Giant Defy 1 or Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Tiagra ?? Advice needed

NOJOB

Hi,

I'm looking for a new road bike and I'm very indecisive. I've read all the reviews on the bikes mentioned and I still can't decide. Currently I am riding a Claude Butler Echelon bike, very budget I know but it has a nice (ish) alu frame and decent carbon forks, it was my first road bike so I didn't want to spend too much... I've been doing some serious riding lately and find myself to be very fit so I want to continue to ride and progress..

So here I am, I have a budget of £1000. I'm very open to suggestions but I kinda have my heart set on one of those 2 bikes as they both look stunning and have good reviews. After you lovely people advise me I will go test ride some bikes and see whats what

NOJOB

noiseboyfeetman

I've a Bianchi Via Nirone 7 with a mix of Campagnolo Xenon/Mirage/Veloce on it, I find it very comfortable and responsive, I can't comment on Tiagra having never used it.

I would recommend reading this though to help you in your decision http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/b ... 000-29719/

Hierotochan

I test rode the Bianchi & found it was really comfortable.
I actually tried a few sizes & all of them would have been good, just not for extended periods.

I tried a few different brands (Cube, Trek, Specialized, Giant Etc.) and of them the Cube seemed to be the best value at the price, but there was something about the Bianchi that made me go back for it.

Having said that I'm new to Road bikes, coming from BMX & I don't know alot.
Most important factor I could reason was: Comfort = more time on bike.

Once you get into a certain price range it seems to be more about brand allegiance & component preferences rather than one being 'better' than another (with the exception of the Cube which looked like very good value).

I just picked the one that put the biggest smile on my face.

greeny1

go with the Giant, much beter frame for the money, If you coulld get an 2010 version you may be able to get it with 105

greeny1

Just to add, I think Bianchis look lovely, wanted an infinito myself but opted for something else after test riding a few bikes. They look the part but for me are overpriced and at there price points there are better bikes to be had!

thadjones

One thing to bear in mind is that the Bianchi will have a longer top tube for its size than the Giant (or at least this was the case when I was buying mine) so have a ride on both if you can before you buy. That said I've absolutely loved riding mine for the last four years, its taken everything I could throw at it (adventure racing, uni bike sheds and other general abuse) with no problems whatsoever and it still gets admiring comments despite looking distinctly battered and scraped

R.

Hierotochan

thadjones wrote:

One thing to bear in mind is that the Bianchi will have a longer top tube for its size than the Giant

Ahh I hadn't realised that. My legs are disproportionate to my torso so maybe that's why I liked it more?

Just to mention it again (wrote it in another post)
I looked around & found an LBS who would buy in two Bianchi's for me, then swap all the components between the two frames as I wanted a Shimano equipped Celeste bike (as they don't offer it as an option).

Is that more sacrilegious now?

Simontheintrepid

Hierotochan wrote:

there was something about the Bianchi that made me go back for it.

+1, mine's nearly a year old and I'm a little bit in love with it. With little to choose between bikes at that price it kinda came down to looks.

This is my first road bike so no idea how it compares but -

1. Everyone's different, but the saddle caused numbness for me, it was like shaking hands with a dead man for a couple of weeks - got it changed ASAP. Don't know why saddles are still made like that.
2. Prefer Tiagra to anything with thumb shifters, haven't had the luxury of anything higher and seems good to me. No real problems with it, though seems to require adjusting every so often.
3. It is stunning. Although I have the beautiful white 2010 one, not the silly bright red 2011 one (sorry just don't like red bikes).
4. Again can't compare, but I've just gelled with it, seems responsive and fun going up and down. On the whole, no regrets (despite the small fortune I seem to have spent on cycling this last year).

BelgianBeerGeek

Bianchi. Giant are good, but you will get more nods and "hellos" on the road from fellow Bianchi riders who appreciate a good bike I've had mine for about 3 years and it's ace. Use it (her) for days out, commuting etc in all weathers with Crud Road Racers, faultless performance. BTW, following another thread mine's Shimano and in silver.

NOJOB

Thanks for the replys I test rode the Bianchi, the Giant and a BMC Street Racer 2011. The BMC rides really good, very aggressive position which is what I prefer. The Bianchi and the Giant were hard to fault as far as the frame and riding position goes but they felt slow to me compared to the BMC...

What do you guys think of that bike anyway? (The BMC Street Racer) 105 too

NOJOB

BelgianBeerGeek

What kind of riding are you doing? If fast racing maybe the BMC. I don't know anything about them. Will it beat you up on a longer ride?