Banzai

Just recently got one for the wife, since she wanted an all-rounder to take up cycling. She likes it.

A few of my observations:

Nice geometry for an all-rounder. Not truly a cross bike, it's like Bianchi made a "gravel" bike before anyone invented the latest marketing niche.

Tiagra hubs aren't blingy, but like all Shimano hubs, they are exceptional at the price point.

Holy buckets, it's heavy. Feels like a tank next to my steel Ritchey Breakaway cross. I don't really have any weight weenie stuff on the Ritchey either (105, Brooks saddle, 32 spoke wheels), so nearly all that weight has to be in the frame.

Barrettscv 

A lighter saddle and wheelset could reduce weight significantly. The Volpe is a sports/touring model built for toughness. Many of those components are excessively heavy and built for loaded touring. If your wife is normal weight, you can go to lighter components.

Troy Winter

volpe.jpg

I like my Volpe.

Banzai

I dunno.

For comparison:

My Ritchey:
CrMo Steel frame.
CF fork with AL steerer. (It's a burly CF fork too.)
Ritchey Comp alloy seatpost.
Ritchey Pro alloy stem.
FSA alloy bars.
105 shifters and derailers.
V-brakes.
Ultegra triple crankset.
Velocity A23 rims, Dura Ace hubs, 28/32 spoke wheels.
Brooks saddle.

Her Volpe:
CrMo steel frame.
CrMo steel fork.
Deda alloy seatpost. (I replaced the boat anchor that came with it.)
Alloy stem.
Alloy bars.
Tiagra shifters and derailers.
Canti brakes.
Tiagra triple crankset.
Tiagra hubs, Alex rims, 36 spoke.
Brooks saddle.

All told, while the Volpe's components are heavier, by my quick mental math I don't think they add up to the significant weight differential. Just hoisting them, I think her Volpe is at LEAST 5 lbs heavier than my bike, maybe more. When I hang her bike, the wall hook bends in ways that it just doesn't with my Ritchey.

While I think I can save about 1 lb with some component changes, I think that's about it. It's my belief that most of the weight is in the frame.

She likes it, and rides it, which is what counts, so I don't point out my own complaints. But I'm not terribly impressed with the frame weight. It's like gas-pipe. Would have probably come out better on weight with a Surly, which are not known for being particularly light. Oh well.

flargle

Weigh them on a scale FFS.

bikemig 

I picked up a 1996 bianchi volpe recently and rebuilt it. I thought the bike and the parts were well thought out for its intended use which is an all rounder that might see touring duty. Not a light bike but certainly not a heavy one in its category (a steel touring bike). I also think the bike handles exceptionally well.

Banzai

Maybe someday. I don't want to break them down to do so. Adding up component weights though leads me to the conclusion that the frame is much, much heavier than my Ritchey.

Darth Lefty 

I like Volpes. They fit the category as it has been for ages. It's built from components that will last and has features for light touring or commuting. It certainly has zero effort spent making it light weight, though. It's not unique, there are similar bikes of various trim levels from other manufacturers throughout the ages, but maybe it's unique to have survived so long.

Banzai

She likes her bike. I like it.

Given the popularity, I was quite stunned by the weight, particularly when compared to what seemed a comparable bike in my Ritchey Breakaway CX.

aquateen

you're comparing a higher end performance cx bike with an off the shelf average touring bike. apples to oranges. it's great that your wife likes it.

Banzai

Hmmm. Guess I never considered my Ritchey a higher end bike. My favorite bike, sure, but it's kind of neat to also think of it as high end.

I'm going to put my wife's bike on a weight loss plan. Starting with the wheels. After that, the crank and fork. We'll see how much I can shed off it.

I'd like to get it close to my Ritchey in weight.

aquateen

i wouldn't recommend that. touring bikes are built heavy for a reason; thick tubing is used so that they can carry heavy luggage. you will end up spending a lot of money for not much gain. that being said, you said your wife was already happy with the bike. why change anything?

Banzai

Because. And it's not a "true" touring bike. Designated as an all-rounder, I really expected something a bit lighter. Not a featherweight, but lighter.

I think the fork might be the main culprit. The front end is H-E-A-V-Y.

Perhaps one of the Tange Prestige forks will shed some weight. I have a Tange Infinity fork on one of my bikes that doesn't feel nearly as heavy on the front end. Certainly a CF fork will improve things, but for a lot more money.

mstateglfr 

So you continually say she likes it, but its too heavy for your standards and expectations, so its time to mess with it.

Banzai

I like to tinker.

Besides, like many, she started wanting a "do everything" bike, despite my advice to the contrary. As she rides, she gains confidence, and is talking about entering events, rather than just tooling around.

So, n+1 notwithstanding, trying to preemptively make some weight reductions.

And I like to tinker. I just replaced the brakes on my Ritchey for no better reason than I want to try something else. And I'm itching to build more wheels. So, some lighter wheels are in the forecast, at a minimum. Going to replace the Tiagra/Alex rims with Dura Ace /Velocity A23.

Murray Missile 

'89 Volpe I finished a few weeks ago.......

fishboat

Have you done the wheels?..if so I'd be interested in what you went to and why..also what was your weight savings.

On another note..you mention the Volpe(a tourer) is quite heavy compared to your Ritchey..so it begs the question..how would your Ritchey do as a touring bike? (Not being a smart-a$#..I'm interested in gravel-bikes as touring conversions..the Volpe is sold as a touring/gravel bike..interested in other, similar-use bikes)

fishboat

Nice..very nice.

Murray Missile 

Thanks, had it on CL for 2 months and only had one hit and that was a tire kicker. I may mothball it and try to find an '89-ish Volpe frame in my size next year.

Banzai

Re-configured the Volpe with Dura Ace hubs and Velocity A23 rims, and replaced the very heavy cassette with a 105 cassette.

Now the fundamental difference between our bikes is the crank; my Ritchey has an Ultegra triple, and the Volpe has a Tiagra triple.

The Volpe is still noticeably heavier...the frame seems to be the source of most of the weight at this point. But it is noticeably lighter than it was.

I think the Ritchey would do exactly as well as the Volpe on tour. The Volpe's only advantage is the mid - fork eyelets.

GeneO 

Just get on a scale holding the bike and not. Then subtract. Why would you need to break them down? Or do you want to know the difference in weight of the frames only?

Cyclist0108

Weigh yourself. Pick the bike up and weigh yourself plus the bike. Subtract the first result from the second, and it gives you the weight of the bike plus twice the experimental error of the scale (which is probably less than a pound).

Cyclist0108

Woops.

GeneO 

Lol

Banzai

Frame only is what I'm curious about. Now that the components are darn near equalized, I want to figure out where that porkiness is.