Totally stock (actually i upgraded the forks to a better Deda model simply because that was the only one the LBS had in the size I needed), picked er up last night and did 20 miles this morning in Prospect Park just before the snow hit. I've been riding a 40lb singlespeed dirtjump hardtail for the last few years (road before that) but old habits die hard and it wasn't such a freak-out as I thought it would be. More like slipping into an old pair of shoes.
Ride quality: I've never ridden an aluminum bike before and never really wanted to. Having said that this wasn't too bad. the carbon fork and seat stays deaden the pinginess of the al, but there's definitely a slightly muted feel to the ride. My last road bike had a very short, very lively ti frame and i enjoyed the whippy twitchiness of that. This is a little more sedate, which I expect for most riders will be exactly what they want.
The 105 worked great, Mavic Cosmos wheelset felt nice and stiff, stock wtb pedals felt like **** as is to be expected but that's no biggie. Id already switched out the saddle for my old favorite so I can't speak on the seat it comes with.
Overall a well-equipped bike with a decently lively feel to it: probably just right for most people at the level most people considering this bike would be at. Probably the best-specced bike at the price range (only crappy generic parts are the seatpost and pedals), and a good, fun, reasonably responsive ride for someone who's not an all out racer.
I realise reading back I'm being overly cautious in qualifying my remarks on this bike. It's a lot of road bike for the money. Personally I'd prefer a livelier, more all-out race oriented frameset, but until I get that I'll be clocking up some fun miles on the Bianchi.
Ride quality: I've never ridden an aluminum bike before and never really wanted to. Having said that this wasn't too bad. the carbon fork and seat stays deaden the pinginess of the al, but there's definitely a slightly muted feel to the ride. My last road bike had a very short, very lively ti frame and i enjoyed the whippy twitchiness of that. This is a little more sedate, which I expect for most riders will be exactly what they want.
The 105 worked great, Mavic Cosmos wheelset felt nice and stiff, stock wtb pedals felt like **** as is to be expected but that's no biggie. Id already switched out the saddle for my old favorite so I can't speak on the seat it comes with.
Overall a well-equipped bike with a decently lively feel to it: probably just right for most people at the level most people considering this bike would be at. Probably the best-specced bike at the price range (only crappy generic parts are the seatpost and pedals), and a good, fun, reasonably responsive ride for someone who's not an all out racer.
I realise reading back I'm being overly cautious in qualifying my remarks on this bike. It's a lot of road bike for the money. Personally I'd prefer a livelier, more all-out race oriented frameset, but until I get that I'll be clocking up some fun miles on the Bianchi.
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