The Bianchi Camaleonte has now been discontinued. To see the best prices for second hand Bianchi Camaleonte bikes CLICK HERE, for other available Bianchi products CLICK HERE.
The company Bianchi have been manufacturing bikes for one hundred and twenty years, in a world where cycling is becoming ever more popular. Their design is constantly evolving and developing. The Camaleonte is a result of this knowledge and expertise.
Bianchi have set a trend with the Camaleonte – this bike really ticks all the boxes for the modern bicycle rider. It looks stylish, yet it’s practical and it handles really well. One of its best points though, is that it’s comfortable to ride. Comfort is a good selling point for any bike. If a bicycle has all the bells and whistles, but it doesn’t feel comfortable, then it may not be the biggest seller.
Frame
The Camaleonte has a well-built aluminium frame, with pannier rack bosses and eyelets for mudguards affixed to it. The addition of these types of mounting points is not uncommon these days. They give the Camaleonte a look of style balanced with sensible practicality.
Group Set
Does the Camaleonte live up to this promise? Well, one thing that is missing is the famous Campagnolo group-set. This is a surprise because the Camaleonte is very much an Italian bike and it would seem that a group-set from Campagnolo would be the perfect match. The fact is, Campagnolo do not manufacture a triple group-set for a mountain bike.
The group-set, or in Italian, Gruppo, is one of the most important parts of a bicycle, after the frame. Bianchi have chosen a group-set by Shimano to work the brakes, the gears and the running of the drivetrain. Bianchi may have chosen a Shimano Deore group-set because Shimano gear is so reliable.
The Shimano mountain bike triple group-set has a small inner chainring and a wide ratio gear-change cassette. Being the reliable group-set that it is, this piece of equipment works brilliantly on the Bianchi bike. It actually works well enough to win the “which is the best hybrid bike?” competition between the Bianchi and Wilier hybrid bikes.
Premium Hybrid
The company Bianchi have chosen to call this bike the Camaleonte, which is a word that means Chameleon in English. This name hints at the intentions that Bianchi had for their new hybrid bicycle. The Camaleonte really is a bit of a chameleon and the rider is able to change the types of riding they want to do from day to day. This bike goes from mountain climber to road bike fairly easily.
The mountain bike group-set allows this bike to do some hard riding up into the hills, but it also functions well as a town bike, or for commuters. The Hutchinson Urban Tour tyres are sticky and grippy on a flat surface or an incline. On the Camaleonte it’s also possible to change these tyres for some that are fatter and head off-road for some fast action. That’s a good line up of abilities for a single bike. It certainly is a hybrid and as the name Camaleonte, or Chameleon suggests, it’s a versatile machine.
By taking a more detailed look, you can see that the hydro-formed aluminium tubes and the alloy fork are the specifications that add sprightliness and comfort to this bike. Some of the other great gear featured on this bike is the Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and the Selle Royal VIPER Saddle. The wheels have TEC Logo rims and Shimano FMRH-66 hubs.
Riding position
The almost upright riding position on the Camaleonte was not a problem. Speed is usually gained when a rider crouches down lower over the handlebars, but the close-to-vertical riding position did not seem to slow the rider down. It adds to the feeling of comfort and the rider is then happy to stay on the bike for longer. This bike is generally swift and zippy to ride, even though it’s actually fairly heavy at the weight of 12 kg.
The mechanics of the Bianchi Camaleonte are excellent. This includes the grips, the levers, the pedals and the saddle. The brakes also work very well, so overall this is a bike you can have confidence in, as well as enjoy riding on.
Conclusion
When choosing a hybrid bike from the many that are available, check all the specifications before you decide. Manufacturers are in inventive mode these days, so each bike is going to quite different, based on the gear that a bike been assembled with. In other words, some hybrids are better for road-biking, some are better for mountain climbing. The rider needs to know exactly what sort of riding he/she is going to be doing before having a serious look at all the cycles that are available.
The Bianchi Camaleonte has flat handlebars which make handling and cornering just that much easier. The price of this bike is close to £1,000, but its varying capabilities ensure that this price is not too steep. The Bianchi may be the best overall package in a hybrid bike, because it’s a mountain bike, a commuter bike and a road bike all in one. That’s hard to beat for any bike.