new bike part ii: how's the Bianchi C2C Via Nirone Tiagra Triple?

[michael]

Hi - I'm looking for a new bike. Mostly it'll be for getting me to and
from work as well as just for riding around in general. No racing or
anything crazy like that. I had been looking at some of the lower end
Fujis, specifically the Newest 3.0. I was at a different bike store
today and rode a Bianchi Coast To Coast Via Nirone Tiagra Triple
(http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_c2c_nirone_tiagra.html). It was selling
for $900.00. Any opinions of this bike? It felt really good to me, but
I'm pretty new to the whole bike shopping thing.

Thanks!

-Michael

 

[Qui si parla Campagnolo]

On Jun 9, 4:02 pm, michael <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi - I'm looking for a new bike. Mostly it'll be for getting me to and
> from work as well as just for riding around in general. No racing or
> anything crazy like that. I had been looking at some of the lower end
> Fujis, specifically the Newest 3.0. I was at a different bike store
> today and rode a Bianchi Coast To Coast Via Nirone Tiagra Triple
> (http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_c2c_nirone_tiagra.html). It was selling
> for $900.00. Any opinions of this bike? It felt really good to me, but
> I'm pretty new to the whole bike shopping thing.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -Michael

Does it fit ya? Does the bike shop know what it is doing, assembly and
service after the sale(specifically, decent bunch of wrenches)?..if
yes, good deal.

 

[Callistus Valerius]

>
> Does it fit ya? Does the bike shop know what it is doing, assembly and
> service after the sale(specifically, decent bunch of wrenches)?..if
> yes, good deal.
=======
I visted an LBS here, that has a very good reputation, been here a long
time. So I was looking at there mountain bikes, so I inspected one, and saw
that they put the der cables in wrong, and they had to cross each other
below the down tube. Should I have brought it up to the staff there, or
would I be hated for being another smart alec customer. It did make me
wonder if they do put these bikes together right, what other short cuts have
they taken.

 

[landotter]

On Jun 9, 5:02 pm, michael <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi - I'm looking for a new bike. Mostly it'll be for getting me to and
> from work as well as just for riding around in general

Then why are you looking at what's a racing bike? You can't mount
sensible tires to it, it won't take fenders, it won't take a rack, the
handlebar position is extreme? Do you want something cool to park at
Starbucks or something practicle? Don't get me wrong, I like a good
sporty bike, and climb aboard one daily in full on spandex for a
training run--but I'd never want that to be my only bike. Think about
either a touring bike--which can feel pretty nippy with the right
tires--but it's not just a one purpose bike. You can put your work
stuff on a rack, you can fetch groceries with it, or ride it cross
country. $1000 gets you a Surly LHT or a Novara Randonee.

Alternately, there are lots of nice city bikes to be found for far
less dosh than the Bianchi. I think $500 is a real sweet spot for a
daily rider that gets locked up outside from time to time.



>. No racing or
> anything crazy like that. I had been looking at some of the lower end
> Fujis, specifically the Newest 3.0. I was at a different bike store
> today and rode a Bianchi Coast To Coast Via Nirone Tiagra Triple
> (http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_c2c_nirone_tiagra.html). It was selling
> for $900.00. Any opinions of this bike? It felt really good to me, but
> I'm pretty new to the whole bike shopping thing.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -Michael

 

[Callistus Valerius]

> Hi - I'm looking for a new bike. Mostly it'll be for getting me to and
> from work as well as just for riding around in general. No racing or
> anything crazy like that. I had been looking at some of the lower end
> Fujis, specifically the Newest 3.0. I was at a different bike store
> today and rode a Bianchi Coast To Coast Via Nirone Tiagra Triple
> (http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_c2c_nirone_tiagra.html). It was selling
> for $900.00. Any opinions of this bike? It felt really good to me, but
> I'm pretty new to the whole bike shopping thing.
>
> Thanks!
>
------------
In the end, you'll have change all of the components yourself, after you
wear them out. What I look at, is to make sure it has all the standard
setups. Weird tube shapes and sizes, mean that you'll have a hell of time
mounting a lights, or even a pump. Trek is following Specialized in making
bikes works of art, not practical bikes for everyday uses.

