Road Cycling - Shimano 105 vs. Ultegra, ie Bianchi Vigorelli vs. Imola

Hello,
I'm a newbie roadie, buying my first road bike after drilling a hybrid as a road bike for about a year and a half. I'm now starting to train for lifecycle (SF to LA) for next June.
Is the difference between 105/Ultegra worth $300, ie is it worth it to buy the Bianchi vigorelli over the imola?
Thanks!
Charlie

Hello,
I'm a newbie roadie, buying my first road bike after drilling a hybrid as a road bike for about a year and a half. I'm now starting to train for lifecycle (SF to LA) for next June.
Is the difference between 105/Ultegra worth $300, ie is it worth it to buy the Bianchi vigorelli over the imola?
Thanks!
Charlie

It's not the differenece between 105 and ultegra that makes it $300 differenece. You get better wheels I'm sure on the higher model, etc. There are other parts on that bike that make it cost more I'm sure.

In reality the group price between 105 and ultegra is only $100. Go check GVH website for prices on build kits $825 for 105 and $925 for ultegra.

P.S. If you ride a lot get the vigorelli.....$300 extra is not a lot of money spread out over 10,000 -15,000 miles of road riding.

How much do they want for vigorelli? 04 or 05 model?

vigorelli '04 for $1600.

vigorelli '04 for $1600.

I live in S.F. Bay Area Too. I didn't even know about that ride. What's the website? I'll do it for sure.

Meanwhile I'll go to bianchi site to research. I like Bianchi's too. Probably my next bike will be steel Bianchi.

www.aidslifecycle.com. It is a tribute ride. 585 miles over 7 days.
Thanks so much for the help!

How much do they want for vigorelli? 04 or 05 model?

That was easy.....Vigorelli gets you Kysirium Equipe wheels while Imola gives you 105/cxp22 wheels.

Those wheels on the Vigorelli are better. Some people would say Vigorelli has much better wheels than Imola.

So so far the Vigorelli $300 price difference is due to better components and better wheels. Wheel quality is probably more important than component quality so take that into consideration.

I wonder what other people have to say about this? I'm not really an expert on mavic wheels.

If the extra $300 isn't going to break ya, I'd go for the Vigorelli, the wheelset is much better. I have the Mavic Ksyrium Equipes on my 2004 Bianchi Virata, they're tight.

The day I bought it, I was looking seriously at the Virgorelli. The sales dude talked me into taking the Virata out for a spin too. That was it, I bought it. It is one smooth, tight ride. Don't test ride it or you'll blow your budget.

Hi,
if you get the Imola, consider upgrading the wheels
at the time of purchse. Prob cost you an extra hundred or
so. I'd go for the Open Pro, or perhaps one of the fancy hi tech wheels.