Bianchi Road Bike Opinions?
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 727
Bikes: Current: 2016 Bianchi Volpe; 1973 Peugeot UO-8. Past: 1974 Fuji S-10-S with custom black Imron paint by Stinsman Racing of PA.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 215 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times
in
142 Posts
I have a Bianchi Volpe (they list it as all road). I wanted a steel framed bike with rim brakes for road and gravel. It meets all my expectations. It is black with silver components so it looks more traditional, but with indexed shifting and 10 speed cassette, but not as traditional as the 1973 Fuji I was still riding. 3 years now and no issues. Ditched the original heavy 28mm touring tires and use light tubes and light 28mm tires (a massive improvement). I also replaced the OEM saddle with a Brooks C-17.
#53
Junior Member
Old thread but new to Bianchi. After not cycling for 20 plus years got a used Specialized, good bike but just not quite "there" for fit. Then had a Pinarello and tried/borrowed a few more bikes Trek, Giant, etc and all had good qualities just never quite right. Then tried the Aria... Omg! This bike just fit me to a T! I didn't want to get off it.
Then a friend let me borrow his Bianchi Oltre XR3 with Di2, I was completely blown away, again I could ride that bike 24/7 if my legs didn't give out. Well I could never afford a bike like that. He works at a bike shop and can get what ever he wants and let me have it for an incredible price, I'll be forever grateful for the bike and his generosity, it's my baby.
I will forever chat up how amazing Bianchi is to anyone that will listen. If anyone is thinking about a Bianchi they are simply are that amazing imo.
Then a friend let me borrow his Bianchi Oltre XR3 with Di2, I was completely blown away, again I could ride that bike 24/7 if my legs didn't give out. Well I could never afford a bike like that. He works at a bike shop and can get what ever he wants and let me have it for an incredible price, I'll be forever grateful for the bike and his generosity, it's my baby.
I will forever chat up how amazing Bianchi is to anyone that will listen. If anyone is thinking about a Bianchi they are simply are that amazing imo.
#54
Senior Member
I'll pile onto this Bianchi fan boy thread...
After several chains and cassettes, I still ride my '99 Campione. Old school steel because that's what I could afford back then, not a fancy aluminum frame. Mosty stock except for carbon fork, bar, stem and seatpost. Wish I still had the original steel fork in Celeste so I could turn it into a cool lamp but it's deep in a landfill. :-(
I love the Celeste green and have been looking at the website for a new roadbike with disc wheels. Maybe I'll find more time for road time and get off my mountain bikes/gravel bike.
After several chains and cassettes, I still ride my '99 Campione. Old school steel because that's what I could afford back then, not a fancy aluminum frame. Mosty stock except for carbon fork, bar, stem and seatpost. Wish I still had the original steel fork in Celeste so I could turn it into a cool lamp but it's deep in a landfill. :-(
I love the Celeste green and have been looking at the website for a new roadbike with disc wheels. Maybe I'll find more time for road time and get off my mountain bikes/gravel bike.
#55
Senior Member
Another happy fan boy here too.
Now I'm keeping an eye open for a vintage Bianchi! It would be fun to work on over the winter months.
Now I'm keeping an eye open for a vintage Bianchi! It would be fun to work on over the winter months.
Likes For Whitecoyote:
#57
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,205
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2577 Post(s)
Liked 5,625 Times
in
2,914 Posts
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
#58
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,205
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2577 Post(s)
Liked 5,625 Times
in
2,914 Posts
Personally I would never get caught dead, or alive, on one. But would be on two.
Team Celeste- Vintage vs new
Team Celeste- Vintage vs new
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
#59
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,327
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,830 Times
in
2,228 Posts
i love a good - and timely - thread revival.
I will soon join the celeste club with a frameset from mid-80s.
Not sure why i waited, had a Japanese Bianchi i really liked in Ishiwata022.
This one should be a perfect fit, so as to eval the geometry.
Pics eventually on C&V.
I will soon join the celeste club with a frameset from mid-80s.
Not sure why i waited, had a Japanese Bianchi i really liked in Ishiwata022.
This one should be a perfect fit, so as to eval the geometry.
