Local vs. Corporate

[frankenstein]

I'm looking to buy a road bike to ride x-country (supported, no bags) and do some light racing on afterwards. I pretty sure I want a steel frame (though if somebody wants to try to convince me otherwise they're welcome to try). The two leaders at the moment are a Bianchi Vigorelli or a local shop that has a very good reputation for their handmade frames. Prices are roughly comparable (Vigorelli is ~200 cheaper) and the Vigorelli comes with ultegras whereas the lbs comes with 105's. Can anyone help shed some light on the tradeoffs of one over the other or even suggest some questions I should be asking the local guys about their frames?

[Raiyn]

Originally posted by frankenstein
I'm looking to buy a road bike to ride x-country (supported, no bags) and do some light racing on afterwards. I pretty sure I want a steel frame (though if somebody wants to try to convince me otherwise they're welcome to try). The two leaders at the moment are a Bianchi Vigorelli or a local shop that has a very good reputation for their handmade frames. Prices are roughly comparable (Vigorelli is ~200 cheaper) and the Vigorelli comes with ultegras whereas the lbs comes with 105's. Can anyone help shed some light on the tradeoffs of one over the other or even suggest some questions I should be asking the local guys about their frames? I'm looking at the Vigorelli as well and from what I can see it's one hell of a bike