chazglen

I was at a bike store that carries Bianchi bikes but they said they don't carry the 'Via Nirone' because the bastardized geometry made fitting difficult ('bastardized' is my word and just the impression I got from the salesman). They said (in their opinion) it forced the body into too much of an upright position. I might add that this was not a high performance store but a very old one that looked like the inside of a gypsy wagon with a wood stove, worn-out couches and 'house cats.' (at 92 degrees today, there was no fire in the stove).

What they did have that seemed to fit my style of riding (off and on, but when 'on' would be an 80 miler or so) was a Bianchi Imola which they let me ride all through the neighborhood (does anyone REALLY need 30 gears?). It WAS a sweet solid smooth ride... great shifting (I only hit about 8 of the 30 gears) but not being able to compare it to the 'Via Nirone,' I thought I would check the forum to see if anyone could give me an opinion of either, or, preferably, both.

dtrain

I had a '05 Bianchi Giro with race-inspired geo (shorter stays and wheelbase, toe overlap, etc.). I don't know how that compares to the Via Nirone line. But I really, really like my Imola.

VA_Esquire

Via Nirone:


Imola:


Interesting.....

ultraman6970

Fitting is a big word

The nirone is more like a low cost racing bike, nothing super duper but for a newbie road racer is perfect. The imola is more like a touring bike, long base, long rear end and smooth. THats why it has triple and the nirone has double chainring. The nirone is stiffer and probably after 3 to 5 hours will get too harsh to ride.

Get the bike you like the most.

AK404

What ultraman said. The Nirone is a 'compact' bike: sloping top tube, compact cranks, shorter than usual. It's significant to note that the Nirone has no braze-ons for racks anywhere...if that's your thing. I'm a short guy, though, so I like it.

Also, the salesperson is mistaken on the position of the Nirone, but since he didn't have one to show you, you wouldn't be in a position to argue: his definition of 'upright' is a bit weird if he's going to try to get you onto an Imola.

On an off-topic note, I own a Nirone as a commuter/training bike, but the "entry-level" part keeps haunting me enough that I'm wary of upgrading anything on the bike, including the components (from Sora to Ultegra) in fear of getting upgrades that're "too good" for the bike. Rational? I have no idea.

jrobe

I bought an Imola on Ebay to have it converted to my airline travel bike with S&S couplers. It is a very nice frame and very comfortable on long rides. It is a somewhat heavy and very stable touring bike. It would be like driving a big Cadillac.

I don't know anything about that other frame but I bet it is much closer to a sleek, racing-type frame. It is probably quite a bit stiffer, lighter and faster. It should be comfortable though if it is fit right.

I bet the difference between those frames would be like the difference between a low end Corvette as compared to a big heavy but very stable Cadillac.

dtrain

I don't think my Imola is that heavy...but I don't have an official weight. Seems like they've downgraded the spec's a bit over the years. My '04 is Reynolds 631 with a full 105 group (including cranks, hubs, and calipers). Now it's a cheaper steel (Bianchi CrMo?) and Tiagra/generic mix.

CJ C

I have Nirone and have a steel (not a bianchi). I rode the steel all last year, and bought the Via Nirone this year. I have not ridden my steel at all this year, the Via Nirone is so lively and fun to ride. You just point the front wheel then pedal and it darts you off to where you want it to go. To me its a great bike and i love every minute on it (once i found the right saddle), i keep saying I should take my steel for a ride but I end up choosing the bianchi every single time.


The Nirone is no more upright than any bike (expect full on racing bikes), its all how you set it up and size it. I could go one size down on the Nirone and throw on a long stem and be in a ultra racing position. Or i could put a 17 degree stem on the Imola and make it upright like a hybrid.

All that said I have not ridden the Nirone longer than 3 hours and usually only ride it 2 1/2 hours at a time. I couldnt tell you how it feels on a 80 mile ride.

I wish you luck in your choice, but really its a Bianchi either way you go and thats always the right choice!



i feel the opposite way, my goal is to upgrade it to campy when my tiagra gets beat up (seems like it will be a long time). If i had the cash i would throw campy super record on it.

The only complaint I have is the wheels, I need to true them every month. I dont know if its because my fat arse is too much for their intended use, or its the urban streets i ride over, or because its an entry level wheel? I probably will just keep truing them and not get new ones till I snap a spoke *or find a dufflebag of money for the super record and new wheels

AK404

I was thinking Campy as well, but the Shimano rep made me an offer that is very hard to refuse.

Funny thing about the wheels, though: I'm fairly light, so I don't need to true them, but whenever I run over an unexpected bump, sometimes I hear a nerve-wracking 'CRACK' from my rear wheel, yet closer inspections reveal nothing, and the wheel is still true. Weird as hell, honestly.

CJ C

yeah yeah, it probably is a great offer but matching a Bianchi to Campy components will cause the clouds to depart, give you a forever tailwind, and the sun to shine on you always.

I never searched if anybody else has the same wheel problems. Well i cant say problems more like annoyance, as they work darn good and look good too.

Do you notice though that the rims seem a tad bigger and putting tires on or changing a flat get pretty rough?

AK404

Nope, not at all. Problem might be a moot point anyway, as I plan on replacing the stock Reparto Corse wheels with either Boyd's or Shimanos.

CJ C

I actually broke both tire levers trying to get the tire off. I thought it was the tires but when I went to a new tire recently i had the same issue.

Like I said I will change them when they break, just wondering if other have the same annoyances as me.

I also Switched out the stock pads to koolstops, its like night and day.