3T adds the Strada Italia to complete its made-in-Italy trilogy of bikes

3T the brand best known for its Exploro range of gravel bikes has released a new all-road bike that is made in Italy. The Strade Italia has been optimised around 30-35mm tyres putting it at the more conservative end of the all-road spectrum with other brands heading closer to the 40mm mark.

3T says that the new bike aims to, “maximise the rider’s performance with a perfect balance between comfort and aerodynamics.” This has been partly achieved with the wide tyre clearance but also with an aerodynamically optimised frameset that tucks the rear wheel up close to the bottom bracket.

• Read more: New 3T Extrema Italia blurs boundaries between gravel bike and mountain bike

In making the Strade Italia, 3T looked at three performance metrics for the carbon used in the frameset, these being reactivity, handling and comfort. Using the same filament winding process as both the other Italian-made models, the Extrema and Racemax allowed the engineers to have control over the specifics of the carbon layup process.

© 3T

The Strade Italia will also be available in a Project X 'naked finish' to show off the bikes carbon weave

To create a reactive frame the Strade Italia has short chainstays that give the effect of a snappy and responsive ride. This paired with the stiffness of the frame aims to make the bike feel reactive to the inputs of a rider.

It is understood that creating a totally stiff bike is not necessarily the best route to go when designing a bike. Instead blending stiffness in some axis and compliance in others will give a more composed and predictable ride. Following this vein, 3T has aimed to find a balance between stiffness and compliance at the head tube to provide some damping from harsh road noise whilst maintaining a precise chassis.

• Read more: What are the latest bike tech trends that you should know about?

Comfort has not just come from the ability to fit the bike with wider rubber. The aero curve on the lower section of the seat tube has allowed the engineers at 3T to incorporate vertical compliance in the frame that it claims does not compromise energy transfer.

The new bike has been designed with its own geometry to allow the rider to adopt a more aerodynamic position than on the Extrema gravel bike. 3T has used its Integrale technology, Aeroflux carbon bars, and carbon MORE stem to allow the rider to dial in their optimal position while concealing the hydraulic hoses internally.

© 3T

The downtube flares to shield water bottles from the wind in the name of aerodynamic efficiency

The profile of the frame itself makes the most of the UCI’s more relaxed aerodynamic regulations with the deep silhouette of the head tube an obvious example. On the downtube, the frame has been tailored to act as an aerodynamic shield for water bottles all in the hunt for wind-cheating efficiency.

Price and build options

3T will be making the Strade Italia available as both a frame-only and complete bike.

Strade Italia frameset

• Available in Verde, Bianco or Rosso colourways
• Includes 3T More Integrale Stem and 3T Aeroflux LTD handlebar
• £5,487 / €5,999 / $6,599

Strada Italia Ready to Paint frameset

• Includes 3T More Integrale Stem and 3T Aeroflux LTD handlebar
• £5,762 / €6,299 / $6,999
• Strada Italia Project X - €6,499

Strade Italia Rival AXS

• Available in Verde, Bianco or Rosso colourways
• SRAM Rival AXS 2x12 groupset
• Zipp 303S wheelset
• 3T More Integrale Stem and 3T Aeroflux LTD handlebar
• £7,226 / €7,899 / $8,699

Strade Italia Ultegra

• Available in Verde, Bianco or Rosso colourways
• Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset
• Discus 45I32 LTD wheelset
• 3T More Integrale Stem and 3T Aeroflux LTD handlebar
• £8,414 / €9,199 / $10,199

Strade Italia Force AXS

• Available in Verde, Bianco or Rosso colourways
• SRAM Force AXS 2x12 groupset
• Discus 45I32 LTD wheelset
• 3T More Integrale Stem and 3T Aeroflux LTD handlebar
• £8,414 / €9,199 / $10,599

Strade Italia Project X Force AXS

• Project X ‘naked finish’ frameset
• SRAM Force AXS 2x12 groupset
• Discus 45I32 LTD wheelset with carbon-Ti hubs
• 3T More Integrale Stem and 3T Aeroflux LTD handlebar
• £9,604 / €10,499 / $11,599

What do you make of the latest range from 3T? Let us know in the comments section below and for more tech news head over to the dedicated tech news section of the GCN website.

3T

3T is a component and frame manufacturer, known for making innovative aero gravel bikes.