Road Cycling - Mmmmmm, my new baby!!!

Just got home from the bike shop with a new Bianchi Virata in tow, man am I excited! After an extensive test ride, I felt great. I was worried that the semi-compact Virata wouldn't work with my 6'4" tall frame but after 20 miles in the saddle no pain and it rode smooth as glass.

http://www.drizzle.com/~stork/images/virata.jpg

Now if I could only get some nice pedals and shoes, that's the next step. I had to throw on my old Shimano MTB pedals, I felt like I was defacing it. Any recommendations are appreciated, I value being able to click in and out very easily.

Can't wait for the weekend!

Just got home from the bike shop with a new Bianchi Virata in tow, man am I excited! After an extensive test ride, I felt great. I was worried that the semi-compact Virata wouldn't work with my 6'4" tall frame but after 20 miles in the saddle I feel great.

http://www.drizzle.com/~stork/images/virata.jpg

Now if I could only get some nice pedals and shoes, that's the next step. I had to throw on my old Shimano MTB pedals, I felt like I was defacing it. Any recommendations are appreciated, I value being able to click in and out very easily.

Can't wait for the weekend!
Sweeeeeeeeeeet !!!!! :beer:
Now click on the link http://store.bianchiusa.com/cgi-bin/store/H2280.html
and get those pedals to match...
Awsome bike, Great choice, enjoy and ride safe :)

What shoe style do you prefer? Do you want walkability? Pedals are a personal thing but I prefer double-sided pedals and have had good luck with Speedplays. I'm currently using the Speedplay Zeros. Other pedals to consider include the:


Speedplay Frog
Bebop
Time ATAC (I use these on my MTB)
Time Impact
Crank Brothers Eggbeater
Crank Brothers Quattro


BTW, speaking of defacement. I think the the "dork-disc" spoke protector contributes more defacing than your pedals. ;)

OT, but bianchi_rider, do you own this?
http://store.bianchiusa.com/store/images/items/H4011.jpg

melloboy :)

Nope, dont own that, but it would look cool on a wall somewhere in my house :D

Man, the more I see Celeste, the more I love it!

Congrats on the sweet new ride. !

EDIT: I'm with khuon here. Ditch the "dork disk" on your rear wheel. :rolleyes:

Man, the more I see Celeste, the more I love it!

Congrats on the sweet new ride. !

EDIT: I'm with khuon here. Ditch the "dork disk" on your rear wheel. :rolleyes:

Yes, I wanted to remove the dork disk as soon as I got it home this afternoon, thanks all for pointing this out :rolleyes: Since I have to take the cassette off to do so, I may just take it back to the shop tomorrow and have them do it.

FYI N7, the color is indeed not celeste but kandy blue.

Since I have to take the cassette off to do so, I may just take it back to the shop tomorrow and have them do it.

Not necessarily. In the past I just used a pair of snips.

<snip> FYI N7, the color is indeed not celeste but kandy blue.
Man, the color on my laptop must be way off. Still, great looking ride!

it does look candy blue....

SWEET RIDE my friend!! I am partial to the Bianchi clan as well. The color is perfect. My green is showing through, however!

g'day,

a bianchi in kandy Blue...not celeste!! what's the world coming to?....You'll be excommunicated!....thats like Ferrari's coming in any colour but Red, the malliot Jeurne, (however its spelt :D) in mauve, Octoberfest in May.....I'm going to have a lie down........

I tried hitchy I really did :D but alas, it only comes in kandy blue, blasphemous, I know. But I really wanted all the cool steel/carbon goodness, and I love the blue too!

the malliot Jeurne, (however its spelt :D) in mauve

Since "jaune" is French for yellow, wouldn't it then just be called the Maillot Mauve?

Since "jaune" is French for yellow, wouldn't it then just be called the Maillot Mauve?

...........or whatever the French word for mauve is!...but seeing as my French skills are limited to trying to decipher the 'instructions' that came with my 'Look' frameset.....I'll let someone else elaborate :)

hitchy

Since "jaune" is French for yellow, wouldn't it then just be called the Maillot Mauve?

Yes, and Mayfest

Yes, and Mayfest

OK...i surrender...so lets just call the colour 'kandy blue Bianchi that really should be celeste'...lol

hitchy

Nice Bianchi. Very nice.

My Maillot Jaune should be re-named "Puke Purple". Oh well, when you buy used at a great discount, you're likely to give up something.

55/Rad

...........or whatever the French word for mauve is!..

And I believe that would be... mauve. :D

And I believe that would be... mauve. :D

aaahhh...... see, subtle humour does work sometimes!!!...who said Seppo's wouldn't get that one....lol

Duuuude,

I did the same thing over the weekend. Sweet ride.

I used Eggbeaters and I have some Candy's on the way. They just came out with a new road pedal too. Once you get used to getting out of them they're fine. Getting in is a piece of cake. A lot of shops have demo's you can try.

And in Seattle you can use that Triple.

All you need know is a pair of Ksyriums SSL and you're ready to literally FLY, my man!
Corsaire

Looks like a nice ride. I've always liked look pedals. This year I picked up some Shimano DuraAce 7800 pedals. They are very nice. I then ditched my old Nike shoes and got some Specialized Carbon Comp's. Very Stiff and comfy for my big feet.

Chris

nice pic and nice bike Greenstork! almost as nice as my huge (throbbing) red Viner!

seriously though, that bike is a stunner (and considerably lighter than mine i'm sure). glad you made it through the buying process and got something that fit you. i'm surprised the stem doesn't look longer considering how tall you are....

i use speedplay pedals, but i definitely wouldn't get the Frogs - that's speedplays mtb pedal and their clearance isn't that great. like if you pedal through turns you may catch one on the ground if you're not careful.

i use the X/2 stainless and i'm happy with them. floaty and easy in/out. the cleat is big, but oh well - road shoes aren't made for walking anyway.
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.x

congratulations!

Thanks for the pedal recommendations all :) and for the kind words about my new ride.

I think I am going to go with the Speedplay X2 pedals. My LBS also recommended them, claiming that they had a nice float and it is very easy to clip in and out.

Cheers,
Dave