Bianchi Pista Sei Giorni?

pda
pda Posts: 12
edited January 2013 in Road buying advice
Hi all,

I've been away from cycling for a few years now, and seeing as I finally have some cash in the bank it seems like a good time to invest in my first road bike. As I like the simplicity of a single speed and the lack of being able to slack off with a fixie (getting in better shape is a large part of what this is about) I've been looking at Bianchi Pistas and I think I may have tracked down a 2012 Pista Sei Giorni in red and in my size within my budget (i.e., not the ~£800 price tag online). Specs here: http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/fixed-g ... ei-giorni/

Does anyone have experience with this bike? or have any experience of Pistas, or of Bianchis more generally?

Comments

  • YIMan
    YIMan Posts: 576
    If I'm honest I think you should think seriously about a fixie as your first bike in a while.

    You can slack off on one just as easily as on a traditional freehubbed bike - you just go slower/slacken off the effort pushing the pedals. You also aren't gaining great amounts in "lack of having to fettle"......but you're losing a huge amount in versatility (i.e. taking it further afield/doing some serious hills) and choice of bikes.

    Sorry, I know it's straying from your actual questions!
  • pda
    pda Posts: 12
    No no, that's fine! I've been thinking about whether I'd be happy with a fixie as well, mainly in regard to whether I'd want to ride it for any real distance when I'm unable to gear up and down. The thing is that I'm not likely to be riding it more than 10-20 miles where I live (Aberdeen) so I figure that it wouldn't be a huge disadvantage for now.

    I had considered something like the Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (yes I have a Bianchi hard-on) if I could find one in my size and in my budget (~£700) but frankly, the Pista that I've come across is around £200 under that and I feel like it meets all my requirements for now. In the long run I'm definitely looking at getting a proper road bike though.
  • YIMan
    YIMan Posts: 576
    Have you seen here: http://www.bianchibikes.co.uk/store/Bianchi-Via-Nirone7/bianchi_via_nirone_sale?

    I love the Bianchis too.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    YIMan wrote:
    Have you seen here: http://www.bianchibikes.co.uk/store/Bianchi-Via-Nirone7/bianchi_via_nirone_sale?

    I love the Bianchis too.

    We are Gods chosen ones.

    I got a Via Nirone as a winter bike, was my first proper road bike when I got into it. Then I got a Sempre and I love it more than the wife!! They are beautiful bikes to ride and to look at. Thats why I stuck with them.

    I think the Pistas are also a good bike if thats what you are after. I try not to recommend bikes, I'm sure you know in your own mind what you like the look of and want to ride.Though I think if you got a Via Nirone or a Pista you would be happy with it.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Just one caveat, If you don't get Campagnolo, God will send you straight to HELL!!!!!
  • YIMan
    YIMan Posts: 576
    SmoggySteve wrote:
    Just one caveat, If you don't get Campagnolo, God will send you straight to HELL!!!!!

    I know....what is is with putting 105 on say an Infinito!? It's like getting a Ferrari then painting a Japanese flag on the side.
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    YIMan wrote:
    SmoggySteve wrote:
    Just one caveat, If you don't get Campagnolo, God will send you straight to HELL!!!!!

    I know....what is is with putting 105 on say an Infinito!? It's like getting a Ferrari then painting a Japanese flag on the side.

    Hardly. It all depends what you can get on with.

    My Basso has Ultegra as I just do not like the ergonomics of the Campagnolo stuff.

    I was truly gutted when I realised this fact as I had lusted after Campag since being 12 on my Raliegh Team Replica with 501 tubing and friction shifters.

    No point fitting something if you do not get on with it.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • YIMan
    YIMan Posts: 576
    Better to suffer with components you don't get on with than to sully Italian mastery and heritage with your Far Eastern componentry.

    ..

    ...

    ....

    .....

    .......



    Until you realise your "Italian" frame is also made in the far east. :mrgreen:
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    My frame is NOT made in the far east though is it.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • YIMan
    YIMan Posts: 576
    The Bianchis are though.
  • pda
    pda Posts: 12
    I think if I wasn't planning on using this bike to also ride to university etc that I'd be keener to go straight to the Via Nirone, even though it's a little over my budget right now.

