Bianchi’s Latest Gravel Bike Goes Carbon: The Arcadex

Bianchi just stepped its gravel offerings up a notch. The Arcadex is the Italian brand’s first carbon gravel bike, and it delivers the features you expect out of a modern gravel bike along with a few extra details to set the bike apart.

PELOTON

As a gravel specific bike, the Arcadex has clearance for up to 700×42 or 650×47 tires, allowing it to tackle rougher terrain. Rack and fender compatibility add extra versatility to the bike, making it ready for overnight bikepacking trips.

Bianchi’s extensive experience making bikes shows through in a few details on the Arcadex. The tube shapes have been aerodynamically optimized, with the brand no doubt applying some of the knowledge gained from designing aero road bike frames like the Oltre XR4. Aero features include a wide fork stance which, in addition to clearing plenty of tires and muck, reduces the turbulence of the airflow on the bike’s front end. The seat stays are also aerodynamically shaped, so this bike should be pretty quick. Handlebars with 16 degrees of flare, and a aero-degree stem help you stay in perfect control while you carry all that speed off road.

A custom head tube design and spacer system, along with a headset that is compatible with aero ACR stems, offer a streamlined front end and an additional aero advantage. We’re also intrigued by the head tube, which appears to have indentations on either side. We’re not sure if it’s another aero design feature or a design touch simply meant to set the Arcadex apart, but either way it’s an intriguing detail.

There are two versions available: a GRX 600 1x model that retails for $3,400 and a GRX 810 1x model that costs $3,800. But you aren’t limited to just 1x, or mechanical drivetrains for that matter. The Arcadex is compatible with 2x groups as well as Shimano Di2 (and SRAM’s wireless eTap AXS groups as well of course). The GRX 600 version comes painted in half “gold storm,” half “blue note,” while the GRX 810 version swaps out the gold color for the brand’s iconic celeste paint. The frame weight comes out to 1,100 grams, with the fork adding 480 grams

Pricing

GRX 600 1x — $3,400

GRX 810 1x — $3,800

Each version comes in five sizes: XS, SM, MD, LG, XL

More info: bianchi.com