My bianchi infinito and felt ar4

noodleman

These are my best bikes. Hope you like them.
Was a bit worried about de-stickering the rims, but looking at some previous photos I think they look better.

DaveL

What's not to like, I would love a Bianchi.

Dave

noiseboyfeetman

I do like a Bianchi kitted with Campag but much to my surprise that Felt looks fab and I think I prefer it. What a tough choice it must be when you go for a ride, I'd take as long deciding which bike to take out as I'd actually be on it. A very nice dilemma to have though!

noodleman

Thanks guys. The bianchi usually gets used more when I have a lot of climbing to do as the chorus 11 is much better suited than the ultegra gearing on the felt. Thinking about some red bolts, seat clamp and hubs on the bianchi at the moment as I'm feeling a bit sorry for it as the felt seems a bit blingier to me.

noiseboyfeetman

noodleman wrote:

Thanks guys. The bianchi usually gets used more when I have a lot of climbing to do as the chorus 11 is much better suited than the ultegra gearing on the felt. Thinking about some red bolts, seat clamp and hubs on the bianchi at the moment as I'm feeling a bit sorry for it as the felt seems a bit blingier to me.

No!!! It's a Bianchi, its fitted with Campagnolo, I'd personally say that's blingy enough. It's a thing of beauty as it is, don't turn it into a tart!

TMR

I logged in just to comment on your thread...

Both bikes are stunning. Simply beautiful. The Infinito has been my next purchase for a year now - perhaps one day soon.

The saddle on the Felt looks pushed forward as far as it'll go, and has left me wondering whether you might not have been better taking the next size frame down?

You're a lucky man though - beautiful bikes. Thanks for posting them

noodleman

The saddle is far forward. Mainly because I still haven't got used to the more extreme riding position of the ar over the infinito. That and the fact that felt 100 mm stems aren't actually 100 mm. If they are, they are measured in a peculiar way. Much longer than a 100mm stem usually is.

pickled

Wheels look great de-stickered! Nice bikes. Must change my Chainset to a nicer looking Campag one!

Pootlefish

Gorgeous bikes. The felt looks stunning although I've always had a soft spot for bianchis with campag.
Do you find the bikes very different from one another?

fludey

Love the AR4 but then I might be a little bias owning one myself! Save it for those sunny days and use my Felt F75 when not quite so dry :?

noodleman

Pootlefish wrote:

Gorgeous bikes. The felt looks stunning although I've always had a soft spot for bianchis with campag.
Do you find the bikes very different from one another?

They do differ quite a lot. The bianchi is so comfortable yet still fast and climbs really well. The difference on bumpy roads between the two bikes is very noticeable,withe the bianchi being far smoother.
The felt has a pretty aggressive riding position. I changed the standard drop bars to some FSA K-Wing compact bars as it was to much of a drop to spend to long in that position. I prefer the campag hoods to the shape of the shimano ones, as they seem much more comfortable for long days in the saddle.

ilm_zero7

fludey wrote:

Love the AR4 but then I might be a little bias owning one myself! Save it for those sunny days and use my Felt F75 when not quite so dry :?

I have an AR4 too - its a very slippery windcheating bike in a straight line - seems to match newer more publicised aero bikes, but was on the market 2 years earlier.... and it feels so stiff.

just wish it was lighter as its no climbing frame

shinsplint

Hi noodleman,

Both lovely looking bikes ! I would say that, being an AR owner

I personally suffer from neck problems, and often wonder whether I should change to a more comfortable bike like the Bianchi.

Can you tell me how much the bikes differ in weight?

My AR is much lighter then my previous bike (Ribble Sportive), but i'm now wondering whether it would be worth going for something lighter still ??

My personal thoughts on the AR is that its an all out race / time trial bike, and probably not really ideal for long hilly rides... which I tend to favour at the moment.

RideOnTime

You lucky s**.

bails1310

Pair of crackers, not an expert but not sure any more would benefit,visually anyway.

I was up your kneck of the woods the weekend [Monmouth/Tintern], some lovely roads there which I bet are even better on these two lovelies!

noodleman

ShinSplint wrote:

Hi noodleman,

Both lovely looking bikes ! I would say that, being an AR owner

I personally suffer from neck problems, and often wonder whether I should change to a more comfortable bike like the Bianchi.

Can you tell me how much the bikes differ in weight?