    The seller of the Pista has said they won't shift on the price (~£585 for ex-display), but I think I'll still go with it as I don't think I can do any better at that price. Then if all goes well I can begin to save for a Via Nirone for longer rides. I'll update here if anything happens with the Pista.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    You could probably pick up a good deal on ebay for a Via Nirone. Just stay away from the sora sets,
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    BTW, If you buy a Bianchi carbon frame they are still made in Italy, Its only the US market ones that are franchised out to the far east. My Sempre was made in Italy
  • YIMan
    YIMan Posts: 576
    Are you sure they're not just assembled in Italy?
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Im sure the sticker on it saying "Handmade in Italy" means it was er hand made in Italy!! There are laws against doing that if it wasn't
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    If its Bianchi USA they source frames from Taiwan. Most of the lower end bikes in the range are made there also, but for the euro market, the Oltre and Sempre frames are made in Italy
  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    SmoggySteve wrote:
    Im sure the sticker on it saying "Handmade in Italy" means it was er hand made in Italy!! There are laws against doing that if it wasn't

    You need to be more wary of "made in ***" stickers
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    SmoggySteve wrote:
    Im sure the sticker on it saying "Handmade in Italy" means it was er hand made in Italy!! There are laws against doing that if it wasn't

    My Deddacai framed Ribble Gran Fondo says 'Handcrafted in Italy' on it. I'm quite sure the only time it was in Italy was when the ship carrying it over from Taiwan docked in Genoa :lol:

    I don't think the Italians are too fussed about little details like the accuracy of 'Made in' stickers :wink:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • matt_r_p
    matt_r_p Posts: 3
    In answer to yer original question, I would leap at this bike for £585 - sounds like bargain of the century. I had one of these for a year (until it got nicked :( ) and really enjoyed it. It's super light, there's evidence of high quality components everywhere and the looks are great.

    The only bad thing about it was the fact that the Italians think your front brake lever should go on the left side of the bars, so unless you buy a new brake lever, you'll be running it upside down, if you see what I mean.

    I also switched out the saddle: the one supplied looks lovely but is fabric and absorbs water like a sponge, so rather than put a plastic bag over it every day when it looked liked rain, I bought a red Cinelli Unicanitor for 30-odd quid.

    Final thing I'd say is that if you are buying a white bike, you need to be up for cleaning it regularly because it certainly shows the dirt!
  • pda
    pda Posts: 12
    matt_r_p wrote:
    In answer to yer original question, I would leap at this bike for £585 - sounds like bargain of the century. I had one of these for a year (until it got nicked :( ) and really enjoyed it. It's super light, there's evidence of high quality components everywhere and the looks are great.

    The only bad thing about it was the fact that the Italians think your front brake lever should go on the left side of the bars, so unless you buy a new brake lever, you'll be running it upside down, if you see what I mean.

    I also switched out the saddle: the one supplied looks lovely but is fabric and absorbs water like a sponge, so rather than put a plastic bag over it every day when it looked liked rain, I bought a red Cinelli Unicanitor for 30-odd quid.

    Final thing I'd say is that if you are buying a white bike, you need to be up for cleaning it regularly because it certainly shows the dirt!

    Hi Matt, thanks for the information, and sorry to hear that your bike was nicked! It's happened to me a couple of times and it drives me nuts! How did you find the geometry of the bike for sizing?
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    I suspect that on the Oltre is the only Bianchi frame made in Italy - but even that will be sub-contracted. Funny thing is, Bianchi are the Italian equivalent of Raleigh and they're owned by a Swedish company and 99% of their product is made in the Far East. I worked for a Bianchi dealer at the time of Pantani's exploits - as the sales went up the quality went south - they lost so much reputation, there's few in the trade that take them seriously.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Spoke today to a friend who bought a Bianchi Sempre FRAME. It has the same "Hand built in Italy Reparto Corse" Sticker on it. So, If its only a frame and no after build kit, how do they get away with putting a made in Italy sticker on it?

    Some people just want to follow the crowd and pour scorn on something without knowing the facts. Typical British mentality. Almost like its a fu@k you attitude.

    There is the proof! If it wasn't, it would not be allowed to sell under a false label. I'm sure EU law would prohibit such an act.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    BTW, So what if Bianchi is "owned" by a Swedish company. Ferrari are owned by Fiat. Do we associate a Ferrari California GT with a Fiat 500? Lamborghini Engines are made under the VW/Audi Badge. Does that make a Lambo less "Italian"?
  • matt_r_p
    matt_r_p Posts: 3
    pda wrote:
    Hi Matt, thanks for the information, and sorry to hear that your bike was nicked! It's happened to me a couple of times and it drives me nuts! How did you find the geometry of the bike for sizing?

    Yeah it was fine. It's a bit more racey in geometry than other bikes I've had, by which I mean I felt I was angled down to the bars a bit more. But not really a noticeable difference tbh; I would say the geometry was "normal". Maybe my current bike (Orbea Dude) is a bit tighter but I find that saddle height and position can affect this feeling just as much as the frame.

    For £585 I would walk/run to the bike shop for this.
  • pda
    pda Posts: 12
    Another thing which has just sprung to mind... what do we think of mudguards like the crud roadracer 2 on a Pista?
  • matt_r_p
    matt_r_p Posts: 3
    I have a problem in principle with mudguards on a fixed gear bike! HTFU as they say.
  • pda
    pda Posts: 12
    matt_r_p wrote:
    I have a problem in principle with mudguards on a fixed gear bike! HTFU as they say.
    Haha, I just don't want to find myself having to spend ages cleaning and lubing. Although I guess it wouldn't take that long anyway.

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