Pics eventually on C&V.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#60
Full Member
#61
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,833
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 604 Post(s)
Liked 1,063 Times
in
535 Posts
Well I’ve got a 1983 Champione del Mondo, that I still put a lot of annual miles on, that should stand for something.
Tim
Tim
#62
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
Old thread, but... I'd sooner own a Bianchi than I would a Fiat. And don't get me started on the faux-Jeep Fiats. Rattles, wind noise, loose interior trim panels. Sheesh.
Likes For Deal4Fuji:
#64
Junior Member
I really enjoy the celeste color and enjoy the heritage. feel they are good bikes and there are many other brands out there that are also great
#65
Junior Member
Likes For Joearch:
#66
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Chapel Hill NC
Posts: 1,683
Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Vortex Chorus 10, 1995 DeBernardi Cromor S/S
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 645 Post(s)
Liked 797 Times
in
446 Posts
off were an endearing quirk 😀
#67
¡Pura Vida!
Likes For OPC:
#69
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 3,704
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 722 Post(s)
Liked 353 Times
in
226 Posts
new paint Megatube ti...circa 1996
#70
Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
And have been around longer than Chevrolet...
To a large extent how you feel about Bianchi largely comes down to how you feel about the green "Celeste" color. If you like it, you'll probably love the bikes.
I love my Infinito, the fit is perfect, and the ride is exactly what I what wanted.
To a large extent how you feel about Bianchi largely comes down to how you feel about the green "Celeste" color. If you like it, you'll probably love the bikes.
I love my Infinito, the fit is perfect, and the ride is exactly what I what wanted.
#71
Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Fiat 500 was my favorite car I’ve had. That includes 911’s, Jeep’s, BMW’s.
#72
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Thailand
Posts: 282
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV disk, and rim brake
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Liked 97 Times
in
61 Posts
I rode Specialized bikes for years. I couldn’t be happier with my Bianchi. After all, celeste is the ultimate color.
#73
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18369 Post(s)
Liked 4,507 Times
in
3,350 Posts
Today I'm cursing the very existence of Bianchi.
I'm working on a Bianchi "touring" bike (not quite sure the model).
Canti brakes. Massive tire clearance around seatstays and fork. But, almost no clearance around the chainstays. The very minor dimple is in the wrong place, as is the chainstay bridge (or perhaps the chainstays were simply too short).
I do like narrow tires anyway, but I just found it very odd to have the cantis, but apparently designed for 28mm or less tires (32 will barely fit if one deflates to install wheel). And fenders would be a tight fit.
Ok, good things and bad things about different brands. And a lot of good bikes made by them. But, I always found the range of models to be a bit confusing.
I'm working on a Bianchi "touring" bike (not quite sure the model).
Canti brakes. Massive tire clearance around seatstays and fork. But, almost no clearance around the chainstays. The very minor dimple is in the wrong place, as is the chainstay bridge (or perhaps the chainstays were simply too short).
I do like narrow tires anyway, but I just found it very odd to have the cantis, but apparently designed for 28mm or less tires (32 will barely fit if one deflates to install wheel). And fenders would be a tight fit.
Ok, good things and bad things about different brands. And a lot of good bikes made by them. But, I always found the range of models to be a bit confusing.
#74
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times
in
395 Posts
20+ years ago I had a '97 Veloce. It wasn't a high end model but it was one of the best bikes I've had and looked so cool with curved seat stays. The Veloce group was bullet proof and shifted great. Loud Campy freehub. I loved it. I'm always searching for another in my size in mint condition but haven't found one yet.
#75
Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Time for another
I have a Bianchi C-4 Sport for commuting, and a Sempre Pro which my son has taken a fancy to. Time for another so that we can ride together properly (I can’t keep up with him when I’m on the C-4). I’m trying to decide between an Aria and an Oltre XR-3. A difficult decision; and then to decide between electronic shift and mechanical … Hmmm …
Bikes have come so far since my first road bike in 1978 as a teenager - a Raleigh Europa with Campo 10 speed. Amazing!
Bikes have come so far since my first road bike in 1978 as a teenager - a Raleigh Europa with Campo 10 speed. Amazing!
Last edited by JFSA; 09-17-21 at 04:48 AM.