Bianchi XL Carbon.

[quote="jazmo"]Does anyone here have a Bianchi LX Carbon. I'm on the verge of buying one with Campag Chorus grpset and Neutron wheels. Would like any feedback you may have. Thanks[/QUOTE

I looked at the Al / CF version (XL EV4) with carbon forks. For the price I thought it represented great value (about US$1100).

Maybe wait a few weeks, the new 2005 stock is coming out shortly so if you are lucky you could get a great deal for 2004 stock. Check out the US online websites. Happy hunting

Hi,

I have this great site with a test of multiple pages of the Bianchi XL. The trouble for you is that it's in the Italian language. I'll post the site whatever. Hope you like it...

http://www.ciclismonline.it-edisport-ciclismo-notizie.nsf

Do you know there's a XL available in "white carbon" as well? I have seen it mounted with "tutto bianco" parts. Maybe a nice idea if you're planning to get married? Well... I prefer celeste :eek: !

Regards, Frank.

BIANCHI_EURO said:

Hi,

I have this great site with a test of multiple pages of the Bianchi XL. The trouble for you is that it's in the Italian language. I'll post the site whatever. Hope you like it...

http://www.ciclismonline.it-edisport-ciclismo-notizie.nsf

Do you know there's a XL available in "white carbon" as well? I have seen it mounted with "tutto bianco" parts. Maybe a nice idea if you're planning to get married? Well... I prefer celeste :eek: !

Regards, Frank.

Can't get onto that url. Know about the white "Bianchi". Don't like the idea personally.

jazmo said:

Can't get onto that url. Know about the white "Bianchi". Don't like the idea personally.

Hi Jazmo,

Sorry for that. After I posted the thread I checked the link and realized they probably removed the test. There was no time for an extended search yesterday, so today I tried to check things out. I have only been able to relocate the specifics of the XL. But hold on to your seat. Only the specifics is already 5 pages. Try this link:

http://www.ciclismonline.it/edisport/ciclismo/notizie.nsf/

then go towards prove and click "tutte"
then click on the arrow in front of prova
then click on the arrow in front of prove
then click on the arrow in front of Bianchi XL carbon

ambiziosa senza limiti

Yeah! That's exactly what we need, right!?
You'll see five pages if all goes the way it should go. Better be quick, because I think they'll keep moving the things around since there's also a pay section in the site. If you need to know anything about the frame you can ask me. I have the hand made Ambrosio team version of the XL.

Regards, Frank.

jazmo said:

Does anyone here have a Bianchi LX Carbon. I'm on the verge of buying one with Campag Chorus grpset and Neutron wheels. Would like any feedback you may have. Thanks

I have the bike with Chorus & Ksyrium SSC SL wheels.
It is a great bike! Extremely comfortable, as stiff as you want it, and light enough to feel good climbing.
I would definitely recommend it with the one proviso being to get it clear-coated to give a little protection to the appearance. (i.e. this is only so that it stays looking just as good as new).

Thanks BIANCHI_EURO and PATCH70 for your feedback.

I actually test rode the bike today!!! Very nice - though I didn't get blown away by it. I haven't ridden high end bikes before so maybe I was just expecting too much.

I think it may have had something to do with me not being properly set up on the bike because I didn't feel completely comforable on it. The seat was too low and too far back for my liking. Anyway, apart from the setup, I was a bit concerned with the road noise being transmitted through the frame. It was a dull hollow sound that resonated through the frame. Do you have the same thing happening to your bikes? It wasn't as though it was annoying or anything, but it could get that way.

jazmo said:

I think it may have had something to do with me not being properly set up on the bike because I didn't feel completely comforable on it. The seat was too low and too far back for my liking. Anyway, apart from the setup, I was a bit concerned with the road noise being transmitted through the frame. It was a dull hollow sound that resonated through the frame. Do you have the same thing happening to your bikes? It wasn't as though it was annoying or anything, but it could get that way.

Definitely worth going to the effort of getting at least a decent fit to make it a worthwile test ride.
My old bike was steel and had less road noise but was so much less comfortable. I'll take comfort over a minor degree of road noise which I don't really notice.

patch70 said:

Definitely worth going to the effort of getting at least a decent fit to make it a worthwile test ride.
My old bike was steel and had less road noise but was so much less comfortable. I'll take comfort over a minor degree of road noise which I don't really notice.

I think you're right with regards to setup of the bike. I might try to go for a test ride again with it properly fitted.

I really only noticed the 'hollow' noise in the frame when I was had a tailwind. I couldn't hear it when I had wind rushing by my ears. I wonder if this is something common with full carbon fibre frames? A friend of mine has a Look 486 carbon and says that his frame doesn't have that characteristic at all.

