Bianchi Via Nerone 7 Xenon Alu Carbon or Alu i'm stuck

sylwia

I have a £1000 budget was thinking of the above road bike but i don't want any regrets.

The bike looks great and has good parts but i dont want the frame to be too heavy when perhaps i could get a carbon frame.

Weight is important for me and i would like a lighter bike.

Can anyone help me please?

Carbon or Alu?

Any websites and bikes that could be good for me please?

I have just started the road cycling and went out on a MTB today on roads for 40 miles in the Peaks it was a bit cheeky at times with the weight.

ANY ADVICE PLEASE?

LENARD

Escargot

I looked at the exact same bike and it comes in at 9.3kg, which is not fantastic (although its not a racing bike so weight is probably less of a factor).

The Xenon is about £700 though so you could get a better bike for £1000. I tried an 1885 and although it's slightly more racing oriented (B4P as opposed to C2C) is still a very comfortable bike and you can get one for about £1000. This comes in at about 8.5kg.

The alternative is to get a full carbon bike but for £1000 it's doubtful you'll get one significantly lighter than 8.5kg.

Rockhopper

I'm not sure that the alu/carbon bikes are much lighter than the alu ones - they use the carbon seat stays to take a bit of the sting out of the road.

Takis61

For carbon at that price try Ribble or Planet X online, then Wiggle have a sale on Focus at the moment, or check out Halfords for Boardman, if they have any stock.
But the issue is not necessarily about weight, for £1K you can get a good Carbon frame (I bought a Ribble Sportive), but the weight is not much different as for that price you will not usually get a carbon seatpost & saddle, bars & stem, nor will the groupset be full carbon, if at all - so weights are generally the same.
The real issue is ride quality of carbon vs. alu, and for that you need to ride a few bikes - the carbon fork & chainstays on some of the Bianchis could mean you actually notice very little difference in ride quality.
I went from a 2003 alu Specialized Allez with upgraded carbon fork to the Ribble, which is like velvet, so big big difference for me.

KillerMetre

Cannondale CAAD9 frame comes in at 1.25kg (not sure what the complete bike weighs though),not bad for a sub £1000 bike.One of the best alu bikes out there.

Rockhopper

There is also the Boardman Team Carbon at £1k (if you can find one), and i think Wiggle and Chainreaction do their own brand type at around the same price.

jamestux

I have the bike the original poster is looking at, it is relatively heavy but doesn't feel it when you are riding. It's a beautiful bike to ride. I tried a friends specialized allez today and don't regret my decision at all!

noodleman

Got the alu one too with the campag groupset. Really pleased with the bike and also cant see the carbon stay version being much lighter. Suppose you could get the alu one and spend the money you have saved on some better lighter wheels.

Jbish

By the sounds of things I was in a similar situation to you with exactly the same budget!

Ive just picked up a Nirone 7 veloce. It's got the carbon chain stays and carbon fork. I'm well pleased with it. But like noodle just mentioned, the bike would benefit from better wheels. They seem really heavy and a bit shoddy really, so I'm considering some Mavic Askiums or the Fulcrum equivilent.

When I was looking, I was considering the CAAD9 or the Six from cannondale. Which both felt pretty nice but the Bianchi was way more comfortable! And with it being in right good nick and near to half the price it was a no brainer really.