 

[John Forrest Tomlinson]

On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:40:22 -0000, landotter <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On Jun 9, 5:02 pm, michael <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Hi - I'm looking for a new bike. Mostly it'll be for getting me to and
>> from work as well as just for riding around in general
>
>Then why are you looking at what's a racing bike?

Are you talking about the Fuji Newest 3.0? That's not a racing bike.
--
JT
****************************
Remove "remove" to reply
Visit http://www.jt10000.com
****************************

 

[Ryan Cousineau]

In article <[email protected]>,
"Callistus Valerius" <[email protected]> wrote:

> >
> > Does it fit ya? Does the bike shop know what it is doing, assembly and
> > service after the sale(specifically, decent bunch of wrenches)?..if
> > yes, good deal.
> =======
> I visted an LBS here, that has a very good reputation, been here a long
> time. So I was looking at there mountain bikes, so I inspected one, and saw
> that they put the der cables in wrong, and they had to cross each other
> below the down tube. Should I have brought it up to the staff there, or
> would I be hated for being another smart alec customer. It did make me
> wonder if they do put these bikes together right, what other short cuts have
> they taken.

They may have done it deliberately. It's a tactic to improve the cable
housing bend radii as the housing comes from the shifters to the
downtube (or headtube) cable stops. The crossing under the dt doesn't
hurt the cables at all.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email protected] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

 

[Callistus Valerius]

> > I visted an LBS here, that has a very good reputation, been here a long
> > time. So I was looking at there mountain bikes, so I inspected one, and
saw
> > that they put the der cables in wrong, and they had to cross each other
> > below the down tube. Should I have brought it up to the staff there, or
> > would I be hated for being another smart alec customer. It did make me
> > wonder if they do put these bikes together right, what other short cuts
have
> > they taken.
>
> They may have done it deliberately. It's a tactic to improve the cable
> housing bend radii as the housing comes from the shifters to the
> downtube (or headtube) cable stops. The crossing under the dt doesn't
> hurt the cables at all.
>
> --
> Ryan Cousineau [email protected] http://www.wiredcola.com/
---------
you could be right but aesthetically it doesn't look right. but hell, I put
a shiftmate on my campag shimano setup, and it is indeed ugly too, but works
flawlessly.

 

[michael]

On Jun 9, 8:40 pm, landotter <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Then why are you looking at what's a racing bike? You can't mount
> sensible tires to it, it won't take fenders, it won't take a rack, the
> handlebar position is extreme? Do you want something cool to park at
> Starbucks or something practicle? Don't get me wrong, I like a good
> sporty bike, and climb aboard one daily in full on spandex for a
> training run--but I'd never want that to be my only bike. Think about
> either a touring bike--which can feel pretty nippy with the right
> tires--but it's not just a one purpose bike. You can put your work
> stuff on a rack, you can fetch groceries with it, or ride it cross
> country. $1000 gets you a Surly LHT or a Novara Randonee.

My understanding is that it'll take race fenders without any problems.
Is that wrong? I don't care about a rack - I live within a couple
blocks of a large grocery store. I don't go to Starbucks - I don't
drink coffee. I just want something that works well and is fast.

> Alternately, there are lots of nice city bikes to be found for far
> less dosh than the Bianchi. I think $500 is a real sweet spot for a
> daily rider that gets locked up outside from time to time.

Can you give an example? The only bikes I've seen in the $500 range
have been single speeds and the Fuji Newest 3.0 and 4.0.

