I ended up having to drive 1 hour to south jersey, seaside to be exact for my 05 pista. It was totally worth it. They fitted me on a Cannondale track (only fixie they had in stock, NICE bike) and I had them order me the pista. There are great deals out there you just have to look around. I spent an hour calling all the Bianchi dealers in my general area and the bike shop I went to quoted me $450.00+ tax instead of the common $550. They actually told me the suggested price from Bianchi was $500-550 msrp, so any shops letting them go for $550 are just looking for the most amount possible.

The funniest thing was when I went to go pick it up and all the employee's where standing around the bike and were drooling. They then proceeded to polish the bike with a chamios constantly while I was being rung up. They threw in the chamios in the deal :roflmao:

The Fuji is a great bike for less money. The new one has braze ons for one bottle also.
I love mine,it handles like a dream.

what is up with that frame?!?

Although I ride a newer Fuji and like it, I am interested in the Flite and Soma bikes. The Soma might be more expensive, but it has more attention to detail. The Fuji is okay, but the handlebars and the cheap hubs have to go.

I like those IRO's, thanks for the hookup. Always wondered what those were.
Sometimes people forget these other companies, it usually starts off Bianchi Fuji Specialized. Repeat.

Not that there's anything wrong with that..I own one too :)

Oh man tell me about it. I flipped/sawed them into horns, and got a replacement dropbar for it.
The hubs thing I didn't know about...have they given you problems? Do tell please.

I was in this position about a year ago. Never rode fixed, but looking at the entry level bikes to give it a try. I ended up going with an ebay (applecart) bianchi conversion for about $200 (outrageous shipping $ included!) Once I was hooked, I debated again whether to buy a pista/fuji/khs or replace/upgrade some of the parts on my bianchi. I took a close look at, and test rode the KHS and was not impressed. The headset, hubs and rims are low end, and frankly the track ends looks a bit cheap to my untrained eye as well. I decided to upgrade what I had (and knew that I liked re:geometry, feel etc.) rather than lay out more $ on an entry level track bike with possibly sketchy parts. I had the bb replaced (out of necessity) and ordered a surly/ma3 Quality rear wheel. I changed the crankset (out of vanity) and added moustache bars. I couldn't be happier with the results. Any reservation I had about riding fixed (I am 225lbs) on a conversion with a dicey rear wheel are long gone, and I don't even hesitate when I have to stand and mash.

In sum, my advice: get (or do) a cheap conversion and see how you like riding fixed, and assuming you do, think about reselling the conversion and upgrading to a track bike or just upgrading what you have.

I was grinding up a hill and the cog came off! I'm not sure how it happened since there was a track lock ring and everything. I now firmly believe suzue hubs are far too flimsy for riding brakeless on the road for obvious reasons. Fortunately I was going up hill and not down when it happened! I think I was running a 49/14 at the time. Now I have switched over to a vintage campy at 49/16 and have had no problems. i also put on a surly chain tensioner so I can tackle even the gnarliest hills and not have to worry about losing my wheel (not that I really need it since the campy bolts are excellent).

dap for IRO, rugged bikes that will last. I pound on mine.

i recently picked up a new khs flite 100 for $375
im not disappointed by it
its a good start, i wouldnt have paid anymore for it though
i like the pista a lot but i just think that they look too flashy
making them high risk for theft
the khs is a lot more low key

This feels weird to say, but I just couldn't ride a chrome bike. And yes, I would probably get my a** kicked and my bike stolen.

bianchi bianchi bianchi.