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A road inspired performance hybrid bicycle that is lightweight, spirited and agile, and comes from the stables of Bianchi _ Italy
When Bianchi launched in India, they came out with a range of road focused hybrids that were called 'Camaleonte' series, which flew off the shelves as quickly as they came in. Thereon, it was not available in India for a brief period, and now it has made its way back into the market with a new name and a whole new exciting package - The Bianchi C Sport (2016). We got our hands on this bicycle, and took to the city roads to see how its new avatar performs.
Frame, Fit and Comfort
Aggressive Frame Geometry and lightweight Aluminium Frame
The overall frame geometry of the Bianchi C-Sport was aggressive, and certainly has evident lines of inspiration from Bianchi's road series of bicycles. The first thing that catches your attention is the lightweight aluminum frame, which is a welcome feature on a road-focused hybrid. The frame is a 'Bianchi Sport' double butted 6061 aluminum unit, that comes with smooth welds. The flat and tapered slim top tube is aesthetically pleasing and adds a touch of Italian finesse to the bicycle. The rest of the tubing has a combination of flat and semi tubular profiles that have been cleverly engineered to reduce excess weight, and also reinforce the key stress points.¾
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The weld quality and finish was impressive with smooth welds evident on most joints, barring the bottom bracket section. The frame comes with options to fit a pannier rack and front storage rack if need be. The rider is seated in a semi-aggressive position, with a good control of the bicycle; through it's wide, flat and sporty handlebar. The ergonomics is spot on, which translates into a comfortable fit while riding.
Design
Sleek, Suave and Stealth fighter like Design
The Bianchi C-Sport is one helluva looker. It looks sleek, suave and stealth fighter like in terms of its design and profile. The design cues and frame geometry have been borrowed from its road siblings such as the Bianchi Impulso and Via Nirone. What this does is that it has given the C-Sport a tapered, lithe and curved top tube that is similar to the form found on road bicycles. The bicycle we reviewed came in a nice shade of glossy light blue, which was accompanied by minimal black, white and celeste decals of the brand and model name. The mascot of this series is a Chameleon, and sure enough you find a neat decal of it, on the top tube.
Gearing
Provides much needed acceleration in City Traffic
The Bianchi C-Sport comes with entry-level gear componentry in the form of the Shimano Altus RD-M310 (7 Speed) rear derailleur, and the Shimano FD-TX50 (3 Speed) front derailleur. This 21-speed gear system is controlled by Shimano's ST-EF51 trigger shifters. While the gearing gave us the options of good spirited riding, and the much-needed acceleration in city traffic, we felt that Bianchi could have done better in this department. The shifting on this bicycle was consistent, but had a bit of a lag while changing gears. The drivetrain is meant primarily for city riding, while also giving you the option to go on medium to long rides.
Brakes and Steering
Provides 'Ninja' like agility usually found on Road Bicycles
The brakes employed on the Bianchi C-Sport were Tektro RX1 mini V-Brakes. They were very prompt and sufficient for spirited riding. On extremely hard braking we did experience a bit of a screech in the rear wheels, followed by the wheels locking up. This can be addressed by using a combination of the front and rear brakes effectively, while braking hard.¾
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The steering and manoeuvring capabilities of the C-Sport just blew us away. It is safe to say that this hybrid bicycle comes equipped with 'Ninja' like agility that is usually found on performance road bicycles. The aggressive frame geometry, sporty and flat handlebar, along with the relatively steep head tube angle translates into super quick changes in direction. This sensitivity is useful while riding at a good pace, but we must warn you that it is best to get used to this super responsive steering before you head out in peak traffic or on the highway. On corners the C-Sport held it's line with good stability, and it seemed eager to attack the corners rather than limber into it. All signs of a true sporty road focused hybrid.
Ride Quality
Ideal for Indian City conditions
The tires on the Bianchi C-Sport are sleek and light, which compliments the rest of the lightweight elements of this cycle. The 700 * 32 Spectra Ruby tires are ideal for Indian city conditions, as they come with tread patterned tires which means that it gives you the necessary traction required, without slowing you down due to resistance from the treads. These tires are fitted on to good-looking TEC Sport edition AT 470 Aluminum rims. The roll on the tires was good through most of the ride, but as we reached what was around the top speed for the bicycle, we felt a little bit of resistance, which is due to the tread patterns. I guess the manufacturers have chosen to give you the best of both worlds. If you are someone who is only riding on medium to long routes and want the best performance out of your machine, you can opt for a road tire without treads.¾
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The fact that this bicycle is designed for spirited and agile riding, which is an outcome of it's road inspired design, means that the ride quality will tend to be a bit harsh. The Bianchi C-Sport has a rigid frame, which is focused on reducing the lateral movement of the bicycle, when the rider pedals. This automatically makes it a little uncomfortable when you are riding over bad potholes and undulations. ¾While Bianchi do have the K-VID technology which insulates vibrations on road bicycles, it would have been too expensive to employ it on this hybrid. Instead, they give the rider one of the best performance saddles that we have sat on. The Selle Royal Siam saddle is ergonomically well contoured, and it comes with the right amount of cushioning and stiffness.¾
Overall Rating
Performance
Design
Features
Value For Money
- Lightweight frame and components
- Road bicycle inspired design and geometry making it fast and quick to accelerate
- Superior, Responsive handling and cornering capabilities.
- Average gear system that has it's restrictions
- The price point is slightly higher than it's rivals in this segment.¾
Conclusion
Bianchi have given a good reason for the Indian cyclist to embrace and experience this classic Italian brand, with the reintroduction of the CamaleonteÈ series, through the Bianchi C Sport (2016). This is an ideal road focused hybrid for anyone who is looking to improve their riding performance in and around the city, or for someone who has fitness in mind, and wants a spirited, lively hybrid bicycle. Either ways, we are certain that the C Sport 1 will bring a smile on your face, and will definitely urge you to ride it longer and harder. At around Rs.42,000, the Bianchi C Sport is a bit pricey compared to i's closest international rivals. We always feel that with a Bianchi, you donÈt just buy a bicycle based on specs, but you do so because you will own a piece of bicycling history, with Bianchi being the oldest manufacturing bicycle company (125 years) in the world.