Help me build my Bianchi Ti
 

Here are the pix...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/...40e7bb.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/...0bd44e.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2141/...ace9e5.jpg?v=0
http://www.nikonians-images.org/gall...9Bike3a111.JPG
http://www.nikonians-images.org/gall...0379Bike4a.JPG
http://www.nikonians-images.org/gall...0379Bike6a.JPG

Thanks to Bay Ridge Bicycles for the tune and re-fit!!!

Thanks again to Chris at Planet Bike in East Brunswick for the awesome build job

^bump

Go to the Kit Builder here;
http://www.gvhbikes.com/

or buy the Dura-Ace group from here;
www.probikekit.com

Get the Ritchey OS Pro bar and stem combo from Performance. It's a good deal for $120.00.

There's the Pro (26mm) combo for $100.00 too.

Carbon bar? Nah.

That just made me wake up and realize how ridiculously expensive high-end bike parts are.

Thank you so much; change made to shopping cart. What do I do about those shifter braze-ons? Can I use brake lever shifters? TIA

I would assume you can use brifters.

You probably want to be buying the full groupset. Keep in mind you get a lot more than just what you have listed above.

Have a look at Pro Bike Kit and GVH Bikes.

If you are willing to come down off the DurAce high, you could reap substantial savings.

What's the spacing on this frame? Are you going to have to re-space it in order to use 10 Speed? Have you ascertained what size BB and BB threading you are going to need?

Take your time here to get it right.

It's worth checking with an LBS to see if they might make you a deal that would be worthwhile. You never know.

There's adaptors that you can get that convert your downtube shifter bosses for brifter use. They're called Housing Stop Adaptors.

I'd say that you should get the entire drivetrain group complete, and not piece it out. Ultegra level is more than adequate, and comes with brifters, derailleurs, crankset, bottom bracket, chain, and sometimes cable housings. Much cheaper to buy together.

Headset: Chris King, Cane Creek and FSA are all good. Is your steerer 1" or 1 1/8"? Integrated or non-integrated?

If you have downtube shifter bosses, then be like Lance, and only run the right side brifter, with a nice Dura-Ace non shifting brake lever on the left, and a downtuber to shift the front. It looks so cool, and saves you the cost of a brifter.

Don't waste your money on the DA brakes. Get SRAM Rival or Shimano Ultegra. Half the cost, and barely any weight/performance difference.

Are ya building up an S9 Matta by any chance? I've always thought those frames were sweet.

Excellent advice. I'm making an assembly deal through a LBS; I'll see if they want to sell me the Gruppo. I've already got the wheels, so I really don't need the entire build kit. It's weird, but the pieces through Performance, with discount coupon are less money than Pro Bike or GVH. The frame is spaced for 10 speed (I just put the wheels on).
I'm still trying to figure out the threading (I think it's Italian).

Thanks!
I would not have considered that; I'm about 60 lbs heavier than Lance :(

My first Brake Choice was actually Ultegra.

It's actually a Bianchi Titanium, with the oval downtube, natural finish and Celeste Green decals - I must get some pictures here!

Update:

I decided to go with an Ultegra Group; just seemed to be an excellent value compared with DA.

1 $794.00 Shimano Ultegra Group 10 speed 6600
1 $259.00 Time RXS Titanium Carbon Pedals
1 $59.95 Time Water Bottle Cage Carbon Gloss
1 $0.00 Shimano Ultegra BB Hollowtech SMFC6600, British
1 $0.00 Shimano Ultegra Crankset 10sp, 172.5 39X53
1 $0.00 Shimano Ultegra STI 10sp Levers ST-6600 Double
1 $0.00 Shimano Ultegra Frt Der FD-6600 Braze On
1 $0.00 Shimano Ultegra Brake Calipers BR-6600 Pair
1 $0.00 Shimano Ultegra Rear Der RD-6600 SS Short Cage
1 $0.00 Shimano Ultegra Cassette 10sp A, 12-27
1 $0.00 Shimano Chain CN-6600 Ultegra 10sp 116


Looks like I'm at the limit of the Short Ultegra Derailleur and 12/27 cassette; hope those specs are accurate and it works!

I put the extra $ towards a better fork, most likely an Easton EC90 SL Carbon Road Fork
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photo.../EA-EC90SL.gif

I upgraded the Road Pedals to Time Carbon/Ti as well; I think it's better money spent than on DA, but I guess I'll see. maybe I'll be one of those that are going to run through Ultegra 10sp chains!

Now I'm thinking about Carbon Handlebars...

Here's the (almost) final parts selection:

Shimano Ultegra Group 10 speed 6600
[English thread / 12-27 / 172.5mm crank / braze-on front derailleur / 2 chainrings 53-39t / Short cage rear derailleur (at capacity with 12-27)]

Time RXS Titanium Carbon Pedals
Time Water Bottle Cage Carbon Gloss
Chris King Headset
Easton EC70 27.2mm seatpost
Easton Aluminum Handlebar (45mm)
Ritchey Stem (to be sized at the LBS)
Reynolds Ouzo Pro Fork 1" tube 43mm rake
Shimano Housing Stop Adaptor for STI (downtube bosses)
Fizik Arione Celeste Seat (still trying to find one)
Mavic Aksium / Continental Ultra Gatorskin Clincher Road

I still have an oppty to go carbon on the bars...

Finally ~ some pix! Thanks to everyone that helped...
http://www.nikonians-images.org/gall...9Bike3a111.JPG
http://www.nikonians-images.org/gall...0379Bike4a.JPG
http://www.nikonians-images.org/gall...0379Bike6a.JPG