-Michael

 

[michael]

On Jun 9, 9:01 pm, "Callistus Valerius" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Hi - I'm looking for a new bike. Mostly it'll be for getting me to and
> > from work as well as just for riding around in general. No racing or
> > anything crazy like that. I had been looking at some of the lower end
> > Fujis, specifically the Newest 3.0. I was at a different bike store
> > today and rode a Bianchi Coast To Coast Via Nirone Tiagra Triple
> > (http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_c2c_nirone_tiagra.html). It was selling
> > for $900.00. Any opinions of this bike? It felt really good to me, but
> > I'm pretty new to the whole bike shopping thing.
>
> > Thanks!
>
> ------------
> In the end, you'll have change all of the components yourself, after you
> wear them out. What I look at, is to make sure it has all the standard
> setups. Weird tube shapes and sizes, mean that you'll have a hell of time
> mounting a lights, or even a pump. Trek is following Specialized in making
> bikes works of art, not practical bikes for everyday uses.

Are those components going to wear out quickly or something? My
understanding was that it had pretty good parts on it.

 

[Qui si parla Campagnolo]

On Jun 9, 5:19 pm, "Callistus Valerius" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Does it fit ya? Does the bike shop know what it is doing, assembly and
> > service after the sale(specifically, decent bunch of wrenches)?..if
> > yes, good deal.
>
> =======
> I visted an LBS here, that has a very good reputation, been here a long
> time. So I was looking at there mountain bikes, so I inspected one, and saw
> that they put the der cables in wrong, and they had to cross each other
> below the down tube. Should I have brought it up to the staff there, or
> would I be hated for being another smart alec customer. It did make me
> wonder if they do put these bikes together right, what other short cuts have
> they taken.

On many MTB that is not uncommon, on some road also so that the
housing doesn't rub the headtube, and some will say a smoother cable
route for better shifting.

 

[Callistus Valerius]

> My understanding is that it'll take race fenders without any problems.
> Is that wrong? I don't care about a rack - I live within a couple
> blocks of a large grocery store. I don't go to Starbucks - I don't
> drink coffee. I just want something that works well and is fast.
>
> > Alternately, there are lots of nice city bikes to be found for far
> > less dosh than the Bianchi. I think $500 is a real sweet spot for a
> > daily rider that gets locked up outside from time to time.
>
> Can you give an example? The only bikes I've seen in the $500 range
> have been single speeds and the Fuji Newest 3.0 and 4.0.
>
> -Michael
Have you compared it to a Trek 1000. Have the '98 screaming yellow version
of a Trek 1000, with over 20,000 miles on it. Don't know if the '07 version
is the same bike though. There should be some sales coming up, when the '08
bikes start appearing, I don't know when that is, but it seems like sometime
in the summer. Have you looked at the reviews on the Fuji, I've seen them
but don't know much about them? They seem like a reasonable bike, but I'm
sure someone out there can tell you what they're all about. If you don't
ride much, you might want spend more, and get the better components, like
shifter, 9 sp, better brakes, etc (cheaper that way). If you do 10,000
miles a year, it doesn't matter, because you have to replace everything
eventually anyway, and then you can make it the bike you really wanted.

 

[landotter]

On Jun 10, 6:01 am, michael <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Jun 9, 8:40 pm, landotter <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Then why are you looking at what's a racing bike? You can't mount
> > sensible tires to it, it won't take fenders, it won't take a rack, the
> > handlebar position is extreme? Do you want something cool to park at
> > Starbucks or something practicle? Don't get me wrong, I like a good
> > sporty bike, and climb aboard one daily in full on spandex for a
> > training run--but I'd never want that to be my only bike. Think about
> > either a touring bike--which can feel pretty nippy with the right
> > tires--but it's not just a one purpose bike. You can put your work
> > stuff on a rack, you can fetch groceries with it, or ride it cross
> > country. $1000 gets you a Surly LHT or a Novara Randonee.
>
> My understanding is that it'll take race fenders without any problems.
> Is that wrong? I don't care about a rack - I live within a couple
> blocks of a large grocery store. I don't go to Starbucks - I don't
> drink coffee. I just want something that works well and is fast.

Fast huh? Any bike under thirty pounds with reasonably light rubber is
going to be fast.

>
> > Alternately, there are lots of nice city bikes to be found for far
> > less dosh than the Bianchi. I think $500 is a real sweet spot for a
> > daily rider that gets locked up outside from time to time.
>
> Can you give an example? The only bikes I've seen in the $500 range
> have been single speeds and the Fuji Newest 3.0 and 4.0.


How about a Kona Smoke for $350:
http://www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/SMOKE/index.html

Or a Kona Commuter for $400:
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/commuter2.html

An elegant Marin Belvedere for $500:
http://www.rei.com/product/747553

If you insist on drop bars, which certainly are nice, you'll need to
spend a bit more. They're out there. Seriously, have you even gone to
a shop? The LBS two blocks from my house has half a dozen kinds of
hybrids for under five bills, and a couple roadies for right over 6.

If you want to take your chances, sprtymama on Ebay comes recommended
highly by a neighbor, and she's got a sporty touring bike (branded as
a "Mercier Galaxy") on there for under five hundred, brand new.

There are also places like bikesdirect.com which are recommended for
people who know their size and feel comfortable doing assembly
themselves.

Your LBS is not the only option, and they don't really make much from
bikes anyway, visit them and buy bottle cages and tubes if you feel
guilty.

 

[michael]

On Jun 10, 1:37 pm, landotter <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> How about a Kona Smoke for $350:http://www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/SMOKE/index.html
>
> Or a Kona Commuter for $400:http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/commuter2.html
>
> An elegant Marin Belvedere for $500:http://www.rei.com/product/747553

These are obviously not what I'm looking for.

> If you insist on drop bars, which certainly are nice, you'll need to
> spend a bit more. They're out there. Seriously, have you even gone to
> a shop? The LBS two blocks from my house has half a dozen kinds of
> hybrids for under five bills, and a couple roadies for right over 6.

I've been to about five in the last week. Cheapest multi speed road
bike I've seen was a Fuji Newest 4.0 for $500. It was pretty nice, but
I liked the 3.0 more, and this Bianchi I liked a whole lot more than
both Fujis.

> If you want to take your chances, sprtymama on Ebay comes recommended
> highly by a neighbor, and she's got a sporty touring bike (branded as
> a "Mercier Galaxy") on there for under five hundred, brand new.

I'm not much for taking chances with half a grand.

> There are also places like bikesdirect.com which are recommended for
> people who know their size and feel comfortable doing assembly
> themselves.

I can handle the assembly - but who makes their frames? Themselves?
Anyways I can't ride one of those before buying, which makes me
uncomfortable.

> Your LBS is not the only option, and they don't really make much from
> bikes anyway, visit them and buy bottle cages and tubes if you feel
> guilty.

Guilt is not a factor in my decision. If one bike store is nicer to me
than another, it simply means to me that he's a better business man.
He isn't trying to be a nice guy - he's just trying to make a buck.
However, I see advantages to buying locally. Most specifically - I can
test ride bikes before I buy them, if I'm buying them locally.

-Michael

 

[michael]

On Jun 10, 12:11 pm, "Callistus Valerius" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> > My understanding is that it'll take race fenders without any problems.
> > Is that wrong? I don't care about a rack - I live within a couple
> > blocks of a large grocery store. I don't go to Starbucks - I don't
> > drink coffee. I just want something that works well and is fast.
>
> > > Alternately, there are lots of nice city bikes to be found for far
> > > less dosh than the Bianchi. I think $500 is a real sweet spot for a
> > > daily rider that gets locked up outside from time to time.
>
> > Can you give an example? The only bikes I've seen in the $500 range
> > have been single speeds and the Fuji Newest 3.0 and 4.0.
>
> > -Michael
>
> Have you compared it to a Trek 1000. Have the '98 screaming yellow version
> of a Trek 1000, with over 20,000 miles on it. Don't know if the '07 version
> is the same bike though. There should be some sales coming up, when the '08
> bikes start appearing, I don't know when that is, but it seems like sometime
> in the summer. Have you looked at the reviews on the Fuji, I've seen them
> but don't know much about them? They seem like a reasonable bike, but I'm
> sure someone out there can tell you what they're all about. If you don't
> ride much, you might want spend more, and get the better components, like
> shifter, 9 sp, better brakes, etc (cheaper that way). If you do 10,000
> miles a year, it doesn't matter, because you have to replace everything
> eventually anyway, and then you can make it the bike you really wanted.

