Wilier

Izoard XP/Shimano Ultegra 6700 Complete Bike

We'll take inspiration wherever we find it. Just the name Izoard instills a beautiful fear in our hearts, and compels us to dig a little harder. The Wilier Izoard XP/Ultegra 6700 Complete Bike is a tool for charging up this most brutal climb, stable enough to take our hands off the bars as we summit to fully inhale the uplifting emptiness and don a vest, then tuck in and thread the moonscaped descent..

The Wilier Izoard XP rides beautifully, and comes with a finish reminiscent of Wilier's creme de la creme Cento1. With its exclusive, color-matching FSA components and FSA saddle, its curb appeal is undeniable. It's a bike whose foremost intent is to deliver maximum performance-per-dollar; the fact that it's this gorgeous is a delightful bonus.

Like the Cento1, the Izoard XP is built with full carbon monocoque construction. It's made exclusively from Toray carbon, in this case T-700SC (medium modulus/stiffness) and M30J (high modulus/stiffness) fibers make up the bulk of the laminate. In the typical calculus of carbon fiber, the stiffness and tensile properties of the highest grades (such as the 46 Ton carbon in the Cento1) allow frame manufacturers to use less material to achieve requisite rigidity and strength. By using T-700SC and M30J in the Izoard XP, Wilier is sacrificing nothing in terms of its ride quality and durability, but use more material to achieve it, and this adds a few grams. The lower modulus carbon fiber is also significantly less expensive. Considering the beauty and the race worthiness of the Izoard, the value is easy to see..Shimano's Ultegra 6700 shifters and derailleurs have been chosen for this bike because of their day in-day out reliability and performance. We often find ourselves marveling at how well Ultegra works, and really, how imperceptible the functional differences are from Dura-Ace. Of a mind with any savvy consumer, the bike is spec'd with a 12-25 Shimano 105 cogset mated to a 105 chain.

The Shimano parts are complemented by FSA for the remainder of the build. FSA's Orbit CE drop-in headset mates the fork to the frame. The Gossamer forged alloy 50/34 compact crankset has Wilier/FSA logos and is color matched to the frame. The FSA Gossamer brakeset gets the same treatment. The FSA OS-190 stem and Omega Compact handlebar round out the control package. The Omega works 80mm of reach and 125mm of drop into a comfortable ergo shape, and furthering comfort is the four-degree outward cant of the hooks. The Shimano RS30 Wheels come equipped with Vittoria Rigide 23mm tires. The wheels have 16 front spokes and 20 rear, and are laced to a 30mm deep rim. This combination is both reasonably aero and lightweight for its aerodynamics; durable for everyday riding, too.

The seatpost is the FSA's SL-280, an aluminum post 31.6mm in diameter, finished in Wilier colors, and topped with a one-bolt clamp. Snugged into the clamp is the Q-Bik saddle, finished for Wilier with a cover to match the frame.

The Wilier Izoard XP/Ultegra 6700 Complete Bike is available in Red and Yellow. It comes in six sizes from X-Small to XX-Large. Crank length, handlebar width, and stem length are sized to match.