Road Cycling - Colnago Rapid 2004 or Bianchi XL EV3

The Colnago Rapid is full aluminum with carbon street fork (carbon with alu steerer). Full veloce group (including campy hubs with mavic rims).

The Bianchi is full alu frame with carbon fork (not sure what the fork is called or if its full carbon or alu steerer) has full centaur group.

The colnago is actually cheaper but the Bianchi is on sale so its now in my price range (still a few hundred more than the colnago).

Which would you choose and why??

Chado

I have a Bianchi EV3 Alu with the XL carbon fork (carbon steerer). Very, very smooth and comfortable ride. Snappy handling. Light frame. I have full Record carbon on it (wallet outpacing my ability right now), ITM Super Over bars, ITM stem. The seatpost is an Easton EC70; I just read too many horror stories of poor construction and customer service with the Campy Record carbon seatpost. Sella San Marco Aspide Arrowhead Ti saddle. I am riding Mavic Open Pros until my ability justifies something lighter and more aero.

I haven't tried the Colnago Rapid, but the EV3 is a great ride. It's stiff enough to transfer power to the road but compliant around corners. I'm a poor climber, average sprinter, and good tempo rider. Haven't sprinted with it yet, but I feel more at home climbing what modest hills he have around here aboard my EV3. And I absolutely love a smooth, flat road as I can really push a brisk cadence with little waste of effort.

I have a Bianchi EV3 Alu with the XL carbon fork (carbon steerer). Very, very smooth and comfortable ride. Snappy handling. Light frame. I have full Record carbon on it (wallet outpacing my ability right now), ITM Super Over bars, ITM stem. The seatpost is an Easton EC70; I just read too many horror stories of poor construction and customer service with the Campy Record carbon seatpost. Sella San Marco Aspide Arrowhead Ti saddle. I am riding Mavic Open Pros until my ability justifies something lighter and more aero.

I haven't tried the Colnago Rapid, but the EV3 is a great ride. It's stiff enough to transfer power to the road but compliant around corners. I'm a poor climber, average sprinter, and good tempo rider. Haven't sprinted with it yet, but I feel more at home climbing what modest hills he have around here aboard my EV3. And I absolutely love a smooth, flat road as I can really push a brisk cadence with little waste of effort.


I thank you for the reply. Did yours come with the record or did you custom build it? The one in the shop I'm looking at is on sale and has the full centaur group. I am waiting for the owner to come in so I can talk to him to see what he would want to swap to a chorus crank/bb because I heard that the quality was much better on the chorus for the crank. Other than that I think the centaur is fine. The bike is gorgous...but it still doesn't have that hand painted italian look. The thing is though, this is a higher end bike for a good deal.

And the number one reason I'm leaning toward the Bianchi (or I'd probably already own the colnago) the shop was pushing me to take the one in stock that was "close in size" I'm 6'2 33" inseam and I've had two shops tell me that I need a 61. This colnago isn't any bigger than a 57 and I cant get a different size its that size or nothing :/

Chado

G'day chad,

I'm sure the forum will correct me if I'm wrong, however....Don't assume that The 'rapid' frame is as 'italian' as you might believe. My understanding is that Colnago, (along with just about everyone else) has outsourced the welding of their lower end ALU frames to Taiwan. Whilst this doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it, (it would still be a Colnago design & spec), its something to consider if you are looking at other brands that are still manufactured 'inhouse'. I don't know either frame,I would go with the one that gives you the most flexibility & pricing on the gruppo & other stuff,

cheers,

Hitchy

G'day chad,

I'm sure the forum will correct me if I'm wrong, however....Don't assume that The 'rapid' frame is as 'italian' as you might believe. My understanding is that Colnago, (along with just about everyone else) has outsourced the welding of their lower end ALU frames to Taiwan. Whilst this doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it, (it would still be a Colnago design & spec), its something to consider if you are looking at other brands that are still manufactured 'inhouse'. I don't know either frame,I would go with the one that gives you the most flexibility & pricing on the gruppo & other stuff,

cheers,

Hitchy


Hey Hitchy,

I asked the shop and they insisted that it was made in Italy and that Colnago doesn't outsource anything. I was also told that Bianchi doesn't do that anymore either on there reparto course road bikes (which this one is). So I'm hopeing they aren't lying to me...but I guess you never know :(

I looked for a sticker on the frame to see either or but nothing was visible that I could see?

Chado

Got the EV3 frame and put my stuff on it. Its a 57cm frame, and I'm 6' with a 31.5" inseam. It fits beautifully. I'm also a heavier rider, 230 lbs., and the frame does not flex excessively. Come to think of it, I haven't noticed it at all, but I've only done some modest climbs and no sprint work. That was one of the reasons I bought it. If Magnus Backstedt can excel aboard an EV3 (http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/tour04/tech/?id=tourbikes1/CN-TDF04-Alessio02), then I'm confident in my frame. As soon as I get my grubby hands on some Campagnolo Eurus (used by Backstedt to win Paris-Roubaix), then I'm as tricked out as I can get for a while.

I'm not sure if the EV3 is manufactured in Italy. I want to say it is done in Asia, but I'm not sure. Bianchi's web site is on the fritz in my browser right now. Don't know what they did to it. I hope they didn't make it an IE-only site. My EV3 did come with a sticker on the headtube that read "MADE IN ITALY," so maybe it is actually manufactured in Italy.

This is the first bike I've had with a carbon steerer. I'm a little worried about its durability as compared to an aluminum steerer, but we'll see.

I would definitely swing the Chorus group if possible. The Chorus group is quite nice. Not a big step down from Record really, but the difference between Chorus and Centaur is wider. Still, an EV3 outfitted with a Centaur group would make for a fine, fine ride.

Hey Hitchy,

I asked the shop and they insisted that it was made in Italy and that Colnago doesn't outsource anything. I was also told that Bianchi doesn't do that anymore either on there reparto course road bikes (which this one is). So I'm hopeing they aren't lying to me...but I guess you never know :(

I looked for a sticker on the frame to see either or but nothing was visible that I could see?

Chado

g'day Chad,

Your bike shop is either lieing or misinformed. The Colnago 'Chic" was their previous 'low end' ALU frame & it was absolutely, definately, positively, welded in taiwan. I think as the Rapid is the replacement for the CHic (I think), thats its likely they do the same. Mind you, I don't think this is a secret, I would imagine Colnago would happily confirm this...as i said, its not necessarily a bad thing, nor effects the quality of the frame. But it takes away a bit of the 'romance' of an Italian frame doesn't it?,

cheers,

Hitchy

g'day Chad,

Your bike shop is either lieing or misinformed. The Colnago 'Chic" was their previous 'low end' ALU frame & it was absolutely, definately, positively, welded in taiwan. I think as the Rapid is the replacement for the CHic (I think), thats its likely they do the same. Mind you, I don't think this is a secret, I would imagine Colnago would happily confirm this...as i said, its not necessarily a bad thing, nor effects the quality of the frame. But it takes away a bit of the 'romance' of an Italian frame doesn't it?,

cheers,

Hitchy

Well that's unfortunate. I just moved here and theres 6 bike stores I guess I have to put an X through the one that sells all the colnagos :( The bike shop that sells the Bianchi's is really nice and insists on ordering in my size (which they say is 61) and so I am liking them better even though I'd have to special order a colnago...and definetly not get the best price.

Now can you confirm if the Bianchi Reparto Course (ML/SL/XL) frames are made in Italy like they say they are?

Chado