Wilier Triestina has officially launched his latest racing bike, the Verticale SLR – a climbing bike that we spotted earlier this month during the Criterium de Dauphine. Touted as the lightest bike yet, the Vertical SLR has undergone some pretty significant changes compared to its predecessor, the Wilier 0 SLR, with a weight reduction of almost 10%, all-new handlebars, a carbon layout and some changes to the frame design . . And the prices, well, they’ve remained at the top end – you’re looking at £9,000 for the ‘cheapest’ full build.
Wilier Vertical SLR – frame and component updates
For a climbing bike like the Vertical SLR, weight is important, and Wilier says the frame, seatpost and fork weigh 1,353 grams on the scale. That’s a lot lower than the outgoing 0 SLR, and if we add the Verticale’s new handlebars, we arrive at 1,663 grams compared to 1,819 grams for the 0 SLR.
All these parts together may be a less typical way of expressing weight in the press release land of the bicycle industry, as we are more used to seeing frameset or full bike weights; but compared to the components of other lightweight bikes and making some quick sums, it’s quite impressive if Wilier’s claims are true: the Specialized Aethos S-Works, for example, comes in at 1,230 grams for the same three parts, and that bike was specifically made to to ignore the UCI weight limit rules.
Sticking with Specialized, we calculate that the flagship Tarmac SL8, with a 680-gram frame, weighs 1,410 grams for frame, fork and seatpost, which would make Wilier’s offering the lightest in the pro peloton. We can’t vouch for Wilier’s frame being lighter, as not only does it give us a frame weight, but it seems like a very lightweight Vertical SLR build well under 6.8kg would be possible.
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Central to the new lightweight of the Vertical SLR are the premium carbon frame and the new integrated handlebars. The frame is made from three types of carbon fiber courtesy of Toray, a leading Japanese manufacturer: T800, T1100 and M46JB. According to the Italian brand, these fibers provide a combination of high tensile strength and superior torsional stiffness, keeping the bike light yet robust.
The selected carbon fibers are then “impregnated with special epoxy resins and prepared for use in pre-impregnated rolls, also called pre-preg, which are then cut into more than 400 contours with different types of shapes and reinforcement orientations,” Wilier explains.
In addition, Wilier has also used an “Active Molding” system on the frame, which uses “special foamed polymer counter-molds, which improve material consolidation and hardening during the curing process”.
New V-Bar handlebars
The new carbon monocoque handlebar – dubbed the ‘V-Bar’ by Wilier – is said to weigh 310 grams and features a unique shape with a narrower hood and wider drops – changes that Wilier claims improve aerodynamics and handling during sprints.
It goes without saying that since the UCI has addressed excessively tilted shifters this year, the new, narrower bar will deliver similar gains while adhering to the governing body’s regulations. This makes the new handlebars available in six widths ranging from 37 cm to 39 cm (measured on the hoods) and with stem lengths ranging from 90 to 150 mm stems.
Wilier says the new cockpit is compatible with all its other bikes, so you can upgrade your existing setup to the new one.
And of course, as was already the case with the 0 SLR and Wilier’s Aero road bike, the Filante SLR, the handlebars are fully integrated and the cables lie neatly (or perhaps painfully, if you’re a mechanic) in the bar.
Other frame updates
In addition to the frame material, the Vertical SLR also introduces some design changes compared to the Wilier 0 SLR.
Starting at the seat clamp – unlike the Wilier 0 SLR, the Vertical SLR’s seat post clamps diagonally from the bottom (from the inside of the frame triangle) instead of from the top. According to Wilier, this has taken some weight off this “critical point of the frame”. And speaking of the seat post, it has also been redesigned with two possible resets (0° and -15°) and features special holes for installing a rear light or racing number.
The Vertical SLR’s front derailleur is now repositionable and no longer riveted to the frame. This reduces linkage weight and provides greater versatility when mounting different cranksets, from compact to the oversized dinner plates the pros might use.
The rear dropout has also been redesigned to prevent rotation and increase reliability. The new cantilevered, replaceable dropout creates more space between the chain and seatstays, which Wilier claims should eliminate chain contact with the frame.
The fork has retained its asymmetrical shape and the right chainstay parts are lighter and thinner. “The challenge was to improve the weight and performance of a seemingly simple part,” said Wilier, highlighting how the rod housing the brake calipers is too large and the left fork bracket is twisted. Wilier said this shape is an improvement for two reasons: the improved orientation of the carbon fibers during rolling (to better respond to stresses) and the improved resistance to forces applied by the calipers during braking. The Kamm tail gives the fork more stiffness and improves the overall feel when braking. The fork crown has also been reinforced.
And finally, the frame is compatible with wireless and semi-wireless groupsets.
Wilier Verticale – geometry
Wilier says it has tweaked the frame and steering geometries of the Verticale SLR “for improved performance.” In reality, that means a slight change to the reach figures: it’s shorter for the XS and S sizes and longer for the XL and XXL sizes, compared to the classic Wilier geometry it uses on its other bikes.
There are still six size options available, and across the range you’ll also see slight changes to the wheelbase (shorter) and stack numbers (higher, though Wilier said they remain unchanged). Wilier said special attention has also been paid to the handlebars, in particular the tilt angle of the stem relative to the fork tube, which ranges from 7.5 to 10.5 degrees.
Wilier Triestina Vertical SLR – models and prices
As previously mentioned, the Vertical SLR is a premium performance bike, ridden by the professional teams Astana Qazaqstan and Groupama-FDJ, and the price tags match that premise of premium performance.
While the Filante SLR and 0 SLR both had a starting price of £9,710 (Wilier introduced a cheaper Filante SL last year), the cheapest Vertical SLR costs slightly less, at £9,000. With that build you get a Shimano Ultegra Di2 2×12 groupset, Miche Kleos 36 wheels and, as standard for all models, the V Bar cockpit, taillight and a computer mount.
You can also get a SRAM Force AXS 2×12 build with the same wheels for £9,200, or if you add a power meter to that you’re looking at £9,700.
The rest of the range comes with the same frameset, but rides on Miche Kleos Rd 36 wheels, and you’re looking at £11,000 for a Dura-Ace Di2 9270 build, or £12,200 with a power meter – and at the top end of the list range includes the SRAM Red AXS 2×12 build, retailing for £12,500. The frameset itself costs £5,500.
More information about the Verticale can be found on the Wilier website.