Wilier Garda Disc Road Frame

Wilier Garda Disc - A Versatile and Budget-Friendly Road Bike for Every Adventure

Though the bike industry is unabashedly committed to selling you as many bikes as possible, some companies understand that not everyone has the budget to buy multiple bikes for all different types of riding. The Wilier Garda Disc is a prime example of a company making a bike that is well-priced, full of great features, and able to tackle all sorts of road riding and racing situations.

The Wilier Garda easily slots into the “ready to ride anything (road)” category. That’s thanks in large part to the fact that the disc brake version can run up to 32mm tires, which not only enhance riding comfort on smooth pavement but can even handle broken tarmac and smooth gravel paths. Just the sort of thing you may find on a Saturday afternoon ride with the family or a mixed service sufferfest with friends on Sunday. It’s not a gravel bike, but it does have a level of versatility that can give you confidence if you should suddenly find yourself on a road that turns into dirt; you won’t be forced to turn around.

Helping keep the Garda fast as well as comfortable, Wilier has refined the geometry to be sporty without being hyper aggressive. The designers want this bike to be perfect for long tours or Gran Fondos but not feel out of place if you do want to hop into a few crit races over the summer. With a fairly relaxed seat tube angle and seat stays that are size-specific and fairly short, the Garda feels both comfortable and unhurried but able to react instantly if you do decide to give it a bit of out-of-the-saddle power.

NH-MOD Carbon Construction of the Garda Disc

That best of comfort and responsiveness comes through in the use of Willier’s NH-MOD carbon for the monocoque frame. NH-MOD is Wilier’s name for a blend of normal (N) and high (H) modulus carbon, offering a mix of stiffness and strength. Differentiating the carbon as “Normal” and “High” might not be all that helpful, but it is a way of describing the various types of carbon that are used, since certain carbon material offers greater stiffness (High) while lower modulus carbons are typically stronger and more compliant. It is the alchemy of combining the two to create exactly the type of riding bike you want that is the artistry of the modern frame builder.

Though Wilier is positioning the Garda as an entry-level carbon racing bike, it still offers plenty of features that can usually only be found on top of the line offerings. Perhaps the most visible improvement is how they solved the difficulty of cable integration at the handlebars with the specially designed Stemma S handlebar/stem combo. The design allows them to route the cables through the bars and use the stem as the portal into the frame, so cables never have to touch the wind.

The Wilier Garda Disc is available in six sizes and two colorways. Weighing 1120 grams, the Garda is a road bike that offers the durability and comfort for long rides and the snappy responsiveness to help you win sprints either for fun or for primes!

Also check Colnago Road Bikes.