I bought my Bianchi Volpe in June 2009. I had a problem with breaking spokes on the rear wheel. I rode it with panniers fully loaded, including a laptop, and I weigh 190, and I ride HARD.

My LBS put heavier duty spokes on it and I haven't broken a spoke since - over a year ago. It's been a very good bike ever since. I have a slight problem with heel strike on the panniers - but it hasn't been bad enough for me to do anything about it - at least, not yet. But I did have to put a piece of duct tape on the corner of the pannier, where my heel strikes had frayed the canvas.