Road Cycling - Bianchi...

Some things I've noticed after a quick visit to Bianchi USA website:

- Why are most Bianchi (road) frames on the US market still made of steel? Here in Europe its all Alu, Titanium and Carbon fibre (for forks and rear stays).

- Why are all Bianchi frames on the US market all US made? Italian made frames (and the cheaper azian "Bianchi's") don't use Easton tubes. This way an American Bianchi isn't, except for the name. Is it not possible to get some real "reparto corse" in the States?

- Whats with Americans and Bianchi Celeste? In Europe if you order a frame, they offer a wide range of colors. But 99 percent of sales is Bianchi Celeste (apart from some temporary fashion trends like "Mercatone Uno" team colors, etc.). But for some reason Americans don't like Celeste. Is this a matter of not being raised with the tradition and lacking serious covering of road racing on US television? Or is it just a matter of taste?

Regards,
Timo

As the owner of a rare "Ralph Lauren brown" 1982 Bianchi, I do notice the colours of other Bianchis on the road and on eBay. I know one lady who actually had her new Celeste Bianchi painted dark blue, because she did not like "puke green." However, I see the opposite effect consistently on eBay, i.e., the Celeste Bianchis seem to attract higher bids than those in other colours. I am told that in the early 1980s, most Bianchi models sold in the states were available in Celeste and one other colour; the first owner of mine actually preferred Celeste, but settled on brown to get the correct frame size quickly from the local distributor's stock.

The only Celeste paint jobs I dislike are the ones with the yellow or pink splashes. I really like the "negative contrast" dark blue with Celeste Bianchi decals colour scheme which Pantani rode a few years ago.

Americans, myself definitely included, savor the ride quality of a good Italian steel frame.

Let me introduce myself:

My name is Timo. I am 28 years old, live in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and untill five years ago I was a cycling fanatic, but my studies interfered. I stopped training, started to enjoy students live and gained 60 pounds.

Prior to that moment I rode my bike in a cycling club and during training rides, about 250 km a week. My "palmarès":
- Col du Tourmalet
- Col du Soulor
- Col d'Aubisque
- Jaizkibel
- Col du Pourtalet
- Col d'Apin
and many minor climbs during a 2 weeks tour in France and Spain.

But my main cyclin was in flat races in Holland. Sometimes when I had a weird day I did upto 250 km on one day all alone.

I've taken up cycling again and currently I am preparing at low speed to reduce fat. Goal is "rondje Zuiderzee" in July, a 330km one-day event.

My bikes:
- A 1999 Alu Bianchi with Time carbon fork, Ultegra 9-speed and Mavic wheels with carbon aero rims. I also have a set of Mavic climbing wheels but I don't use them as my weight is still above the max for them. As the bike was intended for climbing, it has a non-STI lever on the left, an old fashion shifter on the down tube for the front gear but an STI breaklever for the rear. Titanium axle and saddle post, etc.

- I have just ordered a Bianchi Cyclo-Cross bike for winter trails. The frame is a custom job (my dealer is the best) as Bianchi does not make Alu CC frames (its not the Axis frame, which is US only). The group is a mixture of Shimano Ultegra and XT, spooky brakes and Hügi hubs. Only one front blade (46t) will do the trick in combination with a 11-23 cassette, as there are no steep climbs on Dutch CC tracks. If the bike feels good, I will prepare it for my special project. I want to do the touring version of Paris-Roubaix next year.

Thats me.

Cheers,
Timo

Hallo John,

You wrote:
"The only Celeste paint jobs I dislike are the ones with the yellow or pink splashes. I really like the "negative contrast" dark blue with Celeste Bianchi decals colour scheme which Pantani rode a few years ago."

I agree. The Yellow/Celeste bike were used by the Mercatone Uno team of Marco Pantani. Many Bianchis I see on the road have these "team replica" colors, which is a disgrace for true Bianchi purists :)
After his Tour and Giro wins, Pantani rode a black (not dark blue) slooping frame with yellow and pink (referring to the leader jerseys) splashes and celeste decals. Cruelty.
I did like Bianchi's 110th "birthday" special: A Titanium frame that was indeed Dark Blue with Celeste decals. Very classy.

My bike has a pure celeste frame, celeste ribbon, bottle cages, PP286 Look pedals, custom celeste front blade bolts and stem. Offcourse the finishing touch are the Michelin Axial Pros tires.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers,
Timo

A Bianchi that's not celeste is like a Ferrari that's not red.

A Bianchi that's not celeste is like a Ferrari that's not red.

+1

+1

sweet...a thread thats almost 6 years old.

how do you people dig up these ancient relics?

Because if someone posts a new one there is always one ******* who would remember the old thread and scream to use the search feature.

Because if someone posts a new one there is always one ******* who would remember the old thread and scream to use the search feature.

But he didn't ask a question, he just +1'd an ancient thread.

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!

LYNCH HIM!


:p

But he didn't ask a question, he just +1'd an ancient thread.

LMFAO!!

:roflmao::roflmao:

Everyone who agrees to let this thread die say "Aye" ;)

Aye.

Can't, we still haven't resolved the issue of red Bianchis and celeste Ferraris.

Celeste Ferrari? I like it!

Celeste Ferrari? I like it!

Wasn't she married to John DeLorean?

http://www.motoradictos.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/tn_ferrari_599_gtb-2.jpg
http://www.cstudio.net/1-12murc40th.jpg
http://www.campyonly.com/images/modbikes/2005/SmallpicMyBike.JPG

I like that RED Bianchi! Very nice bike. What are those crank arms though?

Everyone who agrees to let this thread die say "Aye" ;)

aye

Die!

(Rhymes with aye?)

+1


04-24-02, 09:05 AM

:roflmao: