with its carbon, aero-efficient, race-ready, rim-brake bike. It has aerodynamic features similar to Bianchi’s top-end Aquila and Oltre models, with aggressive geometry and the excellent Ultegra groupset and deep-rim wheels for less than the price of the top-of-the-line Oltre XR4 frameset.

Intended to be raced, the Bianchi Aria’s stiff frame transfers power efficiently for quick acceleration, and the Vision Comp 35 wheels give a smooth ride that helps the Aria carry speed on flats.

If you want to race on the road or in a criterium, the Aria is capable of getting you a win. If you prefer to hit top speed descending your local hills, then it’s a lot of fun. Whatever you do with the Aria, the Bianchi Celeste Green is iconic and will turn a few heads as you ride by.

bianchi aria
Trevor Raab

Rim- and Disc-Brake Versions

The Aria comes in two other, lower-priced, rim-brake options: one with Shimano 105, and another with Campagnolo Centaur. Two disc-brake options are available with either Ultegra or 105. All models have the same Aria carbon frame and fork, but the disc-brake versions come with Fulcrum Racing 618 wheels to accommodate the thru-axle.

Aerodynamic Design and Race-Ready Components

The Aria uses some of the aero highlights of the higher-end Oltre road and Aquila time-trial models, including a full carbon, bowed fork that blends into the frame, a dropped seatstay, and a teardrop-shaped seatpost with recessed clamp. These features, along with sleek-looking, integrated cable routing, help the Aria cheat the wind.

In Italy, this bike is known as the Aria Triathlon, because it can be turned into a triathlon-ready bike with a few easy tweaks. It has the ability to accept clip-on aero bars, and Bianchi offers a forward seatpost, which steepens the seat tube angle and increases the aero position.

bianchi aria
You can own part of the Bianchi racing tradition for a smaller investment.
Trevor Raab

Compared to other aero road bikes, the Aria’s geometry is slightly more aggressive. It has a shorter head tube (by 10mm in a size medium) than the Trek Madone, Scott Foil, and Giant Propel, and the seat tube is longer than both the Madone and the Foil (it matches the Propel at 520mm).

RELATED: 4 Fastest Aero Bikes You’ll Want To Own

The Aria is compatible with mechanical and electronic groupsets, although the disc-brake version comes with Fulcrum Racing 6.0 wheels to accommodate the thru-axle. On the rim-brake version, you get the deep-rim, alloy, Vision Team 35 wheelset, a durable, race-ready option that’s surprisingly smooth for the price. You could easily switch them out for a lighter set, but at this price, they are a great addition.

The precise and reliable Shimano Ultegra groupset is popular across the aero-road category at this price level, although the closest model we could find to the Aria’s price tag with Ultegra components is the Scott Foil 20, which is around R4 000* more expensive and comes without deep-rim wheels.

Ride Impressions

From the first pedal stroke, the Aria wants to get moving. It accelerates quickly, and once you find your speed, it carries it well. Short bursts of acceleration made small rises in the road disappear – as if I was riding straight over them.

The frame and fork do a great job of absorbing small bumps and poor road surfaces for the first couple of hours. Over time, though, as the ride became a little less forgiving, I could feel myself getting fatigued.

bianchi aria
Bianchi considers every aero advantage when designing their frames. Trevor Raab

This bike’s aerodynamic design isn’t suitable for long climbs, but once you reach the top and begin the descent, the Aria really shines. As soon as I was over the peak of each climb, I immediately found the aero position and was able to shift into a bigger gear to quickly get up to speed.

The Aria handles fast, sweeping corners and sharp turns with ease. The reliability and stopping power of the Ultegra braking gave me the confidence to take maximum speed through each turn. Once I was back on level ground – and caught up with friends – I was able to put the Aria’s responsive handling and aerodynamic qualities to use to move through the group and push the pace at the front.

* Price dependent on fluctuating currencies.

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