Closer Look – Bianchi Zurigo CX Line

With bikes and events becoming more and more specialized, it is getting harder to find a bike that can fill multiple roles. Brands are making aero bikes, climbing bikes, endurance bikes, time trial bikes, gravel bikes, commuter bikes, and that’s just the road.  Bianchi makes plenty, but for those that don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on an entire stable of bikes, you should take a look at the Zurigo.

Earlier this season, I had a chance to catch up with Will Mahler from Bianchi USA to talk more about the Zurigo. Bianchi has two cross bikes on offer this year, the Zolder and Zurigo. If you are looking for a dedicated cross rig, you’ll probably gravitate more towards the Zolder. For the working man, or someone looking to fill multiple roles, the Zurigo will be your focus.

The Zurigo really is a do-it-all bike. Without any mods, you have a bike that is ready for a commute to work, a ride on the rail trail with the family, train on the road all year round, or an occasional cross race.  The great part too, with two build options, you have some options and neither will break the bank.

The heart of the Zurigo is it’s frame. The hydro formed aluminum frame is pulse TIG welded, which is a very slow, controlled weld that doesn’ blow through the joint. A single pass is all that is needed. The frame passes EN breakage standards in Europe, so it is one of the strongest aluminum cross bikes for the money and will give you years of enjoyment. Bianchi was able to mix a stout front end that is snappy enough to flick around a cross course,  with small diameter seat stays that are comfortable for longer commutes to work. Front and rear bosses are ready to accept fenders and racks, while a flattened top tube and a mix of internal and top tube cable routing add to the bike’s cyclocross pedigree. Out front, the Zurigo is matched to a carbon fork with a 1 1/8″ to 1 1/2″ tapered alloy steerer, keeping steering precise and reducing any flex.

Bianchi is filling a price point that many other brands have left open as of late by offering the Zurigo in two specs,SRAM Apex with Avid BB5R (upgrading to BB7 SL in the near future) mechanical disc brakes, and Shimano Tiagra with Hayes CX Expert mechanical disc brakes. The rest of the build is the same across both bikes. The cockpit and seat post are sourced from Reparto Corse, Bianchi’s house label, and are made by FSA. A Selle San Marco saddle rounds out the contact points and adds to the quality build. The wheels, also Reparto Corse, are built up to be strong, but are a little on the heavy side. Swapping in a nice set of disc compatible wheels for races will help lighten the bike up a bit. The Kenda Kwicker tires work well as an all-around tire, and will eventually be replaced by Vittoria XG’s. The Zurigo is rated for 35mm tires, but depending on the tire, you can probably fit in 38’s.

I had a chance to take the Apex out for the review, and found it to be a well rounded bike. The wide range 11-32 rear cassette complements the 48/32 crankset, though the 48 is a little big for cross racing. For commuting though, the gearing is just right. During the race, the Zurigo handled well in a twisty course, and rode smoothly in the rough sections. As I hit the five foot tall whoop section, the frame was stiff and showed no signs of flex as I powered through.  The Avid BB5R disc brakes had plenty of stopping power with a 160 mm front rotor and 140 mm in the rear, even for a rider over 200 lbs. Overall, though, if you use some of the money you save on the bike to pick up a nice set of disc brake race wheels, the bike will only get better.

Bianchi offers the Zurigo in five sizes, 49, 52, 55, 57, and 61, which will fit a wide range of riders. Even Will, who could pass for an NBA player, can find a Zurigo to throw a leg over. The Tiagra 10 speed build retails for $1499, and the Apex is just a little higher at $1799. Even with the upgrades planned for the brakes and tires, Bianchi still plans to keep the Apex at $1799. A frame module could be in the works for later on in 2015, which would allow you to run the well built Zurigo frame with your own custom build. I didn’t have a chance to weigh the Zurigo Apex, but I was told it will come in around 22 lbs in the larger sizes. It might be a little hefty, but with a few upgrades for race day, you should be able to trim some of the weight off.

If you need a bike that can handle multiple roles, the Zurigo is worth the look. It really is a bike you can race on Saturday and Sunday, and commute with on Monday.

www.bianchiusa.com