I can't seem to find that bike on the Trek website.

Where would I look for reviews? What are trusted sources?

I don't think I'll be doing 10K miles a year. Maybe 1-2K.

-Michael

 

[Callistus Valerius]

> > ------------
> > In the end, you'll have change all of the components yourself, after you
> > wear them out. What I look at, is to make sure it has all the standard
> > setups. Weird tube shapes and sizes, mean that you'll have a hell of
time
> > mounting a lights, or even a pump. Trek is following Specialized in
making
> > bikes works of art, not practical bikes for everyday uses.
>
> Are those components going to wear out quickly or something? My
> understanding was that it had pretty good parts on it.
----------
My Trek 1000 had sora parts on it. By the time I hit 20,000 miles,
every part on it had to be replaced. I upgraded it eventually to a 9sp
shimano 105.

 

[Callistus Valerius]

> I can't seem to find that bike on the Trek website.
>
> Where would I look for reviews? What are trusted sources?
>
> I don't think I'll be doing 10K miles a year. Maybe 1-2K.
>
> -Michael
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1413000&f=3

There cheapest one ain't so cheap anymore, $710. So maybe the Fuji is a
better value. The cheap Bianchi is $800, but sure looks nice. I think
whatever you get, you'll like it, if it fits you right, and you get the
right saddle on it (it took me 4 different saddles, before eventually I
found 2 different ones that work for me.) Don't ask for saddle
recomendation, because when it comes to saddles, EVERYONE's preference is
different. Shoes too. The two most important factors, the right shoes, and
the right saddle. If you ass is hurting, or your feet, you're going to hate
whatever bike you're riding.

 

[catzz66]

michael wrote:
>
>
> I can't seem to find that bike on the Trek website.
>
> Where would I look for reviews? What are trusted sources?
>
> I don't think I'll be doing 10K miles a year. Maybe 1-2K.
>
> -Michael
>

If you use Yahoo and search for "trek 1000 2007" it will take you where
you want to go. It is a mixture of sora and tiagra compontents now, but
still seems like a pretty good value for the money. Around here they
get discounted periodically for sales. I don't have one but know a
couple of people who do.

 

[landotter]

On Jun 11, 6:12 am, catzz66 <[email protected]> wrote:
> michael wrote:
>
> > I can't seem to find that bike on the Trek website.
>
> > Where would I look for reviews? What are trusted sources?
>
> > I don't think I'll be doing 10K miles a year. Maybe 1-2K.
>
> > -Michael
>
> If you use Yahoo and search for "trek 1000 2007" it will take you where
> you want to go. It is a mixture of sora and tiagra compontents now, but
> still seems like a pretty good value for the money. Around here they
> get discounted periodically for sales. I don't have one but know a
> couple of people who do.

That's a better bike for every day use than the Bianchi in my opinion.
Trek Pilot 1.0 as well. At least there's braze ons for if you finally
decide to get a rack to haul your laptop, mount a trunk, etc. Looks to
even have fork eyelets so you could squeeze some skinny Zefals in
there. One doesn't have to add such things, but it's ridiculous to not
have such most basic of options on a bike that's not to be raced.

The Jamis Satellite and Aurora are at a similar price point and also a
bit more practical while still being fast road bikes.

For my 500, I'd grab a "Mercier Galaxy" from Ebay, and replace the
gimpy bits like the BB, flog the brifters on Craigslist, replacing
them with barends or DP shifters. Of course, I'm handy and have a
magic bucket of part in the garage. The long reach DP brakes allow for
the use of realistic tire sizes. 8spd Shimano Deore back end should be
especially boring and reliable on the road. It's not a very sexy bike,
with pretty awful blue paint and things like yesteryears quill stem--
but the last thing I want in a utility bike--no matter how fast, is
too much "steal me" sex appeal. Mind, I've had super nice urban bikes
that cost upward of a grand--but I didn't let them look like they were
worth over $250. ;-P