Bianchi Sempre vs Infinito

dubcat

Hi - i had a bit of a hiccup in my bike purchase but it has all turned out ok. I have the choice of one of two bikes, I just have to wait a few weeks longer. I can get either the Bianchi Sempre Ultegra or the Bianchi Infinito 105. I am confused which one to go for.

I know the Infinito is from the coast to coast (C2C) range and is more of a sportive bike for long distance riding. I know the Sempre is from the built for performance (B4P) range and is more of a race bike. I am not really sure what I need though.

This will be my first road bike. I have been riding a MTB until now. The purpose of the bike will be to enjoy road riding and one day to ride an ironman on (but the ironman part should not play too heavily in the decision). I can't see myself riding crits and short street races but at the same time I don't want to end up with a 'boring' soft wallowey bike.

If you have any questions you can ask me that might help me to decide, if you have tried both of these, or if you just have an opinion either way, please do let me know. I need to decide.

Cheers,
Dub

pickled

I have a Sempre which I've used in crits, road races, TT's with aero bars and 120 plus mile rides.
It does it all and I personally prefer the smaller head tube to the Infinito.
I do also have a mate with an Infinito that also does all of the above and he loves his too!

The Infinito certainly isn't soft and wallowy though, but I thought the Sempre definitely felt twitchier and stiffer.
Dunno if that helps at all!

dubcat

Pickled - have you ridden each others bikes? It does help as it's brilliant to know that you have ridden long distances on your Sempre. It gives me some faith that it is do-able. Of course you may just be very flexible and fit where as I am not so much!

Have you ridden each others bikes? Why do you love the smaller head tube? Remember I am a newbie

Sempre sounds cooler to my uneducated head based on it being more sporty however I am wondering what my 40 year old body which is new to road bikes will think of that!

If you and your mate were in the same boat as I am in what would you do? Since I am new to road bikes I can't see myself doing crits any time soon but I do plan to do some triathlons next year starting with sprints and moving my way up to ironman. For most of my riding I plan to do club riding.

pickled

I've not ridden his bike, but I have ridden one.
The Sempre has a slightly smaller head tube which allows you to ride less upright at the front that's all.
Either bike will be fine. I'm 41 and not the most flexible but I don't have any problems at all.
I'd personally lean toward the Sempre as It's cheaper!

dubcat

pickled wrote:

I've not ridden his bike, but I have ridden one.
The Sempre has a slightly smaller head tube which allows you to ride less upright at the front that's all.
Either bike will be fine. I'm 41 and not the most flexible but I don't have any problems at all.
I'd personally lean toward the Sempre as It's cheaper!

Thanks mate. Great info. My choices are sempre ultegra vs infinito 105. They cost exactly the same. If they are really that similar I am thinking the infinito might make more sense for the vibration damping features. I also read that the slightly longer frame may make it more suitable for TT bars due to increased stability and that would be nice for triathlons.

If you remove a spacer can you lower the bars on the infinito to reach a more aero position than its usual more 'sitting up' position?

cookeeemonster

Cant you get a test ride on them? That's normally the first thing people suggest when comparing bikes - and we're all different as to what suits us best.

Ride them and you'll know for sure!!

dubcat

I will needed to decide on the infinito once i have test ridden it. I won't get to try the sempre until two weeks later at least and by then the infinito will be gone (at the price i want it at).

smidsy

So they are both the same price yet one has a cheaper group set - to me that would suggest it should have a better frame as they have to save costs somewhere - then again it could just be overpriced for the 105....hmmmm...decisions.

dubcat

FYI i test road the infinito today, fell in love with it, and decided to buy it. Super happy

noodleman

Good decision!

Rench88

top decision! I went for the infinito as a first proper road bike and I'm loving it. I wish you many happy rides on it!

fatdaz

Had mine 3 days and done a little over 100 miles on it. Absolutely loving it and have broken 40 mph for the first time in years. Mind you I'm sure I'd have been happy with the Sempre as well

dubcat

I picked up the Infinito today. Evans were absolutely fantastic. More specifically Mark the manager at the Gatwick branch was amazing. He spent ages fitting the bike for me. I can't recommend this guy enough. Fantastic.

Anyway - got home and then got stuck with work stuff. Meanwhile it started raining, HARD. There was a respite in the rain around 6'ish. I donned the lycra (for the first time) and feeling rather self conscious I hit the road at 6.30pm.

The bike has exceeded my expectations. I loved it. Riding a road bike on the road (rather than a mtb) is very satisfying. I can't wait to get out again.

I got soaked as it started raining again. I froze my butt off as I did not take a jacket and was wearing shorts and a tight short sleeve top. Still, you couldn't wipe the grin off my face.

Here is my first ride on a road bike The bumpy roads were further conformation that for me the Infinito was a better choice than the Sempre. http://app.strava.com/rides/20200592