goof1972

So there is a 2017 version of the Bianchi L'Eroica bicycle. Anybody knows what has changed from the 2016 model? I thought this was going to be a limited production?

T-Mar

My guess would be that the price has gone up, substantially, though if it's gone from being a single year model into regular production, the tooling has been paid off and the price should go down. However, the probebility of that happening is next to non-existent.

John E

That is above my price point, but it is gorgeous.

Wildwood

L'Eroica certified bikes with 10 speed cogsets is stupid.
Bianchi building a steel bike with non aero-hoods, downtube shifters, etc is marketing.
Pretty? Certainly!
Do I want one? Never.

Wileyone 

Agreed.

Salamandrine 

Well, yeah, marketing, it's what companies do.

AFA the DT shifters, I still prefer them. Simple, nearly nothing to go wrong, and they work. Speaking of marketing, brifters were pure marketing. They were designed to make newbie riders more comfortable, since you didn't have to let go of the bars (scary!!), all the while being disguised as a performance enhancement so the customer's wimpiness could be rationalized. Same thing goes for indexed shifting, to a degree.

Non aero hoods I'd have a hard time justifying from a performance standpoint; I guess those are pure nostalgia.

bulldog1935

any good steel bike on the market is welcome in my book

As far as 10-speed, they have to use components that are available to them. If they want a 7-speed, it's China-made bottom-line Shimano.
Would 9-speed make any difference?
This year I bought and stashed a spare Record 8-speed cassette because they were discontinued.

Non-aero hoods are required to meet Eroica entry guidelines

Oldairhead 

It appears to be exactly the same as the 2016 model, though there are a couple of things that I would change. Mine came with 23c tires which are too narrow for most of the L'Eroica routes. I put on 32's and that has made a huge difference!

Some people seem to think this bike is just some marketing gimmick, but Bianchi is building a bike that people want, as has been demonstrated by this bikes popularity. They are selling them as fast as they can be built.

I still don't get why people love to hate on this bike so much. It is pretty, it rides beautifully, its Italian, whats not to love? I've got dozens of bikes from 1958 on to 2016 and I try to ride them all. This bike is a wonderful addition to the stable!

https://utahrandonneur.wordpress.com...anchi-leroica/

Salamandrine 

Yeah, I would have spec'd it 10sp too, as any 5/6 speed parts still made will tend to be low end. 7 speed was not used (99%) when non aero hoods were standard, so even that makes no sense.

I also prefer to see it as a good steel bike and am glad it is available. Despite it's retro ness, it is IMO more practical for typical recreational riders than a plastic racing bike with 24spke wheels.

bulldog1935

My lugged Moser Forma would have been delivered with Mirage 8-sp gruppo in 1998.
I built up my frame with C-record friction 8-sp and non-aero Modolo levers, simply because that's the way I wanted it.
But it would be welcome in Eroica, which is a celebration of cycling history.

crank_addict

I'm sold with that 'electronica' groove in the vid. lol

merziac

Aero hoods are in for 2017, but no brifters according to the registration page.

bulldog1935

it makes sense, because I heard they were letting them in last year in spite of the existing rule

non-aero hoods are a lot better on brake cables

armstrong101

I think the issue is why buy this bike, a replica, when you can have an "original" for a fraction of the cost.

noglider 

Are you serious? I like brifters a lot, and lots of non-newbies get really benefit from them. They're not for everyone, but they're not useless as you seem to be implying.

bulldog1935

There was a guy who did a buy-an-old-frame and build-it-up-functionally-new on one of the google groups.
He posted his detailed accounting, but he also had everything done 100% at his LBS.
He spent a lot more than I would have considered for that particular bike. It came out nice and it all works, but he openly questioned why go to this trouble and expense when you can walk into a LBS, put your money down, and ride out.
Doing it his way, his question was appropriate.

We do it differently - we enjoy the building part, can get very cost-effective at the logistics and parts shopping.
Some people don't have the skills or the interest, and would do better putting down their money and leaving with the L'Eroica.

bikemig 

This reminds me of the hate you sometimes see about Rivendell bikes. There are some similar ideas running through these bikes. These bikes rely on the idea that in terms of frame geometry there is something classic about the road bikes in the 60s and 70s (road geometry that can handle fat tires) but the old designs can be "improved" with modern steel and parts. This bugs some people who either prefer the old bikes or think that if you're getting a new bike, you should get a new bike with STIs, a lot of carbon bits and/or frame, threadless fork, etc.

armstrong101

Well, that's just it. Some people are hating on it, but not everyone. There are those who like the bike and those are the ones purchasing it. They aren't the ones criticizing it. The ones criticizing it are the ones who are into bikes, and know you can get a comparable original for a fraction of the Eroica bike. But being around these forums (and perhaps the Eroica event itself), you're more likely to encounter the latter folk as opposed to the former.

Personally, I certainly wouldn't want to ride a 2016 bike at an Eroica event, and I certainly wouldn't want to ride the Eroica Bianchi there either.

bulldog1935

from what I've heard, as many people on modern carbon ride along with the group without officially joining, as the number joined and on olmogado bikes - just to be part of the celebration

Bikerider007 

I like these. Surprised they are doing another run. I saw it more as limited and part of the appeal like vintage.

willydstyle

Especially with higher-speed drivetrains being able to precisely up and downshift quickly at the same time is really key for finding the necessary gear ratio fast.

bulldog1935

They hit a market niche with good timing. Most of the people buying them are not planning to ride L'Eroica. They're people making a style and function choice. As I've mentioned on other threads, around here, I see a lot of healthy and athletic 20-somethings riding classic steel.

willydstyle

I don't get the hate. Some people want to buy things new because they don't have the tools/space/time/knowledge to work on old things themselves, but still want something that is as pretty as a classic bike, and this fits the bill, IMO.

DiabloScott

It's a real pretty bike. It would be interesting if they offered it in two build kits: one for Eroica certified with friction shifters and exposed cables, and another with indexed DT 10v shifter system and aero cables and see which is more popular.

Bikerider007 

I was wondering thinking more along the lines of limited run. If someone brought thinking such or it was presented that way (I don't recall) then it would not seem fair.

20 years olds are buying as you can get many vintage mid range in the $200 or less range. Buying just about any new mid range would be out the budget for most kids unless they are serious riders and don't mind dropping the dough or saving.

I can see our age 40+++ spending as it does have old school charm but with little maintenance or clean up since it's new. It crossed my mind at least once and I asked some questions but it did not call to me like some bikes do, very nice though.