Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - pista SE

Has anyone purchased one of tese from harris? looks like a good deal

link?

are you sure they still sell this configuration? the page I found was from 94, if you're talking about something else, post a link

mr. google is your friend.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/bianchi04/pistase.html

This page features the 2004 pista, but they do the exact same thing to the 2005/6 pista now...

So....you pay an extra $100 for a brake and lever, hm?

yeah that and it's UGly.

ewwwwwww

no sale

I've never understood why it has that awful silver saddle.

I've never understood why it has that awful silver saddle.


http://sherylchapman.com/projects/full/id_37.jpg

- IIRC, design by a Park Tool VP... there's a 2005 in a 53cm near me for $549, but it's the puke green w/chrome frame...

- rear hub is flip-flop, so for $11 you can add SS capability (Jenson has a few Shimano SS freewheels at a reasonable price)

- it's a cheap way to get a SS/fixie... to Harris' credit, the list price is shown, so no harm/no foul...

- i like the simplicity, but the downer is that only the front fork can host a brake, so no rear brake!

:-(

- i'd pop for it (and may test ride one tomorrow), but i don't think SS/fixie is for me (50+ rider)... however, considering that i do lots of flatland riding, maybe, just maybe...

:-)

- i'd pop for it (and may test ride one tomorrow), but i don't think SS/fixie is for me (50+ rider)... however, considering that i do lots of flatland riding, maybe, just maybe...

:-)

lotta 50+ fixie riders out there...

just sayin', you might like it :)

Do a search for posts by ken cox on this forum about his love affair with his bianchi pista. By most accounts it's a decent entry level bike. However, many people will refer you to IRO for a starter. might want to check them out...
http://www.irocycle.com/
basically, the pista jumped the shark a year or two ago, IRO will jump the shark in a year or two.

/\ strange viewpoint. both are good bikes, essentially pretty similar in frame construction and quality, though somewhat different in geometry. big difference is that iros are made by a small producer who cares a great deal about cycling, whereas bianchi is a large operation without (presumably) the same degree of customer care, at least at the non reparto corse level.

still i've never heard anything first-hand about parts failure on a pista, or finish problems, though people have posted the usual "some guy i heard about was just riding along when the chrome exploded," or "my friends' was sitting in the garage when the spokes started to self-destruct" etc.

both frames are tig welded in taiwan. this is normal at this price range, across all disciplines of cycling. there are some perfectly good factories in taiwan (pacific being one of them — not the chainstore bike company but a frame builder in taiwain that bulds frames for a lot of the small batch indies like iro and .243 racing), and if you're not willing or able to pay top dollar for a new american-built frame you're going to be riding a taiwain-built product. doesn't mean it's going to fail and you're gonna need dental work bla bla bla. i rode to work on my taiwan-built bike and i'm typing this on my taiwan-built mac and i'm doin jes' fine on both.

iro's probably better equipped dollar for dollar. personally i'm not a fan of deep vs but they're undoubtedly a good street rim. iro/formula hubs are probably better than the stock bianchis, although i've put a good couple of thousand miles on mine, skip/skidding away merrily, even crashing down a set of stairs that fuxored my rims and no problems there. perhaps if they weren't just OEM and they actually sold em as the perfectly serviceable and cheap discount hub set the are they'd be better regarded.

as for the rest it's apples vs apples (the iro has a slightly less unattractive stock fork), and the only choice is really polished vs black.

they feel quite different though. i've ridden both, and there's a distinct variation in handle, as you'd expect from bikes with different headtube angles.

not quite sure how bianchi have jumped the shark, unless you mean with the finish. but unless you mean that iro will suddenly come in bright pink only not sure how they're going to jump the shark. the phrase doesn't really apply, and what i think you mean is that Pistas ceased being "cool" and IROs will too. hardly a criteria upon which to judge a bike.

basically here's the nut: both bikes give you a tremendous amount of bang for the buck. the bp gives you the most trackish off-the-peg bike, and the IRO gives you probably the best build, and definitely the satisfaction of knowing you're supporting a small business and if you're nyc then a local one too. edit: not quite as local - see below

on that note, as far as trendiness goes, if you do live in nyc you'll see five iros for every bianchi pista.

well said, eddie, except that apparently Tony has moved to Pennsylvania--check irocycle.com for that info.

the upside of IRO's is that not only for getting the satisfaction that eddie mentioned is that you'll get great customer service. do a search in the forums. people parrot IRO for a reason--they're good bikes and you're buying them from "one of us," and he'll take care of you.

eddie, as for your little mention of pista failure, i had this conversation with a guy i know, about five weeks ago:
him: "what are you riding now?"
me: "an iro mark v with some other stuff on it. how's your Pista?"
him: "i don't ride it anymore. it was sitting in my garage and all the spokes started snapping. besides, i just got this WICKED AWESOME 1983 STUMPJUMPER!!!!!! CHECK IT OUT!!!!!"

it was a funny conversation.

Actually IRO is located in central Pennsylvania now...

