CyclingLou

Hi Everyone!
New to this forum.... would appreciate any advice

Started road cycling about 4 months ago. Bought a FUJI Gran Fondo all carbon Tiagra bike just to get my feet wet. It's a great well put together bike. Rides fine but never really loved the "look" of the bike. Got it because I got a great deal on it at the time.

The local bike shop here is selling a brand new 2012 Bianchi Via Nerone 7 frame (customer got it in a raffle...never built up the frame). It's an aluminum frame with carbon fork, external wire routing.... for about $200 US dollars here. It's in the Bianchi Celeste puke green which I actually dig.


I can move most of the components over from the FUJI to the new frame and sell my FUJI frame cheap and probably be just be out on labor costs.

Any thoughts on making this move? Technically, feeling I'm downgrading from an all carbon bike to an aluminum. And though the Bianchi is "new" it is a 2012, 5 year old frame. But it's darn pretty.

Is it worth the switch?
Will I really "feel" the weight and material difference?

Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

JohnDThompson 

If you're more likely to ride the Bianchi than the Fuji, it's not a "downgrade."

Maelochs

if you have a bike you don't like and can get a bike you do like ... why would you need more information?

Frame material is ... what the frame is made of. There are a lot of different frame materials. They are all made into frames.

I suggest having a frame.

Age ... only matters if your bike is old enough to sell for big bucks as an antique.

If there is a weight difference you might feel it .. when you pick the bike up. if you intend to ride it rather than carry it ... I don't think whatever slight weight difference will much matter.

In my opinion the only thing that matters is that you like your bike. Unless you are racing professionally, none of the mechanical stuff matters so long as everything on the bike works.

There is this notion that whatever is used by the pros in racing is better.

Imagine if we bought cars based on those criteria?

in this particular case ... I would say, First make sure the new frame fits you. Nothing else matters. if it doesn't fit, how it looks is meaningless because it will be art, not a bike.

otherwise ... check the compatibility of the parts, particularly the headset and bottom bracket. You might need to replace there ... no big expense. Ort what you have might fit. Find out first.

TimothyH

Yes.

Bianchi rules the road nowadays.

Steel is real and Aluminum is the king of metals.

Bianchi never goes out of style. Heritage, not hate.




-Tim-

CyclingLou

I hear what you are saying.

I'm getting the bike professionally fitted at that bike shop and they said the frame happens to be my size. So fit shouldn't be a problem.

I wouldn't go so far as to say I don't like my current bike and I wasn't even really planning on making a switch right now. I really don't even see my bike when I'm riding it!

This situation came entirely by chance and I wouldn't have thought about making a change so soon. But since it really won't make much of a financial difference....thus this conundrum.

Maelochs

Swap the parts and keep the old frame. You can always guild it up later as a spare, a rainy day bike or whatever .... but there is nothing like having a bike you love. (except having two or more.)

San Pedro

I was going to say buy the new frame and build up with new parts. Then you'll have two bikes. Rain, friend wants to ride, feel like something different, or a I just want to look at two bikes bike.

Cyclist0108

Only if you are willing to trash it with a Crampy Groupo.

Best troll post title ever!

tagaproject6

A full bike and a spare frame is great. You'll eventually build up the other. Two bikes....now, you're on to something!

rgconner

There is an idea... have the frame framed, hang it on a wall as art.

dirtydozen

to me it's important to love your bike and that i will make you ride more and happier in rides.

i don't think from quite a low quality carbon to a good Al you will be noticing much, specially if you're only riding for 4 months !

bonz50

why not have two bikes?? just sayin

Nachoman

Another vote for two bikes.
I use my back-up bike all the time. When under repair, rain, trainer, loan to friends and just for fun.

dougphoto

Two bikes is better than one. A bianchi is always a good idea.

Scarbo

You're not alone.

tagaproject6

That is one SEXY bike!!!

SwtBadger

Bmach

Get the frame (if it fits) then build it up by buying the components a little at a time. Then you have a winter, bad weather bike, spare bike when you need it.

jon c. 

You gotta go for a celeste Bianchi.