Yes, I like the Pista.
I've ridden a few bikes in my life.
My son recommended the Pista to me, and it really surprised me.
I liked the way it handled way more than I would have ever expected.
Since no other manufacturer makes a frame set with this geometry, I can assume not a lot of track riders or street fixed gear riders feel the same about the Pista as I do.
It works for me.
I probably doesn't work for mihlbach, and maybe a lot of other people.
I know that if I ever want a custom frame, for lightness, I'll want the same geometry and the same sloping top tube; which means fillet brazed.
I don't think one can get that radical with lugs.
I have some doubts about anyone making a fork for me with that short of rake (28mm).
Someone might fillet braze a unicrown fork for a 28mm rake, if they have the machinery for it, and, unlike most fixed gear riders, I like a unicrown fork.
Mercian will give me any frame geometry I want, but their fork crowns will only accomodate a 33mm rake, which comes closer to the Bianchi's 28mm rake than any other fork crown of my acquaintance, by far.
The next closest fork, that on a Surly Steamroller, has a 38mm rake, which places Mercian's 33mm fork half way in between the 28mm Pista and the 38mm Steamroller.
So what frameset has mihlbach ridden that really suits his style, perhaps so much so that he'd tell a custom frame maker to use its geometry as a model?
By the way, some people say why go to a custom frame maker if a factory-built frame has the geometry you want.
I would go to someone like Mercian, first to get a much lighter frame; and, secondly, because Mercian tells me they can make a frame with the same geometry that will handle better and ride more comfortably than my Pista.
I wonder.
Anyway, I've kind of set a goal of getting a custom Merican fillet brazed frame for my 63rd birthday, two years from now.
I've already designed the wheels and chosen the rest of the components.
Now I just need to save up for my Mercian.
I've said that now for about three years.
