Cyclocross - Bianchi year, any ideas?

This turned up on CL this morning...

http://maine.craigslist.org/bik/336356402.html

I checked the Bianch USA archives and can't ID what year or model it is, so I'm turning to the experts. My next question would be, is it a $700 bike? I can get a brand new Volpe for not too much more than that. I'm going to email the seller to try and take a look at it this afternoon after work, so I'd love to be informed when I go.

Thanks for your help!

- Kyle

edit: the closest I found was the 2001 Volpe (http://gianni.bianchiusa.com/2001/sections/bikes/road/volpe/index.html), but I don't know if it came in Celeste that year.

Kinda crappy pics...but judging by the braze-ons, the 1" quill stem and the uni-crown steel fork, my guess is probably mid to late 90's on that one. I'm not too sure that I would believe that the bike is truly handbuilt, but, that word is used widely. It does look like a pretty solid ride, and those components aren't junk, but I would say the majority are below mid-level, with the exception of the Ultegra. Also, it has the geometry of a touring bike more-so than a cyclo-cross bike. I would definitely haggle on the price, maybe $500 or so, depending on what kind of tubing, etc... A brand new Volpe would reap you a warranty as well. And there is my .02.

I appreciate the input. That was the info I was looking for. I figured it was a bit older from the quill stem, and $700 seemed pricey. I'll see how flexible the guy is and take it from there.

- Kyle

This turned up on CL this morning...

http://maine.craigslist.org/bik/336356402.html

I checked the Bianch USA archives and can't ID what year or model it is, so I'm turning to the experts. My next question would be, is it a $700 bike? I can get a brand new Volpe for not too much more than that. I'm going to email the seller to try and take a look at it this afternoon after work, so I'd love to be informed when I go.

Thanks for your help!

- Kyle

edit: the closest I found was the 2001 Volpe (http://gianni.bianchiusa.com/2001/sections/bikes/road/volpe/index.html), but I don't know if it came in Celeste that year.

until a few years ago, Bianchi had a steel (chromo light) Reparto corse cyclocross bike. When my bianchi Axis frame cracked, I asked that they replace it with one of their discontinued steel frames- I had heard they had some in stock that were coming to america. I do think these were still made in Italy, while the Axis and cross-concept are farmed out to taiwan or whatever- not totally sure about that.

my frame came TIG welded and included the same carbon fork as on their alu bike. mine also has the quill stem.

older versions of this frame have lugs. if there aren't lugs it could be as new as 2002. (plus some were still available after that, like mine)

it's a very nice bike. intermediate in weight between my specialized tri-cross and surley cross-check.

the cross bike has the same geometry as the alu cross bikes that bianchi makes (axis , cross concept) - it's not a touring bike per se. although this is a very good all-round frame in addition to a race bike- with fender/rack eyelets and horizontal dropouts (good for SS)

here's the scoop on the steel 'cross bike:

http://gianni.bianchiusa.com/2002/site/bikes/rc/07_sl_cyclo.html
Bianchi USA - SL Cyclo-Cross

if thart link doesn't work- look under "reparto course" in 2002

$700 sounds very reasonable to me! that frame alone retailed for $600. In 2001 it was $800.

marc

Thanks Marc

I heard back from the guy selling it and you ID'd the frame perfectly. I'm going to look at it this evening. Who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll be able to say I am the proud owner of a Bianchi (In Celeste even! :D )

Have fun.

- Kyle