Wilier Triestina Lavaredo

With cycling in the UK being on the increase thanks to climbing fuel prices and the government’s bike to work scheme the £1000 mark for bikes is getting pretty crowded. What, if anything can the Wilier bring to the party with their Lavaredo?

Looking at the spec sheet not a lot to be honest, but as the old adage goes ‘never judge a book by its cover’ and for this bike it’s never been more apt. The ride is very good, solid and surefooted with very little road buzz thanks to the triple butted aluminium frame. A claimed weight of 4.4lb (2kg) for the frame and fork isn’t bad and builds into a bike weighing 20lb which considering the rrp and the spec isn’t to be sniffed at. You can feel the weight under acceleration but once you’re rolling the pace can be kept up with very little effort. The frame is very stiff, likewise the fork (carbon/alloy steerer) so if you do need to get a move on your effort goes straight to the back wheel.

Considering it's no lightweight it also climbs pretty well, the low gears help keep a steady rythym and once you get to the top it decends like a race bike should. Weld quality is tidy except for around the bottom bracket area which is a shame but the striking paint job does its best to cover it. The Italians do know a thing or two about style and this is where the Lavaredo shines. The thick bright red paint does give a feel good factor especially when the suns out and you do get some admiring glances from fellow riders.

Admittedly Mirage is one of Campag’s low end groupsets but it does perform well and looks more expensive than Shimano’s offerings at a similar spec point. Once you’ve got through the initial agricultural bedding in period both up and down shifts were solid and precise, front and rear. A Miche 10spd 11-25t cassette and Campag Xenon compact 50-34t chainset provide a good spread of gears for almost all instances, it’s good to see the 11t sprocket in there for that village sign sprint. The brakes are Veloce which is nice to see a bike manufacturer upgrading here rather than downgrading as so many do. Odd as it may sound good brakes make you faster, if you can have total faith in your stoppers you can leave braking until the last minute which keeps the average speed up. Campagnolo brakes are the best in my opinion and the Veloce callipers certainly don’t change my mind.

The Miche wheels, while no lightweights, are solid performers and also look flash enough to fit in with the rest of the bike. They stayed true throughout the test period during some pretty rubbish weather and the ongoing pot hole situation. As far as the tyres concerned the Rigida steel beaded are pretty basic stuff and take a lot away from the ride unfortunately. Puncture resistance was 100% though and there was no marks or cuts on the tyre after 900 odd miles. If this was my bike I’d leave these wheels on for the commute but have a lighter set with decent tyres for the weekends and it would totally transform the ride.

Ritchey contact points are always a good start. I personally think they make some of the nicest bars and stems on the market for the money. Aluminium is to be expected but they’re no heavyweights and flex was minimal. The Selle Italia QBIK saddle was very comfortable even though it didn’t look like it was going to be. It was quite stiff with not a lot of give but once I’d become accustomed to it no problems to report.

The Wilier may look like an out and out race bike but that’s not the case, it’s capable of a lot lot more. The Lavaredo is aimed at the bike to work scheme limit of a grand but it will be dismissed by the day in day out commuter due to the lack of provisions for mudguards. As a summer commuter or training bike it ticks all the boxes and due to the low gears will also work on the sportive campaign. it's a bike that makes you want to get out and ride which at the end of the day is what its all about.

Verdict

Much more than just a pretty race bike, an ideal summer commuter or training machine too