I almost posted the link to that bike when I noticed it this morning. Makes sense to me.

There is absolutely no way that Bianchi is a bad idea.
The Suntour Cyclone RD is almost worth the current price.

Marty

If you wanted a new one, you could try one of the smaller custom shops. Most of them don't list all the things they #could# do. Simoncini and Vetta come to mind. I saw the Faggin does one called the Uomo too. Enjoy :)

If your girlfriend is looking for a touring bike with style, rather than simply being made in Italy, have her check out Bob Jackson bikes from England. BJ makes some truly stunning touring frames, and their costs are very reasonable -- even for full custom. I am a lover of Italian frames, but would choose a Bob Jackson over any Bianchi or other Italian touring bikes I've seen.

That seems like a nicely-preserved bike, and I think it might not be subject to the recall. Even if it does have the recall fork, Bianchi is replacing them free of charge, so I don't really see a downside.

rivendell make a nice touring frame. quality work too!


http://www.rivbike.com//

acorn user - that's not a bad idea! We happen to visit Verona once a year, home of Chesini. The owner of Chesini is an old student of the friend we visit there . I've an idea, though, that he no longer makes chrome moly frames...

tarwheel - Just had a look at the Bob Jackson website and drooled a little. The frames made me feel like buying my girlfriend one as a present... her birthday is coming up... dangerous.

I'd have to be absolutely sure of her size before that, though. We're pretty sure it's 51cm c to t but not absolutley sure of her cockpit length - we think with a top tube between 50cm and 57cm can work with adjustement of the saddle and a suitable stem length. Getting the Bianchi with 57cm is a bit of a risk but at least it'll give us definitive data to make up our minds with.

If you're not in a hurry, you can get full custom geometry fromBob Jacksons for no extra cost (at least in the US). I hear that the waiting period is 6 months or so, however.

Hi, have a look at an Olympia randonneur style model, it had flat bars and a Campagnolo Gran Sport rear changer. I believe it was called the Condolino, from the 1950 - 1960 era.

How about a high quality Japanese bike with an Italian flavour, i.e. Univega?! I just saw a sweet looking local Specialissimo last Sunday with touring lugs. Not your girlfriend's size probably... 58cm.

Palo Alto had touring bikesmade for them by BMZ - definitely Italian. There's a 60cm one on eBay right now - too big for your purposes, of course.

So, dawes-man, what the heck did you end up with? A new girlfriend?

You guys do realize this is a 2 year old thread that has been brought back alive.

Yes, but like so many other threads that have been left hanging, there must have been some kind of finally.

As luck would have it I stumbled on to this thread looking to find more information on the 1983 Bianchi Rallye I found at a yard sale for $15. It is a beautiful Bicycle, and rides like a dream. I'm in the process of restoring it. its all orignal except for the brake leavers.