Touring on a Bianchi Vigorelli?
 

I have an 05 Bianchi Vigorelli and I've recently gotten interested in touring. What do you think about multi week tours with this bike?

I think folks on this forum are going to start out by asking you how much gear you plan on taking and the ubiquitous question of whether it will be supported, credit-card, or fully self-reliant tenting. That should get the ball rolling.

Bianchi Vigorelli

http://www.bianchiusa.com/typo3temp/f75efd3b14.jpg

Plus side, it has a compact crank, so the gearing will be lower. Downside, it's a sport bike frame, and not really suited for panniers and carrying a load IMHO. Maybe shortish Credit Card touring, or riding on a fully supported tour like America By Bike runs, where you ride, and everything is carried for you in the van to the next hotel.

Looks like a really nice ride, but not well suited for touring as most of us here tend to define it.

Steve W.

If it's like my old Vig, it came with 23s and you probably cannot easily run more than 25s--28 gatorskins do just fit but barely and if things get wet, the 28s pick up dirt and make ugly scraping noises on the brake assembly. :)

His is the 05 model, so it comes with a triple instead of the compact double on the 06's. We're going to be going full on camping mode for the tour. If he were to swap a few things over for heavier, sturdier components (Wheels, maybe easier gears, possibly a fork with rack mounts, etc.), there shouldn't really be any reason the frame couldn't handle it could it?

Looking at that frame I really doubt that there is going to be room for much bigger tires, it's like my Motobecane, 23 fit fine, 28s would be rubbing. 25 maybe, but really tight. The short chainstays means that heel strikes on the panniers are probably going to be an issue. The tight angles means that it's going to be twitchy when loaded.

Best option if you want to use this bike is to lower the gearing, and get a trailer rather than panniers. For what that costs, you should be able to get a good used touring bike that will do the job better. You've got a racehorse bike, don't make it a plow mule.

Steve
Who LOVEs ALL his bikes

Agree. Better off finding a used touring bike. Trek 520, Cannondale T800, Novara Randonee all should be available for between $6-800 used in good shape. And that way you still have your fast bike.