Is steel the real deal? During the last club run as the sun started to disappear behind the hills the conversation turned to a good winter trainer for a +1. Having really enjoyed my Carbon bike over the last few weeks on Sportives and club rides I am seriously considering going back to steel. With that in mind I popped into my local Bike shop and immediately fell in love with the look of the new Vigorelli from Bianchi. Before I could say 0% finance the pedals were on and the test ride was underway! The Shimano 105 groupset is concise as you would expect and the Kevlar reinforced carbon forks made for a smooth ride.There’s a connection there that entices you to just sit and spin, as that’s what the frame seems to want. You can bang in a big gear – or stand up and sprint – but acceleration is more of a firm waft than an explosion. It does still cover ground efficiently, climbs keenly and descends with assuredness. The Vigorelli takes its name from the famous velodrome in Milan steeped in history and tradition. The bike straight from the factory falls short of that tradition with the finishing kit. If I were to consider buying this bike at £1500 a budget for a wheel upgrade would need to be considered. To summarise it looks great with that celeste paint and rides as well a steel bike should. 8 out of 10 Technical features