fender1

The Volpe will ride better than the International. I rode the one I traded to RobE30 and if I didn't have 2 other cross style bikes I would have kept it. It will do most anything you ask it to do better than the Raleigh. It is more than likely made better and requires less overall work to get it functioning. If it is your size, I think you are crazy to walk away from this.

photojon

My recently purchased 2011 Volpe is the first bike that I have owned, in 97k+ miles of cycling, that leaves wanting to avoid heading for home at the end of a ride. My description of it is "joyously comfortable" to ride. It smoothes the roughest of pavement. It's not killer quick, like a pure racing bike, but it can get up and go when called upon. I can't believe what I have been missing for the past 25 years.

P.S. "Newbie" only applies to my time on this list. I expect to crack 100,000 miles in 2012.

noglider 

Wow. All of this is rather overwhelming. I'm beginning to believe this find of mine is some sort of divine gift. Brian, it will ride better than the International? I should think about this. I lusted after the International since I was in 10th grade, but I should be cautious with sentimentality.

I'll fix up the Volpe and see how it rides. photojon, your description sounds a lot like the Cross Check rode. In case you missed the story, I made a very special build out of it, and just as I was about finished, it got stolen. Except I believe the Volpe will be lighter. As intelligent as the Cross Check is as a design, it's too heavy.

Thanks, folks!

Snydermann

What the heck is a Volpe? I had to look it up, it means fox in Italian.

photojon

Tom, There seems to be plenty of references, around these forums, to the Volpe being like the Cross Check, but lighter. I was going to test ride a built up Cross Check, but could not find one locally. I did test ride a Gary Fisher/Trek Lane after testing several aluminum w/carbon fork cyclecross 2-ring crotch rockets (Cannondale, Scott, Kona, Giant). The Lane was such a sweet ride after riding those other four, that I knew that I would only be happy with a steel bike. The last steel bike that I owned met with a bad fate (along with my collarbone) in a collision descending Chestnut Mountain in the Galena Territory in 1988. My current road bike and MTB are both aluminum. I had forgotten how good steel felt compared to aluminum. In my youth (early 40's), it was all about speed and quickness in handling. Now, a smooth, but still swift, ride is more my priority. The reason I did not go for the Lane was the Sora/Deore shifting set up that it was equipped with as a sale closeout. I prefer the Tiagra shifters, and wanted a triple crank for my future advanced years. So my search led me straight to the Volpe.

Japanamount

+1 For keeping the Velope whole.

BentLink

I've had the Volpe's cousin, Bianchi Axis, for nearly 20 years. It's awesome and absolutely versatile. Get some nice straight cranks and ride it into your 80's.

bradtx

Tom, Santa brought my daughter a NOS leftover steel Bianchi (1990 per B'Girl). Fantastic bike. Originally hers had a Suntour trekking triple w/7S and her hands were too small to use the Suntour shifters. I installed a RSX 2X7 and I lucked into the Suntour FD working with the Shimano integrated shifter, then later replacing the crash damaged shifters with a 7S Sora set. One of the best builds I've ever done on a really great bike.



Brad

thestoutdog

If I could find an '06 Volpe in my size (61 cm), I'd be all over it. I had a 58 cm that I loved, but it was just a bit too small for me. This is one awesome bike.

Oregon Southpaw

8)

noglider 

I'm back. You guys talked me into it. A few weeks ago, I put the Volpe on the stand with a feeling of dread, since it had been badly neglected. It turned out that the only thing it really needed was lubrication. Now I've replaced the rear tire and the pedals.

And this bike is amazing. What the heck? What makes this bike so good? It wasn't expensive, even when it was new. This is now my all-purpose bike. I've been riding it over all kinds of roads. I've ridden it at high speed and done stupid things like look backwards while going over terrible potholes. The bike just keeps on going. It is definitely lighter than a Cross Check, and the Bianchi is even larger than the Cross Check.

(In case you didn't notice, I mentioned in another thread that I got my stolen Cross Check back.)

I'm probably going to put fenders on this bike and some sort of bag or rack for carrying stuff. The brakes aren't awesome enough, but I can remedy that by cleaning the rims or changing the brake shoes.

Chrome Molly

My ishwata magny Bianchi Rando is a bike that I find much the same as you describe. It's all purpose and can tear up roads, gravel, or cow paths. Just thought I'd give you a picture for rack/fender thoughts you may be having.

fender1

Told you.

RobE30

Quick picture of mine from yesterday after rockin 30 miles w about 5 miles of dirt thrown in for good measure. Hell, this bike has even done a flight of steps! Very happy w this bike

fender1

^^ Aren't you glad you ditched that Centurion on some dumb sucker**********

RobE30

Honestly yeah. The Pro Tour was much more attractive but rode like a pig. Thanks for the trade man

I owe you a beer after our next ride!

Velognome 

Bi-laminate construction I think. Supposed to strengthen the weld, ftwelder should chime in and correct me.

ThermionicScott 

Funny how these things happen... glad it's working out!

noglider 

Update: no updates.

By that, I mean this bike has been just about perfect. It's my go-to bike for just about everything.

I wish the gears were a bit closer together, but it's OK. I've changed the rear tire, and I've put on pedals that have SPD on one side and accept a regular shoe on the other side.

That's about all.

I'll soon install a rack and some dynamo lights. I still haven't decided about fenders. I don't want it to get too, too heavy.

As someone said, it's not super quick in handling, but it's quite decent at climbing. And it's absolutely amazing at high-speed descents. I can ride no-hands and turn around at high speed. Not that it's a good idea, but I can do it.

I have fantasies of putting on an 8- or 9-speed drivetrain, but that would be a lot of expense for not-a-lot of improvement. Same with lighter rims.

KonAaron Snake 

I'd probably keep the rack, fenders and dynamo off of it. Keep it a fun bike and use something you enjoy a little less as the work horse.

bradtx

Tom, My daughter likes her lighter wheelset because she feels it is more responsive, most likely because it has lighter 23 mm tires. It did lose some of it's all-aroundness, but she now uses it strictly as a roadie and has her mountain bike for everything else.

Brad

noglider 

Today, I ground off the "lawyer lips" from the fork tips. They annoy me, and I've been closing QR skewers properly since 1975, so I don't need a failsafe, dammit.

I have to fix the ears on the seat lug, because the binder bolt isn't holding the seatpost up any more.

Bianchigirll 

Good for you! I hate those things!

noglider 

I think I'll eventually do it to all our bikes. My wife's lawyer lips are so big that she has to remove the QR nut entirely. She's lost a couple that way. Thanks a lot, Trek!

Bianchigirll 

I am purely speculating here but I think Bianchi called it Volpe aka Fox, becuase of the cunning design of this fabulous sleeper. disguised as a mild mannered touring bike, it isn't until you get close and see the knobbie tires that the true nature of the great machine become obvious. The Volpe is a machine you can commute on all week, take on fast group rides on Sunday and then either use a lite touring bike for a cycling vatation, or get lost on the vast dirt roads of the midwest.

Just to tease thestoutdog here is my '86 the bike that launched the hybrid.