My AR is much lighter then my previous bike (Ribble Sportive), but i'm now wondering whether it would be worth going for something lighter still ??

My personal thoughts on the AR is that its an all out race / time trial bike, and probably not really ideal for long hilly rides... which I tend to favour at the moment.

Hi shinsplint. The bianchi is about half a kilo lighter than the felt. It doesn't sound much but the bianchi really flies uphills compared to the felt. I don't really struggle with either bike at anything to be honest but they definately have different purposes.
Have you tried changing to a compact bar? It made a huge difference on the AR, meaning I could stay on the drops for much longer than with a standard bar. I wouldn't say there is much difference in comfort, as in riding position anymore. Just that the bianchi copes with crap roads and absorbs bumps way better than the Felt.
If I had to have just one of the bikes it would probably be the bianchi.
Hope that helps mate.

shinsplint

noodleman wrote:

ShinSplint wrote:

Hi noodleman,

Both lovely looking bikes ! I would say that, being an AR owner

I personally suffer from neck problems, and often wonder whether I should change to a more comfortable bike like the Bianchi.

Can you tell me how much the bikes differ in weight?

My AR is much lighter then my previous bike (Ribble Sportive), but i'm now wondering whether it would be worth going for something lighter still ??

My personal thoughts on the AR is that its an all out race / time trial bike, and probably not really ideal for long hilly rides... which I tend to favour at the moment.

Hi shinsplint. The bianchi is about half a kilo lighter than the felt. It doesn't sound much but the bianchi really flies uphills compared to the felt. I don't really struggle with either bike at anything to be honest but they definitely have different purposes.
Have you tried changing to a compact bar? It made a huge difference on the AR, meaning I could stay on the drops for much longer than with a standard bar. I wouldn't say there is much difference in comfort, as in riding position anymore. Just that the bianchi copes with crap roads and absorbs bumps way better than the Felt.
If I had to have just one of the bikes it would probably be the bianchi.
Hope that helps mate.

Many thanks for the help.

I have considered changing the bars, i'll look into this further. Which standard bars came with your AR4? Mine are Ritchey carbon ones (see pic), and they do appear to have a fairly shallow drop (but doesnt feel it when riding!).

What do you think, judging by the pic? (and I hope you don't feel like im imposing on your thread ! :oops: )



The dilemma I have is, im not sure what the bike would be worth 2nd hand, and don't particularly want to lose too much, but if a more relaxed geometry would help my neck issue then its definately worth it.

I also do a lot of climbing - plenty of hills around the NY moors, which is another reason a better climbing bike may suit me.

noodleman

My bars were the standard AR alluminium ones. Can't tell you the size at the mo, as I'm at work. Maybe you could get a bike fitting done or have you tried that? Might be a lot better than selling the bike.
Could be that your stem is a bit to long. Mine was classed as 100mm but was at least 10mm longer than the 100mm on the bianchi. It could be that 5 or 10mm less of a reach could make all the difference.
Love the bike by the way.

shinsplint

noodleman wrote:

My bars were the standard AR alluminium ones. Can't tell you the size at the mo, as I'm at work. Maybe you could get a bike fitting done or have you tried that? Might be a lot better than selling the bike.
Could be that your stem is a bit to long. Mine was classed as 100mm but was at least 10mm longer than the 100mm on the bianchi. It could be that 5 or 10mm less of a reach could make all the difference.
Love the bike by the way.

Thanks again noodle,

To be honest the frame is probably a tad on the small side for me (56 frame, 6ft 1 tall), as my knees sometimes touch the bars when standing. Also, when riding on the top of the bars, I tend to have my hands quite far forward, so if anything I think a slightly longer stem would be better. In saying that, I think a 58cm frame would be too big.

I should really get a bike fit done, but to be honest i've tried a fair few positions with the saddle and bars, and never been particularly comfortable on long rides.

After a quick google, i've found that the bars on it are actually very expensive, so I may be able to change the bars and not lose anything.

It bugs me to see the pros quite happy with the saddle ridiculously high and on the drops all day

noodleman

Do you know what size the stem is. I have my original plus the bars you could try.

shinsplint

noodleman wrote:

Do you know what size the stem is. I have my original plus the bars you could try.

The stem measures just over 10cm (centre to centre).

Thats a very kind offer and much appreciated. However I think i'll probably just try a shallow drop bar and see how I go.

Cheers mate, and thanks for your advice