Decisions, decisions...

rmjscott1970

Hi guys

Back to road riding after 15 years on a mountain bike. Long overdue. Have been riding a Bianchi Via Nirone C2C for a year which I've loved and have decided to upgrade. I've got about a grand to spend. Riding includes a 6-mile commute and 10 - 30 mile weekend rides.

Yes, I'm a sucker for Italians. A few have caught my eye. I like racier feeling frames rather than super comfortable upright jobs. So, on the list, amongst others, is the Bianchi B4P 1885 Veloce, Colnago Primavera 105 and maybe the Pina Angliru. Also a few others such as the Condor Italia, although I have concerns about the shop and how good it actually isn't.

So, which do I buy? Much of it, I guess, comes down to personal preference. I'd rather have Campag than Shimano, not least because it's Italian, but also becuase it feels more fluid, Shimano to me feels very mechanical. However, the Collie and the Pina are only Shimano equipped.

Am I missing the point? Is the chance to buy a Colnago for a grand to good to miss? Is Bianchi the Fiat of the bike world? Should I really just be like everyone else and buy a Specialized? Is there anything else I should consider??

Hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

Bob

campagsarge

Hi Bob

I have two Bianchi's and I love 'em. They are rather old skool - 3 and 4 years old respectively - both Alu but I have no complaints with them at all. Campag on both as well.

maddog 2

I think Bianchi are trading on their past, rather than the quality of the bike.

A mate recently asked me to have a look at carbon bikes for around 1500 new. I looked several offerings from Spesh, Trek, Willier, Scott, Giant etc. and the Bianchi was clearly well below some of the other bikes at that price point, in terms of spec and looks (as far as I was concerned). On any objective measure it wasn't a strong contender.

But hey, buy what you want. No one says you have to be objective...

Have you had a look at the Williers?

gavintc

I have a carbon Bianchi. I would not buy another. I do not think the builld quality is great. My bike cracked, was replaced under warranty and after a further 12 months is starting to show a tiny crack in the same place (at junc of top tube and seat tube). It rides well, but not impressed.

azzerb

Why not just change wheels and groupset?

That'd make the biggest difference I'd guess instead of paying out for a whole new frame.

£400 for Campag Centaur - Merlin Cycles
£476 Campag Shamal Ultra wheels - Ribble

Leaves some left over for tubes/tyres etc /spare change.

Or just build up a new bike yourself, my recent bike build cost around £1000

rmjscott1970

Thanks for the tips so far. I suspect objectivity doesn't usually come into it when Italian things are concerned.

Upgrading wheels and groupset (and a tasty new paint job) is tempting but selling it for, what, 300 odd quid on ebay would go very nicely towards a half-price new one on the bike-to-work scheme.

I did have some warranty issues with the Bianchi which is why I'm thinking of a switch to another brand..

Any further thoughts?

Jamie07

I have two Bianchi's one older Via Nirone 7 Alu which is now 3 years old, done plenty of miles and still going strong. Good, solid bike with nice handling, not the lightest but considering the frame not a heavy bike.

The other is a Freccia Celeste '05 and I love it, carbon rear triangle and front, plenty light enough with decent wheels and groupset. Accelerates well up the hills and stable down the way. No issues with either and plan to keep both a while.

Bianchi's have had good reviews in Cycling Plus magazine but I think you have to go ride them for yourself and see which feels good, and what looks the best to you.

Kafka\'s Doll

rmjscott1970 wrote:

Also a few others such as the Condor Italia, although I have concerns about the shop and how good it actually isn't.

What's the problem with Condor? I have a Fratello and have never had anything but good service from them -- and it's a great bike.

I'm a novice really, and they've been extremely patient and tolerant of my inevitably gauche questions.

rmjscott1970

Condor...hmmm...

Not so much the bikes (couldn't comment on those), my concern is more about the shop.

Never really seen much to support their reputation, at least at my lowly end of the market. They've cocked things up for me in the past (built a wheel wrong twice, for instance) the staff can be surly and unhelpful (like most shops, but Condor should be better) and I've heard bad things from many people.

