Bianchi Impulso RC Gravel Bike

Bianchi Impulso RC - Racing Gravel Bike Powerhouse

As a road brand synonymous with its racing pedigree, Bianchi has hit the gravel racing scene at a full sprint with the Bianchi Impulso RC racing gravel bike. Aero-optimized and constructed using lightweight, high modulus carbon fiber, the Impulso RC is ready to take on fast gravel and mixed surface riding and racing.

The RC in the name refers to Bianchi’s top level Reparto Corse division of design. That means the Impulso RC gets the top drawer treatment in terms of materials used and equipment choice. Using a premium level of carbon and a layup designed to offer resilience and responsiveness, the Impulso RC sports an aerodynamic shaping that is reminiscent of the Oltre RC road racing bike. The tubes have a distinctly modern aero look, with lots of truncated tubing to get the aero advantage while saving on weight. The fork has been specially sculpted to allow clean air flow with the fork’s crown shape integrated into the downtube.

Perhaps the most important aero advancement for the Impulso RC comes in the shape of the fully integrated barstem. Hiding away the cables is a hallmark of a modern racing bike, and the Reparto Corse AeroFlare one-piece handlebar and stem is an exemplary cockpit for the keen gravel racer with a 16° flare. It’s exactly the sleek design cue that will get any road racing aficionado’s heart pumping. And weighing just 340 grams, the one-piece cockpit ensures comfortable hand positions thanks to its ergonomic shape as well as confident control on account of the gravel-specific flare.

Performance-Oriented Construction of the Bianchi Impulso RC

The Bianchi Impulso RC does not stray from the race-oriented brief. The sleek frame eschews extra mounts for bike bags and mud guards. Real racers wouldn’t want the extra weight that drilling holes and adding bolts into the carbon layup would require. This bike is all business. If it’s bikepacking you want to do, Bianchi has other bikes like the Arcadex for you. That’s not to say this bike can’t be ridden for long distances in comfort. The carbon layup offers a great deal of vibration absorption; they want this to work well for people to race something like Unbound, and that is a 10+ hour day in the saddle, after all. With that in mind, Bianchi engineers have designed comfort-oriented vertical compliance into the seat post and the seatstays.

The geometry also reflects the off-road capability that a bike intended for the Life Time Grand Prix needs. So a longer reach is paired with a shorter stem for control while the longer wheelbase ensures stability on loose gravel descents. The frame can accommodate up to 42mm tires on 700c wheels, another nod to the bike’s race-oriented nature.

The Bianchi Impulso RC racing gravel bike calls out to be ridden hard and fast over all types of mixed terrain courses. It’s an elite gravel racer that inspires its rider to seek out the stiffest competition and toughest gravel events.

Be sure to check all the gravel bikes available at our offer.