[edit: damn you, queerpunk!]

basically, the pista jumped the shark a year or two ago, IRO will jump the shark in a year or two.
not the proper usage of the term "jump the shark."

yeah, what does "jump the shark" mean anyway?

from tv, when a show is getting old and tired, producers bring in a preposterous stunt in a desperate attempt to regain interest. from "happy days" i believe, when the fonz, waterskiing, jumped a shark. parodied well in the simpsons.

well said, eddie, except that apparently Tony has moved to Pennsylvania--check irocycle.com for that info.

the upside of IRO's is that not only for getting the satisfaction that eddie mentioned is that you'll get great customer service. do a search in the forums. people parrot IRO for a reason--they're good bikes and you're buying them from "one of us," and he'll take care of you.

eddie, as for your little mention of pista failure, i had this conversation with a guy i know, about five weeks ago:
him: "what are you riding now?"
me: "an iro mark v with some other stuff on it. how's your Pista?"
him: "i don't ride it anymore. it was sitting in my garage and all the spokes started snapping. besides, i just got this WICKED AWESOME 1983 STUMPJUMPER!!!!!! CHECK IT OUT!!!!!"

it was a funny conversation.

yea i remember the polterpista story. someone also posted here about pista chrome being suspect too. it ain't funny 'less it's based in truth

Goodness gracious, I just recently snapped a spoke on my pista. Took it to mean that I've become exceptionally legstrong. I think I'll keep living that dream.

Love it anyway. Now that track season is over, it's my main ride on the street. Snappy.

The chrome saddle, while horrible on the pista, works rather nicely on my mountain bike.

yeah, what does "jump the shark" mean anyway?
To suddenly become lame and tired. http://www.jumptheshark.com/

jump the shark = WWAFD?

Arthur Fonzarelli, that is.

i just sold a pista i had for a year and change. the only reason i got rid if it was to make room for new bikes, but i miss it. i found the ride to be actually really nice in a springy lively steel sorta way. the steep angles made for quick precise handling.
i did upgrade the headset and bottom bracket and had the wheels retensioned. after that it was basically bombproof.
it was my only ride with track geometry and i'm quickly realizing how much i liked it.
for 550$ it's gotta be one of the best deals in cycling period.
I do have IRO wheels on a bike and they're definitely nicer and smoother than the stock pista wheelset. Great mom and pop setup with great customer service.

I can't really see IROs becoming lame and tired. I see a lot of Schwinns on the streets too; does that mean that Schwinns are going out of style soon? IROs are just great, affordable bikes with track dropouts and a semi-aggressive geometry. They're not snap bracelets or beanie babies. And it seems unfair to Tony to treat his bikes like a fad, saying they could go out of style. He's just making bikes for us to have fun on, and I appreciate that.

Besides, my Mark V matches my shoes.

my iro matches my shoes too.

maybe by "jump the shark" thechamp meant "get really popular" instead of "stop being popular."

Or amybe he actually meant someone was going to jump over a shark on a IRO. Hey if The Fonze did it it's got to be cool!

maybe by "jump the shark" thechamp meant "get really popular" instead of "stop being popular."
With true hipsters, when something gets really popular, that means it shouldn't be popular anymore. This is the hipster way.

With true hipsters, when something gets really popular, that means it shouldn't be popular anymore. This is the hipster way.

http://catandgirl.com/archive/cg0299costume.gif

I soooo almost posted that strip a few weeks ago. This close.

I have 59 years of life and I love my Pista.
I presently commute 26 miles round trip and consider my ride to work and back the best part of my day.
I have not ridden any other makes of fixed gear bikes and so I can't compare them.
But how could it get any better? :)

With true hipsters, when something gets really popular, that means it shouldn't be popular anymore. This is the hipster way.

well, this is true, and that was what I meant.


But you could also say the all chrome model with the chrome seat was jumping the shark. In the original sense. I'd say that's totally proper origional-definition use of the term.

Anyway, semantics. The fact is that while all the cool kids got them a few years ago, you might suffer some ridicule from them for doing the same.

prediction: It's gonna happen with IRO. it's already begun to happen with those deep Vs.

yo i jumped a shark wearing a chrome jacket with the Fonz's face in rhinestones on the back

the hipsters flocked

but yeah, i dont know that i'd go with this "SE"

what is the SE anyway? edit-nevermind

and I want to clarify. IRO, company and bikes are still going to be great and great value, deep Vs are still going to be, well, as good as they ever were. Just I won't be seeing 8 colors of DeepV in my LBS, and I don't think people are going to be gaga about each new IRO frame or fork like they are now.

What'll do it for IRO? A lugged bike? straight bladed forks? oh wait, cancel that. I got it - compact geometry! that'll be the end of them. I'm surprised they survived the mia!

hey, anyone know how the MIA is doing? I wonder what the non fixie IRO crowd is like?

hey, anyone know how the MIA is doing? I wonder what the non fixie IRO crowd is like?
I've heard good things about it. The only complaints are that it runs a little small, and the disc brakes aren't the best. Otherwise its a solid machine.