Steve has put miles on the Bianchi Oltre Comp — the aero road bike that gets you most of the Oltre experience without the price of the Pro or a Cervelo S5. He’s also been riding an S5, so this is as much a comparison as a review.
Comp vs. Pro
This is the Comp, not the pro-level Oltre RC — the base carbon layup, and you can feel the difference. It’s a bit more rigid and you feel more road vibration through the frame. Steve has ridden both, and the Pro frame is the smoother, more refined ride. The Pro also gets the integrated carbon bar and stem with the airflow opening up front (smaller than the S5’s, but there). This Comp runs a standard aluminum bar and stem instead, the top cap sticks on magnetically, and the spacer setup is a little proprietary but clean. The Comp still delivers the aero speed the Oltre line is known for — it just isn’t as plush as the Pro.
Drivetrain
The build is Shimano Ultegra Di2 12-speed with a 52/36 crank and an 11–30 cassette. It works flawlessly — smooth, predictable, and plenty of range for local terrain. For an aero bike with a full Ultegra Di2 build, it lands in a very competitive spot; Steve has spent a lot of time on Trek Madones over the years, and this sits right in that conversation.
Wheels & Tires
Stock wheels are Fulcrum Airbeat 550 — older-school hooked carbon rims, not the ultra-wide hookless setups on a lot of current aero bikes. They’re not the latest wheel tech, but they ride fine. Steve swapped the stock Pirelli endurance tires for 28mm Vittoria Corsa Pros — fast and comfortable, and the same tire he runs on the S5. Some riders worry about cotton-casing punctures; he hasn’t had any trouble.
Tire pressure makes a real difference here. He normally runs 55–68 PSI depending on the road. One night, cleaning out the old shop with no pump around, he rode home on about 45 rear / 41 front — too low, but it still rolled fast. Modern tubeless pressures are a big part of what makes this bike ride as nicely as it does.
Fit
Steve is 5’10” and normally rides a 56cm road frame. On the S5 he’s been stuck between a 54 (a fairly drastic drop) and a 56 (too long) — neither quite right out of the box. The 55cm Oltre Comp fits him better stock, especially reach and bar height. The one caveat: he’s close to max seatpost height on the 55, worth noting if you’ve got a long inseam. He also likes that you can easily swap to a different handlebar — not as simple on a fully integrated aero cockpit.
The Thru-Axle
Bianchi caps the ends of the thru-axles in carbon. It looks clean, but it means you have to get exactly the right replacement axle if you ever need one — there’s no tolerance for one that’s a hair too long — and you can’t run the bike in a wheel-on (rear-wheel) trainer. Minor, but worth knowing.
Ride & the S5 Comparison
Steve genuinely loves riding this bike — fast, stiff, reactive, and great at speed. On paper the S5 is the faster, more refined, more compliant bike, but seat-of-the-pants the two are very close, and the Oltre fits him a touch better out of the box. The real story is value: the S5 doesn’t have an entry point — a Force or Ultegra build runs $9–10k — while the Oltre Comp comes in around $6,100 retail for a genuinely fast, unique aero bike with Ultegra Di2.
An aero bike that skips the $9–10k tier
If you want a real aero road bike without jumping to S5 or Oltre Pro money, the Comp is worth a hard look — the speed, the stiffness, the aero shape, and the Bianchi character, at a far more reasonable price. It’s not as plush as the Pro and the wheels aren’t cutting-edge, but the ride quality surprised Steve, and the shop keeps both Bianchi Oltre and Cervelo on the floor so riders can choose their way into an aero bike.
Looking at an Aero Road Bike?
Maklin Bike Shop in Scandia, MN stocks the Bianchi Oltre and Cervelo. Come ride them or reach out.