Bianchi Arcadex Gravel Bike Review
We’ve been riding the previous-generation Bianchi Arcadex for about a month and a half. We brought some of these in on a closeout, turned one into a demo, and started putting miles on it. We were already familiar with the Campagnolo Ekar drivetrain, so this has been a good way to see how that system feels on the Arcadex platform.
Video review
History & setups we’ve tested
Races ridden on this bike:
- Freedhem 106
- Badlands Gravel Battle 80
Wheelsets used:
- Fulcrum stock gravel wheelset
- HED Emporia GA Pro
Tires we’ve ridden:
- 37mm WTB Riddler
- 45mm Challenge Strada Bianca Handmade TLR (measuring ~48mm on HED rims)
Drivetrain configurations:
- Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed with stock 10–44 cassette
- Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed with 9–42 cassette
Photo gallery (optional):
Drivetrain
The Arcadex we’re riding is built with the Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed drivetrain. We really like this drivetrain. It’s not perfect, but none of them are. For riders who prefer mechanical 1x drivetrains, the gear range and shift-to-shift granularity stand out.
The bike comes stock with a 10–44 cassette. We’re currently running a 9–42 with the stock 40T chainring. Around here, a 42T or even a 44T would probably still work fine. We rode this setup at the Badlands and rarely needed the 40/42 combo, although it did come in handy later in the ride due to the amount of climbing.
Wheels and tires
Stock, the Arcadex includes a Fulcrum wheelset. It’s not the lightest but also not overly heavy. For this review, we swapped to a set of HED Emporia GA Pro wheels, which we’ve used for years and feel are an excellent value.
Bianchi lists the frame to fit 42mm tires. We’re running 45mm Challenge Strada Bianca handmade tubeless tires. On these rims they measure close to 48mm. There is more room for tire up front than in the rear. In the back we’re pushing the clearance a bit, but there’s still enough room that we’re comfortable running it. We wouldn’t run a 45mm knobby.
The 40s are probably our favorite all-around size, but the 45s provide more float in loose or soft gravel. They still roll well on pavement. Mounting these handmade TLR tires isn’t as intimidating as people say—once you learn the technique, they go on fine.
Cockpit and fit
We didn’t love the stock handlebars, so we swapped to Easton EC90 AX carbon bars. We’re using Lizard Skins 3.2 bar tape. It doesn’t stretch much during wrapping, but once installed it feels excellent. Even though we normally wear gloves, this setup is comfortable without them.
We’re not huge fans of the ergonomics of the Ekar hoods. There’s a noticeable bump in them. We ride in the drops a lot on this bike, which works well.
The bike has a generous stack and a shorter reach. That works great for riders with longer legs and shorter torsos. Even with a tall stack we still get a good amount of drop because of saddle height.
