In 2008 Cento 1 was the bike that not only won the 2008 World Championships under Alessandro Ballan, but also finished second under his teammate, Damiano Cunego.
Perhaps more importantly it’s been one of the best reviewed bikes on the road since its initial launch in 2006 to commemorate Wilier’s 100th anniversary . Having gone through a few redesigns since then peloton has been anxious to test the bike. We just received our test Cento 1 and are currently building it up with 2011 Campagnolo Super Record. We want to find out what allthe fuss is about.
A frame weight of 1050 grams is light, but not super light. Wilier has created a frame light enough to build a highly UCI illegal bike, but it won’t win any battles on the scale. The focus seems to have been ride quality first, and it’s a focus we couldn’t agree more with.
They utilize high modulus 46 ton carbon for the bike, sourced from Mitsubishi, rather than more traditional bike sources like Toray. Wilier believes it is the best carbon for their patented variable tube wall thickness. The front end of the bike has a fairly traditional look, rather square, but not a standout aesthetic. The rear of the bike is where things really catch your eye. The BB is molded into massive tube junctions and the chain stays set a new standard for asymmetrical. Those chain stays loop up to meet the seat stays in one uninterrupted tube, with dropouts seamlessly integrated, allowing carbon fibers to run uncut throughout the rear end. It’s as beautiful as it is robust.
Peloton will spend the next few weeks riding and racing the Cento1 to bring you a complete review in the pages of peloton magazine. Stay tuned.
Frame MSRP: $3999.00