Originally Posted by
meaculpa
RF - I test rode 4-5 bikes (Jamis Aurora, Cross Check, Tricross, others) before I settled on the Volpe. It was the best feeling ride of the bunch, climbed hills the best & was, frankly, one of the two best looking (the 06 Aurora had #1 with its retro style paint job). My worry is that the latest version will somehow 'feel different', i.e. not as good. So subjectively speaking, not all steel frames are exactly alike.
I didn't say they were. But the new Volpe isn't much different from the old one from what I can see in the specs. When you put that new drive train on it then it will feel different. If you bought a better wheel it will absolutly feel different. But the frame should be about the same.
Bianchi is owned by Cycleurope and they have several different brands. All of their steel bikes are built on a jig and made exactly the same way depending on size. I don't know if Giant, Hodaka, or Fairly built the Volpe but there should be no noticeable difference in the frame.