The Bianchi Veloce and I (pics)
06-12-06, 11:00 PM
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The Bianchi Veloce and I (pics)
I've always loved Bianchi. And I've always craved a Campagnolo groupset. So when my 3-month old Bianchi Brava began to sputter, with the low-end components requiring almost weekly repair trips down to the LBS, I decided it was time for it to go. With that, I began my search.
Enter Craigslist. I was doing my late-night OCD Craigslist Crawl when I saw an ad for a Bianchi Veloce - my size, 55 cm. It was the '03, the last of the Italian made models. Full Campy Veloce gruppo, ridden less than 200 miles in perfect condition. For $700. I couldn't believe it.
Two days later - it was mine!
So far, I am seriously loving it. Campy is just that good - I don't think I'll ever go back to Shimano. The Reparto Corse frame is beautiful, and the 631 steel frame is pretty damn light as well, with the bike weighing in at 21 pounds or so. Later I'll upgrade the Mavic wheels to a new Scirocco wheelset.
Without further ado, the pictures.
I can't express in words how much I love these shifters.
A very happy first ride!
Enter Craigslist. I was doing my late-night OCD Craigslist Crawl when I saw an ad for a Bianchi Veloce - my size, 55 cm. It was the '03, the last of the Italian made models. Full Campy Veloce gruppo, ridden less than 200 miles in perfect condition. For $700. I couldn't believe it.
Two days later - it was mine!
So far, I am seriously loving it. Campy is just that good - I don't think I'll ever go back to Shimano. The Reparto Corse frame is beautiful, and the 631 steel frame is pretty damn light as well, with the bike weighing in at 21 pounds or so. Later I'll upgrade the Mavic wheels to a new Scirocco wheelset.
Without further ado, the pictures.
I can't express in words how much I love these shifters.
A very happy first ride!
Last edited by the beef; 06-13-06 at 12:49 AM.
06-12-06, 11:42 PM
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Absoulutely beautiful, and in better condition than the 01 model I bought for $650! That classic steel ride is great isn't it? Enjoy!
06-13-06, 02:44 AM
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Great looking bike. Looks like it has seen very little use even the original bar tape.
06-13-06, 03:59 AM
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I like it. My first real road bike was a Veloce, vintage 1995.
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06-13-06, 06:17 AM
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Great buy on a nice ride! Position looks good. If you did want to get lower, you cold put the spacers over top of the stem. I love Campy and Veloce. Why pay hundreds more for carbon tidbits**********?
06-13-06, 06:50 AM
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Nice bike, but your Brava started to die after only 3 months? I wouldnt trust Bianchi after that fiasco.
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06-13-06, 09:04 AM
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Nice! Dude, I'm so jealous. I've been looking for a Bianchi Veloce myself and lost the oppty to get a '93 lugged steel Veloce. I'm still kicking myself.
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06-13-06, 09:18 AM
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Nice bike. I have an 02 veloce which was the last year for the deda-tubed frame with traditional geometry.
Don't understand your problems with the Brava though? It may have been a lower end model but I can't believe you needed to upgrade. I can understand wanting to upgrade though. All Bianchis are well-made bikes.
Congrats.
Don't understand your problems with the Brava though? It may have been a lower end model but I can't believe you needed to upgrade. I can understand wanting to upgrade though. All Bianchis are well-made bikes.
Congrats.
06-13-06, 04:10 PM
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I'm 5'8" with a ~31" inseam.
The Brava was really unreliable. I'm pretty sure that not all Bravas are; most likely mine just happened to be unlucky. The Sora rear derailleur required almost weekly adjustment and maintenance to keep it quiet working order. The threaded headset came loose about once every week, sometimes even sooner - the shop's actually replacing it right now with a Bianchi-warranty repair before I sell it. The stock Alex rims were both totalled after a seriously minor 15 mph scrape with the sidewalk. In all, a crappy experience for me.
Somehow it wasn't enough to quell my passion for another Bianchi, though.
The Veloce is seriously good. The fit was showroom stock when I took it home, plenty of spacers and an un-flipped stem (both of which I took care of before even riding). I'm planning on taking the wheelset up to a pair of Campy Sciroccos or Ventos, and I'll swap out the ugly stock Bianchi saddle with a Selle Italia Trans Am. If only it had a celeste paintjob, though..
The Brava was really unreliable. I'm pretty sure that not all Bravas are; most likely mine just happened to be unlucky. The Sora rear derailleur required almost weekly adjustment and maintenance to keep it quiet working order. The threaded headset came loose about once every week, sometimes even sooner - the shop's actually replacing it right now with a Bianchi-warranty repair before I sell it. The stock Alex rims were both totalled after a seriously minor 15 mph scrape with the sidewalk. In all, a crappy experience for me.
Somehow it wasn't enough to quell my passion for another Bianchi, though.
The Veloce is seriously good. The fit was showroom stock when I took it home, plenty of spacers and an un-flipped stem (both of which I took care of before even riding). I'm planning on taking the wheelset up to a pair of Campy Sciroccos or Ventos, and I'll swap out the ugly stock Bianchi saddle with a Selle Italia Trans Am. If only it had a celeste paintjob, though..
