General Cycling Discussion - Never thought this would make me happy...

...but it does! A mechanical failure on my road bike forced me to borrow a friend's Bianchi Campione last weekend. It's a steel bike with Campy Mirage shifting components. I've been riding a Trek 2300 with Shimano Ultegra STI (9 speed) for the last 8 years. The Bianchi rides like a dream. I rode it 68 miles with a bike club on Saturday and then rode another 10 miles on my own. I was one happy camper. As far as I'm concerned, my friend who loaned me the Bianchi is never getting it back! He doesn't need it anyway. He has a Serotta Legend (Ti).

Carry on.

Clarification -- I never thought I would enjoy riding steel and was too embarrassed to admit I like Bianchi green!!!!

Has 9-speed been around for 8 years? Man, I'm gettin' old...

Has 9-speed been around for 8 years? Man, I'm gettin' old...

Naaaaa. I converted the 7-speed down tube Ultegra to 9 speed Ultegra STI three years ago.

what was so great about the ride vs the trek?

...but it does! A mechanical failure on my road bike forced me to borrow a friend's Bianchi Campione last weekend. It's a steel bike with Campy Mirage shifting components. I've been riding a Trek 2300 with Shimano Ultegra STI (9 speed) for the last 8 years. The Bianchi rides like a dream. I rode it 68 miles with a bike club on Saturday and then rode another 10 miles on my own. I was one happy camper. As far as I'm concerned, my friend who loaned me the Bianchi is never getting it back! He doesn't need it anyway. He has a Serotta Legend (Ti).

Carry on.

It's the steel.

Mirage is lower in class compared to Ultegra. But you don't ride components and the frame makes all the difference. Welcome to the world of steel bicycles.

what was so great about the ride vs the trek?

The ride itself wasn't noticeably different. One of the bike's owners put a Kinesis carbon fork on the bike. That helped the ride, I think. The bike handled and responded a lot different that the Trek. I could honestly feel the difference in power transfer. Part of it was that I expected a more harsh ride, a heavier bike, and a slower bike. That's not what I got. A lot of it was mental, I know. As the ride went on, I appreciated the bike more and more. Several people in the group also commented on the bike's looks. It's a good looking bike.

Good steel gives a fantastic ride...it's just that most of us (me included) are more impressed with "lighter". My old Ritchey Road Logic had an INCREDIBLE ride.
Now..I have to try TI. How does it compare?

where did he get this bike? i can't find that model on the usa website. is it the same as the eros?

Pictures kthx.

The Campione, and before that the Campione D'Italia, was between the Eros and the Veloce in Bianchi's lineup. I believe that the model has been discontinued. Mine is a 95 with Mirage 8-sp grouppo. I added a set of Spinergy Xaero-X wheels last year, and a Specialized BG saddle about 6 years ago. Other than that it is just the way it left Italy, right down to the Celeste paint.

Wow what a buff guy.

Wow what a buff guy.

Excuse me?

...I like Bianchi green!!!!

FREAK!

The Campione, and before that the Campione D'Italia, was between the Eros and the Veloce in Bianchi's lineup. I believe that the model has been discontinued. Mine is a 95 with Mirage 8-sp grouppo. I added a set of Spinergy Xaero-X wheels last year, and a Specialized BG saddle about 6 years ago. Other than that it is just the way it left Italy, right down to the Celeste paint.

Thanks for the clarifications! The Bianchi I am riding is the Campione D'Italia with Mirage 8-spd. The rear wheel is a standard spoked wheel and the front has the Spinergy Rev X from my old Trek. The Spinergy looks cool with the carbon fork. My guess is that the bike was originally purchased new in 96 or 97. I can find out from the guy who originally bought the bike as he is a friend of mine.

FREAK!

I feel so free now that I am out of the Bianchi closet. Anyone for an Italian opera?

Good steel gives a fantastic ride...it's just that most of us (me included) are more impressed with "lighter". My old Ritchey Road Logic had an INCREDIBLE ride.
Now..I have to try TI. How does it compare?

Another friend of mine let me ride his Serotta Legend (Ti) for two months last year. I was getting ready to ride a ride that was a climbing challenge, his back was screwed up, and he was nice enough to let me use his Serotta. It made the ride so much better -- I had done it on my Trek before.

Steel is nice, but Ti is incredible. When I finally get the $$ to actually buy a new bike for myself, Ti is the way I am going to go.

do some ti bikes actually have stiff bottom brackets?

if i were to buy a complete bike the veloce and the eros look great... cept they need a steel fork (i like rambling)

also, the bianchi steel you rode might not be near as good compared to a waterford bike since the better steel isn't jig built and doesn't lose some of it's springyness while being built.


and also, is the spinergy as crappy as i read in the other forums?

do some ti bikes actually have stiff bottom brackets?

if i were to buy a complete bike the veloce and the eros look great... cept they need a steel fork (i like rambling)

also, the bianchi steel you rode might not be near as good compared to a waterford bike since the better steel isn't jig built and doesn't lose some of it's springyness while being built.


and also, is the spinergy as crappy as i read in the other forums?

1. The Serotta had a stiff BB.
2. Maybe. But the carbon fork seems to be a nice touch.
3. Never rode a Waterford but every Waterford owner I have ever talked to gushes about the ride. Beautiful bikes.
4. My Spinergy Rev X wheels have been great. The only complaint I have against them is that they are a little scary in a crosswind. Since they don't make the Rev X wheel any more, that may say something about quality. I don't have a lot to compare as I generally don't ride the high end stuff unless it's a gift (like the Spinergy wheels were).

By the way -- YARGH!!!!

It's not Green man it Celeste :D

oh. and what was so great about the ti vs. steel?

It really seems like a bike frame is like shorts and seats it's all personal and you don't know what you like till you try it.