Recreational & Family - Bianchi Milano?

A friend of mine is in the market for a new bike to replace his ageing Schwinn Searcher Transit hybrid. I wasn't sure where to put this thread but my friend rides 1500 to 2000 miles a year, virtually all of them on the bike path. He lives only a half-mile (or less) from the bike path and he'll even walk his bike to the path! Oh well, at least he rides.

Anyway, my LBS, a Bianchi dealer, is all sold out of the Bianchi Avenues (and Jamis Citizens, thier other line) but they have a couple of Milano's in stock, which I'm convincing him to buy. He initially didn't want to spend more than $300 and the Milano costs twice as much, but I feel that he will be happier with something like this rather than just another hybrid, since not only it looks classier but it has a mantainence-free eight-speed internal hub gear instead of 24 speeds he's never going to use.

We are going to go to the LBS to look at it since he's actually considering one and I was wondering if anybody else here has a Milano and if they like it or not.

I got a Bianchi Milano for my wife, she absolutely loves it.. :love:
She has her other bike, I beleive its a Mongoose Saint, has a front shock and 7 speed, but she definately notices the difference in the Milano, so I guess the extra $$$ makes it well worth it even on cruisers.
I think your friend would be happy with the Milano, good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks for the response, bianchi rider!

My friend and I are going to test-ride a new Milano next weekend and I think he will be happier with something special like that bike. It seems like everybody and thier brother has a hybrid.

Not to stray off-topic but...

Speaking of Bianchi's, I'm currently redoing an '87 Eros, lugged Superset II steel frame. I stripped off the horrible pink and black paint and painted it celeste and I got a decal set from the Bianchi dealer which I will apply after I wet-sand the frame. There's a Campy Veloce group waiting to go on it!

The thing I hate about internal geared hubs is you have to stop pedaling for it to change gears (or atleast - it's the IDEAL thing to do)

The thing I hate about internal geared hubs is you have to stop pedaling for it to change gears (or atleast - it's the IDEAL thing to do)

I almost never stop pedalling to shift.

Of course, one of the things people hate about derailers is that you must pedal in order to shift.

Not to stray off-topic but...

Speaking of Bianchi's, I'm currently redoing an '87 Eros, lugged Superset II steel frame. I stripped off the horrible pink and black paint and painted it celeste and I got a decal set from the Bianchi dealer which I will apply after I wet-sand the frame. There's a Campy Veloce group waiting to go on it!
Be sure to post a pic when you finish the Eros, I bet it will be awsome, there is just something about that Celeste paint :)

maybe it's different but on the trek 400 with the 8 speed nexus it is almost impossible to shift while pedaling. What the manual states is to shift when you are not pedaling or pedaling under load. I have to concur because it never seems to shift when on load.

The Rholff (sp) hub on the other hand was built for off road performance racing and I believe has no problem rapidly shifting.

Anyway, my LBS, a Bianchi dealer, is all sold out of the Bianchi Avenues (and Jamis Citizens, thier other line) but they have a couple of Milano's in stock, which I'm convincing him to buy. He initially didn't want to spend more than $300 and the Milano costs twice as much, but I feel that he will be happier with something like this rather than just another hybrid, since not only it looks classier but it has a mantainence-free eight-speed internal hub gear instead of 24 speeds he's never going to use.

We are going to go to the LBS to look at it since he's actually considering one and I was wondering if anybody else here has a Milano and if they like it or not.

I have the Milano and consider it a good 'starter' bike. I'm thinking of selling mine because my riding style is more aggressive than it was two years ago. The Milano is not really a hybrid but more like a beach cruiser so it's actually slower than less say a Trek 7700 fx.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have purchased the Bianchi Bergamo. This is a true hybrid and comes with a rear rack and the 700 c tires making it more aggressive than the Milano. This cycle is more like the city bikes made in Europe and it even comes with a rear rack. The Sram dual drive will give you 27 gears which means he'll always have enough for those tough hills! You can shfit even while stopped to a lower gear with the Bergamo. It's a better bike overall.


http://www.bianchiusa.com/bergamo.htmlld have purchased the B

Hows the 87 Eros coming, are you finished?
Did your friend get the Milano?


Not to stray off-topic but...

Speaking of Bianchi's, I'm currently redoing an '87 Eros, lugged Superset II steel frame. I stripped off the horrible pink and black paint and painted it celeste and I got a decal set from the Bianchi dealer which I will apply after I wet-sand the frame. There's a Campy Veloce group waiting to go on it!