I think our expectations of Condor must be higher than the likes of the Evans's of this world, but they are who they are, or at least should be. It's supposed to be one of the best places around and certainly a Mecca for roadies.

It's not all been bad. Get them on a good day and it's a nice place to be, especially when it's Tour time and it's on the telly. But I'm not convinced they really care enough...

wastelander

If it has to be Italian and you fancy something a little different then visit Race Scene in Barnsley - Gios, Casati, SOMEC and Ciocc all built to your specs with a wide choice of wheelsets, finishing kit and the groupset of your choice. They also offer a Basso fitting service which is refunded on the purchase of a frame/bike.

http://www.racescene.co.uk

Kafka\'s Doll

rmjscott1970 wrote:

Condor...hmmm...

Not so much the bikes (couldn't comment on those), my concern is more about the shop.

Never really seen much to support their reputation, at least at my lowly end of the market. They've cocked things up for me in the past (built a wheel wrong twice, for instance) the staff can be surly and unhelpful (like most shops, but Condor should be better) and I've heard bad things from many people.

I think our expectations of Condor must be higher than the likes of the Evans's of this world, but they are who they are, or at least should be. It's supposed to be one of the best places around and certainly a Mecca for roadies.

It's not all been bad. Get them on a good day and it's a nice place to be, especially when it's Tour time and it's on the telly. But I'm not convinced they really care enough...

Couldn't disagree more. In my limited experience anyway. I had to tell one chap to stop calling me 'sir', it was like having a personal butler. It gets really busy sometimes, and it wouldn't surprise me if someone ended up being curt with people who want a tech-heavy conversation when there are ten customers behind them in the queue. But I don't think that's the same as not caring enough.

It's a Mecca because it's a good place. The only shop work I've had done there is a service (and, of course, the building of the bike), so I can't really speak as to that. But so long as you're there when it's not bursting at the seams, it's a million times better than anywhere else I've been. The worst I'd say of it is it's a bit too-cool-for-school, though that usually comes from the other customers.

rmjscott1970

Well, maybe a I shouldn't write them off just yet. Sometimes as consumers it's easier to remember the bad stuff than the good stuff, I guess. Like I said, it wasn't all bad, and a good reputation results in high expectations. But building a wheel wrong twice (1st time: wrong size, second time: wrong colour, the response from them at the time was 'does it matter?'!!!) is the kind of stuff that sticks in the mind.

Shame really, I worked in Clerkenwell for years, with Condor just round the corner it was always a lunchtime distraction. It's too out of the way for me now.

Live and work SW London these days. Recommendations for a good shop in the area? Amongst others within reach are De Ver, Brixton Cyles, Luciano, Holdsworth, Sigma at a push... It would be nice to find a new LBS that I could call 'home'. Temptation is always there to use Evans, though, and I really rather not. Know what I mean?

il_principe

Sigma are excellent and I've been v happy with Brixton in the past.

As for the Italian bike, 2 words for you: Wilier Mortirolo.

rmjscott1970

Yep, that Willier is a little beauty. Maybe a bit to good for me, though. Not the kind of thing I'd feel comfortable wheezing round south london on.

Picking up on the idea of ups-speccing current bianchi... it's got Mirage on it at the mo, am I going to notice an increase in shifting performance moving up to veloce, or should I aim higher to really see a difference.

Also, anyone know somewhere in London I can get the frame resprayed to get rid of the nasty yellow decals Bianchi think are cool? Which aren't.

morrisje

What about Viner. These look good:-

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Viner.htm

Monty Dog

I think the Bianchi = Fiat comment is fair - I've seen far too many broken Bianchis to recommend them to anyone. I have a great affection for Italian bikes, - they really know how to build nice-handling bikes, particularly in smaller sizes where many manufacturers just scale-down their average-size offering. I have a Colnago, a Battaglin and a pair of Gios and they all exhibit beautifully balanced handling and stability at speed. Whilst you hanker after an Italian bike, sadly the Colnago is made in Taiwan and the Condor if over-priced for what it is. As others have said, there are some real bargains in the £1000 carbon bikes front at the moment - for a grand you could get an Ribble Deda carbon frame with Veloce groupset .