"Consumables?"
#76
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I think of it as a new bike, but I liked the old one better. The frame welds were finished much better on the 2006. I have 2 other touring bikes, a Surly LHT and a Cannondale T2, but the Bianchi is still my favorite bike. However, part of the reason for that might have something to do with sentimental value.
I have to ask--you preferred the frame that failed while still under warranty? Why? Not a sarcastic question, I'm just curious about your reasoning, which I fully expect to be sound and I suspect reflects an interesting story,
#77
Senior Member
Chains, bearings, tires, cables, grease, lube and bar tape need replaced a number of times each year. If an item wears out in a year or less, I keep the item in stock
Steel cassettes (SRAM Red) last me around 30,000 miles and chain rings longer still. I don't generally stock these.
I've never worn out a stem, handlebar or rims. I have broken lots of stuff including steel, aluminum, and magnesium frames. For instance. potholes love to consume my aluminum rims but they have never killed any of my carbon rims. So, I just use carbon rims now.
Steel cassettes (SRAM Red) last me around 30,000 miles and chain rings longer still. I don't generally stock these.
I've never worn out a stem, handlebar or rims. I have broken lots of stuff including steel, aluminum, and magnesium frames. For instance. potholes love to consume my aluminum rims but they have never killed any of my carbon rims. So, I just use carbon rims now.
#78
Senior Member
2006-- Bianchi replaced the frame for this small crack. Note the welds, and quality of the paint job. Once I got used to the color, I really liked it. The crack is located where the top tube connects to the the head tube.
2013-- The welds were neat but they look like someone forgot to finish them. The powder coat finish was rough until I rubbed it down with some polishing compound.
The main thing why I like the 2006 is that it was the bike I rode across the US, and other memorable tours. It served me well. Some things I like about the 2013 are the fork has rack mounts on the fork blade, and I could get a 57.5 cm frame rather than the 58 cm. With my build, I appreciate the shorter top tube even if it is only a small amount.
Last edited by Doug64; 08-03-22 at 03:22 PM.
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#79
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There are a couple reasons why I liked the 2006 frame better than the 2013 frame. The 2006 frame was painted which looked much better than the powder coated 2013 frame. The welds were finished on the 2006, unlike the welds on the 2013.
2006-- Bianchi replaced the frame for this small crack. Note the welds, and quality of the paint job. Once I got used to the color, I really liked it. The crack is located where the top tube i
2013-- The welds were neat but they look like someone forgot to finish them. The powder coat finish was rough until I rubbed it down with some polishing compound.
The main thing I like the 2006 is that it was the bike I rode across the US, and other memorable tours. It served me well. Some things I like about the 2013 are the fork has rack mounts on the fork blade, and I could get a 57.5 cm frame rather than the 28. With my build, I appreciate the shorter top tube even if it is only a small amount.
2006-- Bianchi replaced the frame for this small crack. Note the welds, and quality of the paint job. Once I got used to the color, I really liked it. The crack is located where the top tube i
2013-- The welds were neat but they look like someone forgot to finish them. The powder coat finish was rough until I rubbed it down with some polishing compound.
The main thing I like the 2006 is that it was the bike I rode across the US, and other memorable tours. It served me well. Some things I like about the 2013 are the fork has rack mounts on the fork blade, and I could get a 57.5 cm frame rather than the 28. With my build, I appreciate the shorter top tube even if it is only a small amount.
Very cool that they replaced a 2006 frame in 2013. Just asking because of the location and I don't know anything about welding, but was the crack related to the weld? I've never seen a crack like that at that location.
If I rode a bike across the US, I'd find it hard to let it go as well.
#80
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,670
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
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It's probably a perspective thing--you may be the only person to whom that particular bike would seem to be the same one because you've used it the same way throughout its entire transition. Someone else would probably think that it's a 2013 bike, not the 2006 bike because they weren't there.
BTW, I'm going to guess that if, hypothetically, you had tried to sell it in 2014, you wouldn't have been telling people it was a 2006 bike, and I think that would be entirely honest and fair to call it a 2013 bike with some 2006 parts on it. I also think it's completely reasonable that for your own purposes, it's really the 2006 bike. I love questions with 2 completely different, plausible answers that are contradictory.
BTW, I'm going to guess that if, hypothetically, you had tried to sell it in 2014, you wouldn't have been telling people it was a 2006 bike, and I think that would be entirely honest and fair to call it a 2013 bike with some 2006 parts on it. I also think it's completely reasonable that for your own purposes, it's really the 2006 bike. I love questions with 2 completely different, plausible answers that are contradictory.
Perhaps we can't have a "what" without a "when"...
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#81
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I can't speak for Doug64, but I tend to think of my bikes as much for their role in my stable, as what they physically are. My rando bike is only a frame (not fork), saddle, and rear brake away from raising the Ship of Theseus question, but even if I replaced those parts, it would still be "my rando bike" to me. Similarly, Doug64 could reasonably say "my Volpe touring bike" in reference to any of his configurations of parts, even if more of the story might be necessary for some discussions.
Perhaps we can't have a "what" without a "when"...
Perhaps we can't have a "what" without a "when"...
So bikes are 4 dimensional objects.
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#82
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,670
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
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