Wilier Verticale SLR Road Frame

Though there are several bike manufacturers who are going back to having one do-it-all type of bike, Wilier have doubled-down on the philosophy of having a climbing bike and an aero bike. With the introduction of the Wilier Verticale SLR carbon racing bike, it’s easy to see that they have a real passion for making the lightest, best handling bike possible.

Choosing the Right Wilier Bike

If you are interested in having their most aero racing bike, then you’ll want to check out the Filante SLR. But if you are keen to float up your local hills and enjoy the clean look of lean round-tubed bikes, then the Wilier Verticale SLR will immediately appeal to you. Wilier has made it so light first by using an intelligent mix of super high quality carbon fiber. They’ve included three types of Toray carbon fiber, T800, T1100, and M46JB, and layered it up in a way to accentuate the different strengths of each type of carbon. 

Their focus on weight savings means that the Verticale SLR is nearly 10% lighter than the Wilier 0 SLR, which was the company’s previous climbing bike. Looking at the full frame kit which includes the frame, fork, handlebars, and seatpost, the Verticale SLR weighs around 1600 grams while the 0 SLR weighs about 1800 grams. Not only is the frame integral in that weight savings, but the new barstem too has been updated and modernized to suit the needs of the cyclists looking to get as aero as possible. So the width at the hood has been narrowed while the drops have been flared allowing riders to get into a tight tuck while hammering on the flats, but feel totally in control while tackling twisty descents in the drops.

Aggressive Racing Geometry in the Verticale SLR

Wilier has tweaked the geometry of the Verticale SLR to encourage an aggressive, racing position. This is after all the bike that their sponsored WorldTour teams will be racing, so it has been geared toward the pros' needs, as is evident with the barstem design as well. Another nice feature is the seat post with its integrated rear light and/or racing number. Two special holes on the back of the seat post allow you to install a rear light or to affix race numbers just like the pros. Similarly slick is the integrated bike computer mount on the front of the barstem that will fit a specially designed computer mount. 

Another new feature that has been inspired by the needs of WorldTour racers is the newly designed front derailleur coupling which allows for a lower and higher position for the front derailleur. That means that you can use an oversized crankset with up to 55-56 teeth for the big chainring. That’s super pro. Of course, you can still mount the more common 50-34 or 53-39 cranksets as well, if you are not looking to push out killer watts.

Asymmetrical Fork Design of the Wilier Verticale SLR

Wilier has taken a look at the fork for the Verticale SLR and given it a special a-symmetrical shape. They’ve used the a-symmetrical approach before, but this time, the left fork leg is slightly twisted to improve the orientation of the carbon fibers and to improve the resistance to forces exerted by the calipers during braking. The result is a lightweight fork with razor sharp handling. 

The Wilier Verticale SLR carbon racing bike is made for attacking steep hills and technical descents thanks to its low weight and balanced handling. It’s a gorgeous bike with classic looks and cutting edge technology.