Posted this earlier, got 0 responses.

ANyway, anyone have ANY experience with this bike? I'm considering it as a frame replacement for an old steel bianchi.

This One????

Yep. That's the one. I was thinking of getting the frame and moving over all my components, cause they're basically the same as what it comes with. I figure i'll lose 2, or 2.5 lb max. I'm not really sure it's worth it, except my frame now is quite old and handles a bit slowly.

Does this mean you decided against the Pinarello frames?
Or still looking at your options?

Sweet... Complete bike runs apx $2500. and weighs apx 19.5lbs
Frame alone runs apx $1250.
But I am sure you already knew all that stuff.... Definately a sweet ride, enjoy it and post pics when you get it so I can drool...

Still looking at my options... I'm not sure if i want to take the plunge and get a whole new bike as with the Pinarello. Talked it over with a bike friend, he brought up a good point that i would be paying a premium over similar performing bikes just for the pinarello name. He said that if i was going to spend 3,000 on a new bike, there are better bikes out there. I think he has a point.

I'm also not sure if i want to strip my bianchi, it's a great bike. I think i need to go on a lot of test rides in the foreseeable future.

You could buy the Bianchi EV 4 for $5099.99
and keep your other Bianchi as a second

And thats complete

I would be able to afford that bike maybe if i sold a kidney...

Anyway, 5 grand is just out of the question. The EV4 weighs what, like 15.XX pounds? I dunno, i'm thinking of another option.

THe cheap route:
Interloc Scandium frame (2.7 lb) - 800 bucks
2003 Campy chorus build kit - 1000 bucks

Comes with wheels too.

The frameset costs $1799.99 and weighs 1120g
Thats a good option

Hey, what do you need 2 kidneys for anyways.

That'll be the next thing. When bikes are as light as they can practically be, you roadie weight weenies are going to start pawning off organs to save weight!

Where did you find a Chorus build kit for one kilobuck?

I would give a body part or organ, if I have two and only need one for a Bianchi EV 4,

excell sports has the 2004 chorus group for $1050 with aluminum cranks.

I haven't decided on this frame at all... i was looking for opinions. But it seems that it is not a very popular bike, nobody here rides one. And there are no reviews off of google.

In any case, i'm looking for a faster handling frame, with that classic steel ride. I also hate the look of bikes with big fat tubes (aluminum, carbon). Maybe i should look into a steel frame from a small frame builder. What is the lightest, best steel tubing on the market today? My friend was telling me that Taylor can build steel frames around 3lb. with true temper steel. Fact or fiction?

BTW, the chorus build kit is now 1399 or so. Sorry, i just checked again, it USED to be 999 bucks. www.gvhbikes.com

The EV4 looks good, bianchi_rider, and i may just test ride it. It's probably too rich for my blood though. I would probably look into the carbon also. But if i'm going to spend 1799 on a bianchi, i might as well shell out the extra 700 for a Colnago C40. But i would NEVER do that, at least not until i am a millionaire, or i'm racing in the peloton in the Tour de France.

Which brings me to my next point-- i don't even race, although i would like to get started in some collegiate cycling. Anyway, my point is that i really don't need anything that high end. But then again, if i'm going to upgrade, i might as well make a sizable upgrade from what i have now. I'm so confused.

Check out Orbea's Ultrafoco Carbon. Triple butted Columbus Ultrafoco steel tubing with Columbus Carve carbon seatstays. I think the frame was around $1200 or so, not including fork. I love mine. Semi-compact geometry in that they actually offer a full run of sizes and just slope the top tube. I was skeptical until I rode it. Really stable, smooth ride and beautiful paint. A great deal on incredible steel.

My roomate races for Virginia Tech and was looking at Orbea's before he got his EV3 (last years model), he said they were up there in quality with Bianchi and Colnago, just not as well known.

I have a 2001 Bianchi XL Boron Reparto Corse and absolutely love it. The ride is incredible. It was a project of my LBS, so it is equipped with a 105 groupo, Shimano r540 wheels, and a clip-on aerobar for my triathlon training. I'm looking for a tri spefic bike now, and will hold on to this bike for a long time. My suggestion is go with the Boron frame.

Cool, finally a boron frame owner! Not that i'm really counting, but for the sake of comparison how much does your bike weigh, ronbridal?

Another frame builder I'm thinking of is Taylor Bicycles, just up north in Mill Valley. I live in San Francisco, btw. Anyway, he makes a lot of custom steel stuff. I suppose it would be around 2 grand for a frame. My friend has one of his frames with a little lower quality steel tubing and it weighs in the high 19s, with full ultegra.

Bianchi lost me as a new bike owner when they changed there warranty policy from LIFETIME to 2 years, that's kind of loosing confidence in your own brand.

For a company that been around over 100+ years, that's very surprising. I love there bikes and the Celeste colors is so awesome, but my hard earned purchase of a lightweight road bike can't take the risk of a frame cracking with only a 2 year warranty.

Thanks for quoting me. Glad you like your bike, but this isn't a contest.

perhaps it makes a stronger alloy?

Thanks, chump. My second post, I accidentally quote you in a reply to another person, and you have to be a smart ass. Nice!

Mine weights 19 and change. Of course the only way I have to weight it is by stepping on a scale and checking my weight, and then doing the same with my bike in my hands. Not real scientific, but that's all I got. Hope that helps. ROn