The other thing I tested for is bottom bracket flexing. I tested it by changing into the big ring and accelerating out of the saddle. The chain did rub against the from deraileur (sp?) on the downstroke ( with the front derailleur not quite properly adjusted) so there is some bottom bracket flex, but then again, I suppose I'd get that with any bike (probably desirable to some extent as it means the frame is able to elongate and wont suffer a catastrophic failure). All in all the responsiveness of the bike when accelerating out of the saddle uphill is much better than my steel bike.

Also, I was quite suprised by the way the frame dampened road vibration. Being from Melbourne, you'd know the Yarra Boulevarde is a very rough road and riding with it even on a steel road bike is not much fun. Well this bike smoothed out the road quite nicely and I was very impressed with that.

jazmo said:

Also, I was quite suprised by the way the frame dampened road vibration. Being from Melbourne, you'd know the Yarra Boulevarde is a very rough road and riding with it even on a steel road bike is not much fun. Well this bike smoothed out the road quite nicely and I was very impressed with that.

I can definitely hear you about the Yarra (& Richmond) Boulevard. That was also where I really noticed the difference compared to my previous bikes.

Just bringing this back to the top. Wan't to see if anyone else out there has something to say about this bike.

Aha!

I finally see I am in a discussion with two Aussies! Mén, if I were you I 'd go surfing instead of road racing. You live in the part of the world I am dreaming of! Yesterday I went windsurfing in this stormy breeze here and than I realized that, eventhough I am crazy about cycling, there's no sport that can match windsurfing...

Anyway the wind has decreased again so if you want to move fast one has to work again. Back to cycling (for which I live in the right part of the world). I think the sound comes from the oversized frame tubes. I have also experienced it on alu frames. The oversized frame works as a amplifier box, just like the box part of a guitar does for the instrument.

Did you see the test (the results were outstanding). On the same site they now added five more pages on the XL carbon.

Regards, Frank

jazmo said:

Does anyone here have a Bianchi LX Carbon. I'm on the verge of buying one with Campag Chorus grpset and Neutron wheels. Would like any feedback you may have. Thanks

Hi There

I purchased a Bianchi XL carbon frame three months ago and I believe it to be superb. Forgive me if I lapse into hyperbole but I'm really, really happy with it!!

I was coming from a too small Giant TCR 1, which I had literally outgrown. I looked around at a whole range of frames including Fondriest, Cannondale, Cervelo, Merckx (hard to find deals on those) etc. The Bianchi seemed to be the best combination of quality construction and price, so I went with it. I purchased the frame for AUS$2500 at Fitzroy cycles.

Sizing was a bit of an issue in that I didn't know what I required. My old giant was 55cm, which was too small for my 185cm height. I had to use a 130mm stem to get the right length. What made things worse was that the Giant had a relatively short head tube length. I had to stretch to get in the drops.

Thus, I went looking for the biggest head tube I could find!! With the possible exception of the Ridley Damocles (a fantastic frame) and the Specialized Roubaix (good but gimmicky), the 61cm Bianchi has a beautiful 200mm head tube which allows you a traditional fit as well as a cool looking semi-compact frame shape. Bianchi size their frames as if they were traditionally constructed (ie: cannondale, colnago) rather than semi compact. This means that you would have to select one that, going by the numbers, would initially appear to be too large.

For example, I should be on a 58cm bike, and this is what the XL Carbon measures from C-C on the top tube, but that frame is listed as a 61cm, because that's what the extrapolated measurement would be if it didn't have a semi-compact design. The sizing chart on Bianchi.com illustrates this.

The vibration damping is really good, particularly on the old concrete tramways that they pass off as roads down here in Hobart, Tasmania. After a few hours, I definitely feel less beat up than I did on the TCR. Plus, you are able to hold a good cadence for longer when you're not being jolted around.

It's stiff as well, I haven't seen more than 'natural' levels of flex in the BB area, and I've been looking. It's certainly stiffer than the TCR, and considering it's twice the size and made from carbon, that's pretty impressive.
I'm not sure how important stiffness is though. It makes mathematical sense to have a stiff frame, but Sean Kelly managed to win four Green Jerseys competing on Vitus frames, which apparantly flexed to such an extent that it was visible to onlookers! The Bianchi is plenty stiff, IMO.

I'm using an FSA K-Force Light seatpost, which has about 50mm of setback. Coupled with a 72.5 degree seat angle, this makes for a stable ride. I have to set myself up a little more for corners now, compared to the TCR which was a little like a TRON light-cycle.

The finish is really good. I've carted mine over 1000kms around the state when holidaying using a top-tube clamp style bike rack and there are no blemishes or marks on the paint or carbon finish. I do exercise care, though.

I suppose you could say that I'm really happy with it. I've done 1800ks since it's arrived (Tassie winter enforced a brief training hiatus; it can get a touch inclement down here...) and I enjoy it more and more with each ride.

Feel free to ask any questions that you may have.

F.