WILIER TRIESTINA CENTO10 NDR
Wilier’s resilient Roubaix rival
NDR is a shortening of endurance, but its Italian heritage ensures this is no sit-up and chill riding position. A 604mm stack and 389mm reach for our XL test bike places it at the sporty end of sportive. It’s also at the comfortable end thanks to its ‘Actiflex’-equipped rear seat stays. It’s an interesting concept. Most rear-end suspension comfort derives from the forward and back movement afforded in the seat tube and post, seen most clearly with Trek’s Isospeed. Here, however, there’s separation at the junction between seat stays and seat tube; the connection between the two is through the Actiflex section. This polymer’s fixed on a horizontal plane yet compresses vertically, creating movement when needed, while the distance between saddle and bottom bracket stays constant. That eliminates bobbing. It’s rider tuneable with three durometers (densities) of Actiflex insert available and easy to change via an Allen key. The additional junction and inserts elevate frame weight to 1080g. That’s a small penalty when facing rough terrain.
On the road, the back end doesn’t feel as active as an Isospeed-equipped Trek or Specialized’s Roubaix, but that’s no bad thing as it’s remarkably smooth. The generous-width 28c tyres – there’s room for 32s – help here. The Wilier’s handling is what I’d call spirited. The steep seat angle means you can set the short Prologo saddle in the optimal position over the cranks.
That and the lower-than-average endurance front end makes for quick yet balanced handling. The chassis feels suitably taut and responds superbly to sprinting pedal inputs.
The Wilier/Miche-produced wheels feature a 38mm-deep blunt-edged profile rim and are tubeless ready. The internal width of 17mm is narrower than contemporary designs but suited to tyres up to 28mm. Miche’s hubs are smooth, and the 1665g weight for a pair is more than acceptable.
Killing road buzz
Upfront, Wilier’s-own carbon stem and bar, poetically named Stemm and Barra, are nicely finished – as is the integration between stem and head tube that helps to conceal cable routing internally for a clean-looking bike. It’s not just a visual treat, with the Barra bar’s carbon layup killing road buzz for a front end that matches the rear.
Shimano Ultegra Di2 with 50/34 chainset and broad 11-32 cassette is pretty much the optimal choice for long days and long climbs, although you might think for five grand you’d expect Dura-Ace. That might have been the case a few years back but not now. But don’t worry. Ultegra works as well as Dura-Ace and is only a few grams heavier. That might matter to the pros but, unless you have a serious amount of disposable income, opt for Ultegra and spend the difference on riding somewhere nice.
Where I do have concerns is Wilier’s tyre choice. Vittoria’s standard Rubinos aren’t bad and are popular, but on bikes a third of the Wilier’s RRP. They roll okay and are pretty tough, but compared to better tyres – like Vittoria’s own Corsa range – they feel a little sluggish. Unfortunately, the Rubinos are more safety boot than sprinter’s spikes. I switched out the NDR’s wheels for a set of similar carbon wheels with 28mm Vittoria Corsa G+ tyres fitted and the bike really sparkled.
All in all, the Cento10 NDR lives up to Wilier’s 100-year-plus history of making innovative and beautiful road bikes. It handles and rides with resolute comfort and confidence, and rolling on better rubber would only enhance that. (Also, check out the Ramato finish that the NDR is also available in. Delicious!)
The Actiflex system is ridertuneable with three inserts available