Steel Bike Sunday: Wilier Superleggera

After sneak peaking the Wilier Superleggera last Fall, I finally rode it around the lake (it was a long winter). And, what you need to know is, it took bike carbon manufacturers 25 years to replicate the steel ride, but only at the top end.

Wilier Superleggera

There are many reasons for the ride quality: the tubing has stood the test of time and Wilier obsesses over feel and handling like no other brand of bike I’ve reviewed. Specialized and Trek come close, but they’re not making a steel road bike. Instead, they’re just two of the companies that have spent most of their existence refining carbon to ride like Columbus SL and the Superleggaro.

If you are into the bike, as a hobby or lifestyle, I strongly recommend you add a steel whip to your quiver. It’s like vinyl for an audiophile, shooting b/w for a photographer, or eating street-vending noodles for a foodie.

By grounding your aesthetics in the basics, you can better understand and appreciate the latest tech. Speaking of that, the Superleggera I have in is built up with Campy Chorus and Scirocco wheels, and Cinelli bar and stem.

If the sun is out and I’m riding road, the Wilier is my choice for this summer. Riding steel doesn’t have to be a new Italian build, see Mark V’s Sannino build.  The main selling point of the Superleggera is it’s a handbuilt product with a nod to the past and completely new and renovated fine finishes.

In person, it’s gorgeous.

Specs

Wilier sent me the Campagnolo Chorus build that retails for about $4800 USD.

Also published on Medium.

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