RACING BLOGS, NEWS & REVIEWS

The 2010 Izoard is barely changed from last year’s model, but it’s a perfect example of the maxim ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. Virtually all of our Bike Of The Year testers had this in their top 10, with quite a few placing it in their top five – that’s how good it is.

The bare bones are that the Izoard weighs 8.1kg, has a full-carbon frame, Campagnolo Centaur 10-speed groupset and Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels. But that’s not the whole story.

All our testers agreed that the Izoard offers great feedback from the road, it’s easily flickable and well damped. And like the other best bikes on test, it offers a great balance of speed and acceleration for the racers with the sort of comfort that the less competitive riders really appreciate.

But it’s the handling that really seems to impress everybody. Compared with most bikes of this size, the Izoard has a slightly shorter top tube and a slightly longer stem, and it’s a combination that works very well in practice.

Those rear stays are curved too, with the aim of increasing comfort. Whether it’s this or the layup of the carbon that has the greater effect on comfort it’s hard to know, but it defnitely offers a plush ride.

The Centaur groupset is a noticeable improvement over Veloce, with more positive levers and progressively more powerful brakes. It was good to see Fulcrum Racing 5s rather than the Racing 7s seen on some of the bikes at this price, though these are perhaps better suited to the sportive rider than the full-on racer.

This is one of those bikes that could equally be the perfect long-distance sportive bike or an accomplished race machine – perhaps with lighter wheels. Finally, the Izoard is a fitting tribute to Wilier owner Lino Gastaldello, who was killed while out riding in late January.

read more @ http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/izoard-centaur-10-37739

If Wilier’s Lavaredo rides as fast as it shot through our office into the hands of our tester it’s going to be a very spritely machine indeed.

Wilier’s Lavaredo fairly scorched out of it’s box and into the waiting hands of our tester, Stuart so fast it’s a wonder the pictures aren’t blurred – if it is anything like as quick out on the road our man is in for a treat indeed.

Of course when it comes to delivering bangs per buck performance there has long been an argument in favour of aluminium over carbon and one that for a long time tipped slightly in favour of aluminium – certainly on performance criteria if not fashion. Carbon though has been getting cheaper, and the cheaper stuff has been getting better too… so will the Lavaredo be able to fly the flag for metal-framed bikes?

Well, if it doesn’t it won’t be for lack of trying – the Lavaredo is built up with with a mixture of 10spd Campagnolo Mirage, Veloce and Xenon componentrywith a good smattering of Miche kit in the mix too: shifters, front and rear derailleurs are Mirage, brakes, Veloce, and the crankset Xenon. Wheels and bottom bracket are from Miche and Ritchey supply the handlebars, stem and seat post.

At the heart of the bike is a triple butted aluminium frame with a claimed frame and fork weight for the medium of 2Kg (4.4lb) – respectably light. According to the road.cc scales our test bikes weighs 9.1Kg – a nudge over 20lb, again a pretty respectable weight, the similarly priced Genesis Equilibrium came in at 9.3Kg. Although the latter is steel in many ways that is the bike the Lavaredo is competing with, both are priced with the ride to work scheme in mind and on the face of it, like the Genesis the Wilier is specced for durability too – that Miche wheelset looks like it will laugh in the face of even British potholes.

Undoubtedly where the Wilier will score for many is on its looks – Wilier always make a good-looking machine and the Lavaredo is no exception. Judged on the combination of its looks and spec straight from the box the Lavaredo seems to promise the durability of a good all rounder: a training and commuting bike that will do the job in style. Can it back up the promise of that racey paint job with racey performance? We’ll find out soon.

http://road.cc/content/news/16574-just-wilier-lavaredo