jamesdak 

Finally got around to doing a true photoshoot of the Bianchi Giro I picked up this winter for bad road use. This has me trying to decide what to do for next year's winter riding. I could continue with this rough beast or maybe press the Holdsworth or Team USA into that duty. Both of them take fairly large tires and I could probably get back to riding with winter/studded snow tires. Of course part of me is thinking I'm getting pretty old to risk bouncing off the pavement if I crash out in the snow/slush.

One of these three bikes need to go in my mind. Too many bikes and I should get at least one of these moved on.

The Bianchi was grabbed on a bit of a whim as the price was really low. Met up with the seller on a Sunday morning and rushed looking at it as he was getting ready to head to church. As such, I spotted the ding in the one chain stay but somehow totally missed the mangled down tube. It's held up fine for the rides I put in on it but I do check it each time I get it ready to go out. I couldn't find much out about the Profile Design wheels on it but they seem to roll just fine. This has a mixed aluminum and carbon fiber frame with a monostay rear setup. Not really up on this modern rides so I don't know how well regarded this thing is. Probably a nice bike in a lot of folks minds but a bit "meh" to me. As usual, the Celeste paint is no fun to try and match. I bought some touch up knowing it wouldn't be right. Mixed in some other colors trying to get things closer but it's still off.

Anyway, figured I'd share this here to show that I can totally miss an obvious bad frame too sometimes. Normally, I'd have walked from a mangled aluminum frame.


20 lbs even, I have a lot of vintage steel lighter than this.

Not sure how I missed this!

This little ding I did spot.

This probably isn't too light.

A bit chewed up but works fine

I think I swapped these on out of my parts stash.

I think I swapped these on out of my parts stash.

Pretty compact headset

STI shifters mismatched but I have a spare matching pair that came with the Poprad

Swapped the stem on to get my reach sorted out.

jamesdak 

Hmm...I need to swap this light saddle onto another bike more deserving.

Overall paint isn't too bad

Top tube paint detail

Old school aero, I guess

Bonded carbon rear seat stay

Carbon fork

More of that funky seat stay

New cassette

Nice blue color

Stay bonded to that dropout piece

jamesdak 

Oops, backwards. Shame on me!

Detail of the bonded area



Either one of these take a large tire and probably fenders. They may make a better winter ride more to my preferences.

AdventureManCO 

That Raleigh looks a bit smaller compared to the other two - how does that work for you, is it still in your range?

I found my range is, ideally, 54-56cm. But that hasn't stopped me from crossing the line many a time

Raya2

Three beautiful bikes sorry one has to go

base2 

That mangled bottom bracket area looks like someone needed leverage for a large bolt cutter on a heavy chain. "Off to church," you say?

jamesdak 

Yeah, in those years Raleighs jumped from 53 cm to 57cm, nothing in between which is my sweet spot. It honestly doesn't feel small when I'm on it. In fact I had it out for about a mile last night after adjusting the headset a bit.