Road Test/Bike Review (1986) BIANCHI Volpe
01-25-21, 01:21 PM
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Road Test/Bike Review (1986) BIANCHI Volpe
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01-25-21, 03:12 PM
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I had an '89 with Suntour Command levers. It was too small for me, but it was weirdly long. Something like a 48st with 54tt.
01-26-21, 10:13 AM
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I don't think I've ever seen a BIANCHI Volpe in the wild.
I'm pretty sure I've seen a photo of one posted in C & V though, but the strap bosses didn't stick out for me to be curious about them.
I'm stuck between thinking it was a bike ahead of its time by decades, or one that tried to appeal to too many areas of cycling.
I'm pretty sure I've seen a photo of one posted in C & V though, but the strap bosses didn't stick out for me to be curious about them.
I'm stuck between thinking it was a bike ahead of its time by decades, or one that tried to appeal to too many areas of cycling.
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WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
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WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
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01-26-21, 11:07 AM
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If this review was from '86, I think that was the first year of production for the Volpe. It's still made today..rather a long run for any model..they must be doing something right.
I had a '96 in "Gang Green" color (sort of a dark-ish seafoam green(not celeste) and red decals). It's a very comfortable "all-rounder". Not a lightweight, but most bikes, even many pricey new ones, aren't either. I ran 38mm tires on mine..cushy and fast ride. Ovalized tubing in the main triangle. It had a Tiagra group on it, 9 speed triple. Shifted like butter. Cane Creek cantis. I did one tour with it with a 28lb load. Worked fine. Given all the gravely bike designs available today, with room for larger tires, the Volpe in '86 was ahead of it's time to some extent. (Although bikes have ridden on gravel/dirt roads for over 100 years)
I had a '96 in "Gang Green" color (sort of a dark-ish seafoam green(not celeste) and red decals). It's a very comfortable "all-rounder". Not a lightweight, but most bikes, even many pricey new ones, aren't either. I ran 38mm tires on mine..cushy and fast ride. Ovalized tubing in the main triangle. It had a Tiagra group on it, 9 speed triple. Shifted like butter. Cane Creek cantis. I did one tour with it with a 28lb load. Worked fine. Given all the gravely bike designs available today, with room for larger tires, the Volpe in '86 was ahead of it's time to some extent. (Although bikes have ridden on gravel/dirt roads for over 100 years)
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01-26-21, 12:30 PM
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I don't think I've ever seen a BIANCHI Volpe in the wild.
I'm pretty sure I've seen a photo of one posted in C & V though, but the strap bosses didn't stick out for me to be curious about them.
I'm stuck between thinking it was a bike ahead of its time by decades, or one that tried to appeal to too many areas of cycling.
I'm pretty sure I've seen a photo of one posted in C & V though, but the strap bosses didn't stick out for me to be curious about them.
I'm stuck between thinking it was a bike ahead of its time by decades, or one that tried to appeal to too many areas of cycling.
I never really understood what exactly the Volpe is... not quite a touring bike, not quite a cyclocross bike... But they do have a reputation as excellent commuters.
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01-26-21, 05:12 PM
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That's the beauty of it! I consider my Gang Green 2006 Volpe an über-hybrid - it's pretty good at everything - it's not the fastest, but by no means slow. It's not the lightest, but by no means heavy. It can handle fire roads, gravel, and hardpack, even a little loose stuff. It can carry stuff, as long as it's not too heavy, and it doesn't have the stiff, non-compliant frame of a true heavy tourer. It fits the Grant Peterson "all-rounder" role. It was a gravel grinder before there were gravel grinders. I would LOVE to have one of the older lugged frames.
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