06-13-06, 04:22 PM
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Congrats on your new ride, I am happy you are pleased with it.May you have many safe miles!!!!!!!
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06-13-06, 07:27 PM
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Did you have to push you saddle too forward to do KOPS ?
I was wondering because I'm 5'8" too, but with a 30 inch inseam and 55 size was too big, I had to do just that.
Not too burst your bubble but looks like 53 was more your size, just like me. Now I'm riding
a 53 size equivalent and my fit is like a "glove".
Corsaire
I was wondering because I'm 5'8" too, but with a 30 inch inseam and 55 size was too big, I had to do just that.
Not too burst your bubble but looks like 53 was more your size, just like me. Now I'm riding
a 53 size equivalent and my fit is like a "glove".
Corsaire
Originally Posted by the beef
I'm 5'8" with a ~31" inseam.
The Brava was really unreliable. I'm pretty sure that not all Bravas are; most likely mine just happened to be unlucky. The Sora rear derailleur required almost weekly adjustment and maintenance to keep it quiet working order. The threaded headset came loose about once every week, sometimes even sooner - the shop's actually replacing it right now with a Bianchi-warranty repair before I sell it. The stock Alex rims were both totalled after a seriously minor 15 mph scrape with the sidewalk. In all, a crappy experience for me.
Somehow it wasn't enough to quell my passion for another Bianchi, though.
The Veloce is seriously good. The fit was showroom stock when I took it home, plenty of spacers and an un-flipped stem (both of which I took care of before even riding). I'm planning on taking the wheelset up to a pair of Campy Sciroccos or Ventos, and I'll swap out the ugly stock Bianchi saddle with a Selle Italia Trans Am. If only it had a celeste paintjob, though..
The Brava was really unreliable. I'm pretty sure that not all Bravas are; most likely mine just happened to be unlucky. The Sora rear derailleur required almost weekly adjustment and maintenance to keep it quiet working order. The threaded headset came loose about once every week, sometimes even sooner - the shop's actually replacing it right now with a Bianchi-warranty repair before I sell it. The stock Alex rims were both totalled after a seriously minor 15 mph scrape with the sidewalk. In all, a crappy experience for me.
Somehow it wasn't enough to quell my passion for another Bianchi, though.
The Veloce is seriously good. The fit was showroom stock when I took it home, plenty of spacers and an un-flipped stem (both of which I took care of before even riding). I'm planning on taking the wheelset up to a pair of Campy Sciroccos or Ventos, and I'll swap out the ugly stock Bianchi saddle with a Selle Italia Trans Am. If only it had a celeste paintjob, though..
06-13-06, 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Corsaire
Did you have to push you saddle too forward to do KOPS ?
I was wondering because I'm 5'8" too, but with a 30 inch inseam and 55 size was too big, I had to do just that.
Not too burst your bubble but looks like 53 was more your size, just like me. Now I'm riding
a 53 size equivalent and my fit is like a "glove".
Corsaire
I was wondering because I'm 5'8" too, but with a 30 inch inseam and 55 size was too big, I had to do just that.
Not too burst your bubble but looks like 53 was more your size, just like me. Now I'm riding
a 53 size equivalent and my fit is like a "glove".
Corsaire
06-13-06, 09:42 PM
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I'm 5'11" and ride a 55cm also, but I have to set the saddle forward and use a longer stem because of my longer torso. Like theBeef said, everybody is built differently.
06-15-06, 05:44 AM
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Originally Posted by the beef
Nah, no worries. Everyone's body is built differently, what may fit you as a 5'8" person won't fit me in the same way. I've got a 31 inch inseam, and I'm swapping out the stock stem with a shorter one. It'll fit me just great once that's taken care of; the Veloce has a sloping top tube and a short seat tube.
Veloce, same geometry, same reynolds 631, fork, etc, just different paint scheme and gruppo. I've done century plus rides, fast hammerfest, steep climbs, etc, a good performer, and an excellent all arounder. You can make it as light as19 lbs or a bit less with certain upgrades if so you wish also.
Now I'm looking to upgrade to the Virata, which I've heard great things too.
Corsaire
06-15-06, 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Corsaire
If the bike size fits then kudos to you. Regardless of size, I had the Vigorelli which is the same bike as the
Veloce, same geometry, same reynolds 631, fork, etc, just different paint scheme and gruppo. I've done century plus rides, fast hammerfest, steep climbs, etc, a good performer, and an excellent all arounder. You can make it as light as19 lbs or a bit less with certain upgrades if so you wish also.
Now I'm looking to upgrade to the Virata, which I've heard great things too.
Corsaire
Veloce, same geometry, same reynolds 631, fork, etc, just different paint scheme and gruppo. I've done century plus rides, fast hammerfest, steep climbs, etc, a good performer, and an excellent all arounder. You can make it as light as19 lbs or a bit less with certain upgrades if so you wish also.
Now I'm looking to upgrade to the Virata, which I've heard great things too.
Corsaire
What sorta weight upgrades are you suggesting? I'm in general really happy with the Veloce, but if only I could get the bike down to 19 pounds.. for me that'd basically be the point where I'd have all the advantages of the steel frame and none of the drawbacks (weight).
06-15-06, 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by blue_nose
What - no celeste bar tape?
I thought about it. Decided it really wouldn't match, though.