Bill in VA

I have a Bianchi Volpe (they list it as all road). I wanted a steel framed bike with rim brakes for road and gravel. It meets all my expectations. It is black with silver components so it looks more traditional, but with indexed shifting and 10 speed cassette, but not as traditional as the 1973 Fuji I was still riding. 3 years now and no issues. Ditched the original heavy 28mm touring tires and use light tubes and light 28mm tires (a massive improvement). I also replaced the OEM saddle with a Brooks C-17.

fietsbob

Bianchi USA went to Asian sources long ago.. so the Volpe came from there.

Dexterbaxter

Old thread but new to Bianchi. After not cycling for 20 plus years got a used Specialized, good bike but just not quite "there" for fit. Then had a Pinarello and tried/borrowed a few more bikes Trek, Giant, etc and all had good qualities just never quite right. Then tried the Aria... Omg! This bike just fit me to a T! I didn't want to get off it.
Then a friend let me borrow his Bianchi Oltre XR3 with Di2, I was completely blown away, again I could ride that bike 24/7 if my legs didn't give out. Well I could never afford a bike like that. He works at a bike shop and can get what ever he wants and let me have it for an incredible price, I'll be forever grateful for the bike and his generosity, it's my baby.
I will forever chat up how amazing Bianchi is to anyone that will listen. If anyone is thinking about a Bianchi they are simply are that amazing imo.

commo_soulja

I'll pile onto this Bianchi fan boy thread...

After several chains and cassettes, I still ride my '99 Campione. Old school steel because that's what I could afford back then, not a fancy aluminum frame. Mosty stock except for carbon fork, bar, stem and seatpost. Wish I still had the original steel fork in Celeste so I could turn it into a cool lamp but it's deep in a landfill. :-(

I love the Celeste green and have been looking at the website for a new roadbike with disc wheels. Maybe I'll find more time for road time and get off my mountain bikes/gravel bike.

Reflector Guy

Another happy fan boy here too.

Now I'm keeping an eye open for a vintage Bianchi! It would be fun to work on over the winter months.

Whitecoyote

I love Bianchi bikes. My LBS once said (when asked about Bianchie's) "I never saw a bad one".

rsbob 

Nothing wrong with your eyes. They all look similar to me too.

rsbob 

Personally I would never get caught dead, or alive, on one. But would be on two.



Team Celeste- Vintage vs new

Wildwood

i love a good - and timely - thread revival.

I will soon join the celeste club with a frameset from mid-80s.
Not sure why i waited, had a Japanese Bianchi i really liked in Ishiwata022.
This one should be a perfect fit, so as to eval the geometry.
Pics eventually on C&V.

sincos

Blue! No, Yelloooo o o o o o o o ....

tkamd73 

Well I’ve got a 1983 Champione del Mondo, that I still put a lot of annual miles on, that should stand for something.
Tim

Phil_gretz

Old thread, but... I'd sooner own a Bianchi than I would a Fiat. And don't get me started on the faux-Jeep Fiats. Rattles, wind noise, loose interior trim panels. Sheesh.

Deal4Fuji

Purple with tri-color !

redmandarin

I really enjoy the celeste color and enjoy the heritage. feel they are good bikes and there are many other brands out there that are also great

Joearch

I gave up on my Alfa Romeo Guilia that was beautiful and much fun to drive. Like a sexy Italian women....high maintenance and unpredictable. After 30 months of ownership I parked it and got another car. My Bianchi on the other hand seems to be sexy yet solid and steady.

Litespud

biggest problem with most Fiat-Jeeps is that they look like ass. My folks had six Fiats in a row - not one of them ever broke down, despite my folks’ rather cavalier attitude toward preventive maintenance. The bits that occasionally fell
off were an endearing quirk 😀

OPC

My mid-90s bianchi is two-tone. I think they call named the colors Dusty Rose (similar to yours) and Midnight Blue. It's a beautiful pairing.

Deal4Fuji

Lets see it

thehammerdog

new paint Megatube ti...circa 1996

Bodypro

The green was the original attraction for me. Love it.

Bodypro

Fiat 500 was my favorite car I’ve had. That includes 911’s, Jeep’s, BMW’s.

Jumpski

I rode Specialized bikes for years. I couldn’t be happier with my Bianchi. After all, celeste is the ultimate color.

CliffordK

Today I'm cursing the very existence of Bianchi.

I'm working on a Bianchi "touring" bike (not quite sure the model).

Canti brakes. Massive tire clearance around seatstays and fork. But, almost no clearance around the chainstays. The very minor dimple is in the wrong place, as is the chainstay bridge (or perhaps the chainstays were simply too short).

I do like narrow tires anyway, but I just found it very odd to have the cantis, but apparently designed for 28mm or less tires (32 will barely fit if one deflates to install wheel). And fenders would be a tight fit.

Ok, good things and bad things about different brands. And a lot of good bikes made by them. But, I always found the range of models to be a bit confusing.

Lazyass

20+ years ago I had a '97 Veloce. It wasn't a high end model but it was one of the best bikes I've had and looked so cool with curved seat stays. The Veloce group was bullet proof and shifted great. Loud Campy freehub. I loved it. I'm always searching for another in my size in mint condition but haven't found one yet.

JFSA

I have a Bianchi C-4 Sport for commuting, and a Sempre Pro which my son has taken a fancy to. Time for another so that we can ride together properly (I can’t keep up with him when I’m on the C-4). I’m trying to decide between an Aria and an Oltre XR-3. A difficult decision; and then to decide between electronic shift and mechanical … Hmmm …

Bikes have come so far since my first road bike in 1978 as a teenager - a Raleigh Europa with Campo 10 speed. Amazing!