Cycle to work + BIanchi = 6 months wait

spasypaddy

Or so Halfrauds have just told me, im so very annoyed that i never got an Evans cycle to work scheme as i would have been able to walk in and walk out with a bike on the day!

so my questions are:
If you got a Bianchi from them how long did it take?
Also I've got £1000 to spend if it isn't going to be a Bianchi (i dont know whether i want to wait 6months for the name/colour...) what should i get? I want something different from the general names (ie dont suggest a trek/cannondale/giant/specialized/those general terms)

hilaryw

Have you considered the new Boardman range? They got a great write up in Cycle Plus. Are you dead set on a Bianchi (why?)

spasypaddy

no i dont want a boardman, ive always wanted a bianchi... i love the name, the styling and the colour.

but i would consider something completely different, just this morning i was looking at the Wiliers for some idea of what i want. It needs to be something not instantly recognisable if its not a Bianchi!

kball_9

I'm after a new 2008 C2C Bianchi too, when are they expected to come out any particular dates or months? i love celeste too!!

spasypaddy

well seeing as bianchi are closed at the moment nothing is going to be happening in the foreseeable future, the person on the phone reckons they might be open in the next week or two and then its however long it takes.

kball_9

So nothing is going to be released this month then? looking at October time?

spasypaddy

at the earliest i would of though, which one are you looking to get? I was planning on getting a alu/carbon with either the veloce or the 105/ultegra mix. The problem is the 6 months i may have to wait.

kball_9

Unfortunatley i'd love one of the Carbon/Alu ones but my beginner budget won't allow it so i'm going for one of the Nirone Alu with some kind of shimano set up probably 105's, as i can't get on with campags having tested some bikes already. Is that the wait time on that particular bike then? how did you find out this? :-)

spasypaddy

i dont know but thats how it is with the cycle to work, if you go into a shop and buy it then it'll be quicker as they will obviously have it in stock.

kball_9

Right ok thanks, my local Evans dealer told me end of Sept sort of expecting them in anytime really??? don't know how true this is, but i hope it is!

star_rover

Can they source from other dealers?
How about a Colnago Primavera? Think they are about £900.

spasypaddy

they can source ANYTHING hence the openess of the question

schlepcycling

Would you consider a Planet-X?, they have their £999 carbon road bike with full Ultegra deal going again.

Here

spasypaddy

yeah i did consider that but i dont like the look of the bike, i considered it when they first ran the offer

star_rover

Then I'll stand by my suggestion of the colnago primavera. OK, it's not one of the fancy colnagos and it's made in Taiwan, but it's a pretty machine and is not one of your common Spesh, Trek, Giant, etc.
Sigma sport in Kingston and DeVere's in Steatham stock them.

I had the same dilemma as you a couple of months ago (not cycle to work though). Same budget, etc. It's nearly impossible to find something different from the norm for that money.
Every shop you go into has the same bikes/brands.

gpw

I just got an Orbea Marmolada from here http://www.pictoncycles.co.uk/product_i ... cts_id=215

absolutely quality ride.... excellent value and not an everyday name....and I got it on the bike to work scheme...

thebikeliker

My local (50 miles away but this is Cumbria) bike shop owner is going to the Bianchi works this week to see the 2008 range and place an order. He expects them to be available later this month. Sounds optimistic to me but I would hate to get something else then see them on the streets in a few weeks. So I'll wait.

spasypaddy

well the lady on the phone said they'd have more idea of the time scale when bianchi reopen next week, so i shall at least wait for that. The annoying thing is was i got the certificate just after the 07s stopped being made and i cant take my voucher into evans to pick one up. So very very annoyed

benvickery

Schlepcycling, have you seen one of the planet-x £999 carbon bikes? I'm going to get a bike through the cycle2work scheme as well, but unfortunately we also use Halfords.

I considered getting a Boardman bike as they seem good value, but reading many negative comments put me off that idea. The planet-x bikes however look excellent. Does anyone have any experience with these bikes? Is the £999 carbon bike as great as it sounds or would I be better off buying a bike with a cheaper alu frame but upgraded kit?

Thanks

Lagavulin

I was going to suggest an Orbea. I was told "they're as rare as rocking horse sh!t".

I was looking at the Motirolo but GPW's link provided above looks nice with the Campags.

top_bhoy

If your hearts set on it (and it sounds like it is), place the order now for the bike and run about on your **existing bike through the winter. Come March time, you'll have a lovely new Bianchi waiting for you to try in the summer!!!

(**Caveat - assuming you already own a bike of some description)

spasypaddy

Top Bhoy - yeah i currently ride a cannondale! But a 4 year old entry level one

I am definitely going to wait until i speak to them again and they can give a more definite answer as to when they can deliver. But if its going to be 6 months i dont know whether i want to wait that long as i'm going travelling in February and by the time i get back the 09s will be out and i wont have ridden my 08!

spasypaddy

anyone know how much pinarellos start at? The pink ones are stunning!

RedAende

bianchi.com are noe showing the 2008 range. C2C range little changed from 2007.

As my company have decided not to do C2W scheme I am on my own and have decided on the via nirone Xenon, which I'll upgrade. Only diff I can see over 2007 is addition of carbon seatpost and rims are black not silver, and tyres changed to michelin from Conti.

spasypaddy

im looking at one of these two:
Via Nirone 7 Alu Carbon - ULTEGRA/105 10sp Double
Via Nirone 7 Alu Carbon - Veloce mix 10sp Compact
but again its still going to have to be a wait to see how long its going to take, i havent quite got a fall back plan yet but if its going to take 6 months im not going to be best impressed

acorn_user

There are plenty of nice Italian bikes you could get for around 1000 pounds. The difficulty is finding a dealership. Viner, Ciocc, Olmo would all be good candidates. You might even be able to get a basic Merckx (although that is a name that is very recognisable )

I applaud your desire for a different bike. You'l hopefully find that you could get a made in Europe bike for the same money as a run of the mill bike from the majors.

On a different note, what about the new Raleigh Team Pro with full Veloce? That's 1000 pounds....

spasypaddy

the raleigh is only available as a frameset

i shall look at the others but its probably a similar problem to the Bianchi with the delay times.

spasypaddy

acorn - can you give me some links to where i can find complete bikes for these sort of prices please?

Hotblack Desiato

Even the graphics appear to be be the same for 2008.

As the seatpost will likely be changed in the future and the tyres definitely changed, I'd go for 2007 bike now instead of waiting. Mind you, Halfords probably won't be able to source a 2007 bike either which leaves you back at square one.

I've had my 105 compact Via Nirone for 3 weeks and it's superb.

.

spasypaddy

Mind you, Halfords probably won't be able to source a 2007 bike either which leaves you back at square one.

thats the exact reason as to why i dont have my bike yet

saif

Hi

I'm in exactly the same situation , looking to get my second Bianchi through C2W scheme. The first one I bought was my personal (2006) Via Nirone 7 Alu Carbon - Veloce mix 10sp Compact Via Nirone 7 Alu Carbon - (This was an anniversary model, and I just love it).

I also got in touch with Halfords and got the similar response , the Girl on the phone did check the and started reading some of the brands which I could order and they could resource .

Claudbutler
Lemond
Giant
Condor
Felt
Specialised
Trek
Scott


I'm tempted to order now and wait till I get the Bianchi delivered. My problem is I still need a winter bike , which I now have started looking on the ebay .. anyone aware of a cheap bike on sale ( including second hand ) which could do the Job for winter training , please give me a shout.