Cleave

Well, I just ordered a new Bianchi Super Pista frame. I like the aesthetic of the Pista Concept better but they transformed it into the Super Pista. Getting the same size (same geometry) in Celeste. Turns out the Bianchi warranty on aluminum frames is 5 years. This one is over 6-1/2 years old. I'll post photos of the crack later.

My wife said, "Don't you want to upgrade?"

I thought OMG, what an opportunity. However, I believe I need to have a Celeste Bianchi in my life that I ride regularly so I'm sticking with them. I guess I'm lucky that Bianchi USA has one in stock that's my size.

Cleave

VanceMac, I really like Cannondale's race bike geometry. I was unhappy with the geometry on the original Cervélo R3 (at least the 51 cm size) and the geometry on the Lapierre Xelius was competent but it didn't "speak" to me. Cannondale's SuperSix / CADD geometry works very well for me in criteriums and long climbs.

sarals 

I've never heard anything bad about the Cannondale CAADs or the Evo. I'd love to ride one one day. A Felt F series is high on the list, too.

Bianchi still makes the Pista series out of aluminum, Cleave? Hmmm. I did not know that!

Cleave

Here's the soon-to-be-departed Bianchi Pista Concept in normal training and TT/pursuit configurations:



These photos of "the crack" make it look worse than it does in person:


Not sure what I'm going to do with the frame after I build up the Super Pista. There are a lot of varying opinions about repairing 7000 series aluminum welds.

Finally, here's the stable as it stands ordered by purchase date:

I've ridden all of them except the Bianchi Specialissima (top row, far left) within the last 30 days. Well, the Shiv has only been on the trainer so far.

The blank spot next to the Shiv is for the SuperSix EVO. The blank row on the top is for something in steel that been hanging out in my garage. BTW, please don't ask for garage photos. They are way too scary.

VanceMac

Tough break on the crack. But I'd say you got your money's worth with almost 7 years of track time? When do you take delivery?

sarals 

Cleave, good heavens! That's quite a stable. With all that Celeste Green, I'm surprised at your signature!

sarals 

Here's the Look as of today after it's refit. This is the training/road race setup. I've yet to ride it. Openpro rims front and rear, new Oura saddle, new WHITE bar tape, and a new brake cable (the sheathing on the rear one was showing wear). I think the additional white accessories make it look a bit more unified. I know that white bar tape will make me faster. The crit setup will have the 165mm crank with standard chain rings, Easton wheels, GP4000S tires, and a 12t - 25 (thanks, Shovel) cassette.

trekmogul 

here is one of my heaps...

Cleave

VanceMac, that's funny. That's almost exactly what the Bianchi rep said at the track last night. He thought that it might not be a total loss, that someone might be able to repair it. At a minimum he thought I could ride the bike for a while longer. As I said, the crack looks worse it the photos than in real life.

sarals, the Look looks good. Looks like a proper race fit.

trekmogul, I always liked the TTX.

sarals 

Trekmogul, how about some more bike photos?

Esteban58

Sara, 'Looks' good. (someone had to say it, right?)

Cleave, does Bianchi give you a volume discount? That's an impressive collection.

shovelhd

2013 Felt FC, DA7900, S975 Quarq. Training trim. 15.2lbs.





Racing trim. 14.3 lbs.

sarals 

Whoa...Shovel, it has a rather "purposeful" look to it, doesn't it? Really, really nice!

Cleave

Hi shovelhd, looks like a nice "upgrade" from your prior bike. Under 14 lbs without the "drop-in" bars?

Racer Ex 

Zoom zoom.

shovelhd

It's an upgrade for sure. Maybe 14 even without the speed bars. I spent some time on them yesterday. I'm not as comfortable on them as I was before. I think it has to do with the deep wheels. I think my weight distribution is close to the same, but it's hard to tell. The front end is quick. So I may not keep them on. I want to try them in a race or two first.

sarals 

Would I love a bike like that. However, I'd really need to know if I'm a good enough rider to make use of it before I got one (somehow, I think not, right now). Shovel, it looks very much like a weapon. In your hands, I know it is.

shovelhd

Thanks everyone. I promised pictures but it took a while.

Hermes

Shovel, That is a fantastic looking bike but I really like the setup with the 17 degree stem, Cane Creek bars and color integration. The deep section carbon wheels make a bike look really cool. Well done.

Hermes

I would not want to be on your wheel when you decided to try to drop me and went uber aero similar to someone else we know.

AzTallRider

Nice... love it. And that's light.

Cleave

OK, here it is, my race rig for 2013, a SuperSix EVO:

13.95 lbs as shown except without the computer (but with the computer mount). Having a bit of a problem with the press-fit cup for the Ultra Torque cranks and may end up pressing an english BB adapter into it instead. The crazy thing is that aside from the Zipp carbon cages, there really aren't any weight weenie parts on it. In fact, several parts on it are heavier than what was on my prior SuperSix Hi-Mod which weighed 14.40 lbs.

Handling seems to be the same as the Hi-Mod which is good because I liked how that bike handled.

sarals 

Cleave, I love it. Love it! What size is it?

I'm soooooooo jealous of you and Shovel. Oh, I wish I could afford me a race rig!

Maybe if I sell my car....

sarals 

Cleave, you mentioned handling. You reminded me that I don't like the handling of Look so much with the OpenPro wheels. It's smooth all right, but it's not as sure footed, especially on descents, as it was with the Easton EA90s. On the other hand, the 928, which was really good with the Eastons, is even better with the Campy Eurus wheelset. It seems a little bit twitchier, but at speed it's rock solid stable and it descends like a Ducati Monster.

I'd love to try some good deep dish carbon wheels on both bikes.

Then again, I'd like to marry a millionaire.

shovelhd

Yowza. Nice rig.