I am planning on doing another bike build in a couple of months. I have everything except a frameset, and I have it narrowed down to 3 possibilities:

• Bianchi Super Pista
• Cinelli Parallax
• Cinelli Histogram

Each one of these framesets has its pros and cons, but at the end of the day the only thing really separating them is user preference. I am hoping to get input from people regarding their personal experience with these framesets, to help me decide.

Thanks.

I don't have a Super Pista, but do have an older Pista Concept that has the same geometry and fork. I've been riding it on the road for the last couple of years with a Super Pista fork, and like it a lot. It is very nimble and stiff w/o being overly harsh, and the quality of finish is excellent.

Whichever has a geometry that fits you best. Everything else in the quality department is on par with one another. The super pista is a bit behind with bike tech as the parallax and newest histogram utilize an oversized fork steerer and headtube for added stiffness.

The tapered fork steerer does NOT increase stiffness. What it DOES do is increase strength at the highest stress point in the fork. Personally, I find tapered head tubes to be uberbuttugly.

ftfy

Strength, stiffness, whatever. It's overkill on a track bike either way.

Also overkill for road bikes. Only bikes that are exposed to severe front end impact like trials, bmx, fs or dh might need extra strength to prevent failure.

Just wait till all road bikes move to through axles cause of "stiffness " or whatever bull**** they can sell you on.

I have a Super Pista and have ridden it all over the place. It's a fun ride, and is relatively comfortable as far as aluminum track bikes go. I also added a Parallax to my collection this year and haven't ridden it much, but from the rides I have done -- I enjoy it as much or slightly more than the Super Pista (this could just be because it's a new bike/build). The feel similar to ride, however. Also of note on the parallax: Toe overlap.
Being taller, I don't have the toe overlap issue that people talk about with the Parallax. I recall [MENTION=164476]Scrodzilla[/MENTION] talking about the smaller frame sets having some crazy overlap issues, like crank interference with the tire.

On the subject of severe toe overlap, the Super Pista does not have this problem on the smaller sizes. I have a 49cm Pista Concept, which has identical geometry to the Super Pista, and it has very little toe overlap. This despite having a steep 74 degree ht angle and only 28mm fork rake. This no doubt is due to a somewhat longer tt, which pushes the front wheel farther away from the crank arms. My guess is that the Parallax must have a very short tt and maybe less axle to crown distance on the fork as well. Anyway, my Pista Concept is a joy to ride on the road. If I were ever to get a Cinelli for road riding, my choice would probably be the Vigorelli.

I did not check out the frame geometry, but after having track bikes for almost 40 years I am now addicted to having those rear wheel adjuster screws. Besides making chain tension adjustment so easy, you don't have to mega torque the rear axle nuts, and have them swim all over. ( not to mention your whee can not pull forward.) I would not consider another track frame without them. Since I see you are from the bay area, will you be heading out to Hellyer park?

I love the way the Super Pista rides, but something that bugs the hell out of me design-wise is this thick-a** bead at the wheel cut-out. Every other joint/transition on the frame is smoothed out beautifully, but they just missed the mark there.