Bianchi - another what bike thread
Discussion
Mrs. Drinks has decided she want to start cycling and hence needs a road bike. After trawling the web and narrowing down her potential candidates she has concluded she wants a Bianchi ideally in green with white text 
. As far as I can tell this is purely based upon aesthetics. Budget is ~1K may be subject to budget creep as I want a shiny, shiny new bike next year.
I'm no expert having been cycling for 18 months on and off using my 2012 Giant Defy 1 which was top of the reviews for a 1k bike last year.
Is a Bianchi more about paying for a name at this price point and which model/spec should I be pointing her towards. Quite happy to direct her towards other brands even if just for comparison purposes.
http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Bianchi_Via_Nirone_7....
Seems to be the most sensible starting point. Not sure if I linked to the dama version or not actually and that leads me on to the next question. Are female specific bikes substantially different to male specific?
. As far as I can tell this is purely based upon aesthetics. Budget is ~1K may be subject to budget creep as I want a shiny, shiny new bike next year.I'm no expert having been cycling for 18 months on and off using my 2012 Giant Defy 1 which was top of the reviews for a 1k bike last year.
Is a Bianchi more about paying for a name at this price point and which model/spec should I be pointing her towards. Quite happy to direct her towards other brands even if just for comparison purposes.
http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Bianchi_Via_Nirone_7....
Seems to be the most sensible starting point. Not sure if I linked to the dama version or not actually and that leads me on to the next question. Are female specific bikes substantially different to male specific?
It's the exact same bike I keep getting drawn to on the Evan site whilst looking for my Ride2Work purchase.
I think there is a bit of paying for the brand, but not a huge amount as spec wise they are very similar to others in the price range.
Also Bianchi's always just look that little bit nicer, and I have a soft spot for them as I had one as a teenager.
I think there is a bit of paying for the brand, but not a huge amount as spec wise they are very similar to others in the price range.
Also Bianchi's always just look that little bit nicer, and I have a soft spot for them as I had one as a teenager.
drinks said:
Mrs. Drinks has decided she want to start cycling and hence needs a road bike. After trawling the web and narrowing down her potential candidates she has concluded she wants a Bianchi ideally in green with white text . As far as I can tell this is purely based upon aesthetics. Budget is ~1K may be subject to budget creep as I want a shiny, shiny new bike next year.
I'm no expert having been cycling for 18 months on and off using my 2012 Giant Defy 1 which was top of the reviews for a 1k bike last year.
Is a Bianchi more about paying for a name at this price point and which model/spec should I be pointing her towards. Quite happy to direct her towards other brands even if just for comparison purposes.
http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Bianchi_Via_Nirone_7....
Seems to be the most sensible starting point. Not sure if I linked to the dama version or not actually and that leads me on to the next question. Are female specific bikes substantially different to male specific?
You're paying for the name to some extent (although the same could be said of many brands), esp. at the lower end of the price spectrum. Their top-end bike (Oltre) is beyond beautiful. Still, nice bikes nonetheless . As far as I can tell this is purely based upon aesthetics. Budget is ~1K may be subject to budget creep as I want a shiny, shiny new bike next year.I'm no expert having been cycling for 18 months on and off using my 2012 Giant Defy 1 which was top of the reviews for a 1k bike last year.
Is a Bianchi more about paying for a name at this price point and which model/spec should I be pointing her towards. Quite happy to direct her towards other brands even if just for comparison purposes.
http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Bianchi_Via_Nirone_7....
Seems to be the most sensible starting point. Not sure if I linked to the dama version or not actually and that leads me on to the next question. Are female specific bikes substantially different to male specific?
If done right, female specific bikes do differ quite a bit. Some brands give it a pink saddle and call it "womens specific", whereas others go the trouble of using completely different geometries, different handlebar/grip thicknesses etc, etc. Specialized are probably the brand that pay the most attention to such things
Gizmoish said:
Buy a Boardman Fi.
Dizeee incoming in 3... 2...
Her sister has a Boardman Fi with 105 that she bought last year for just under £1000 which is what has prompted her need to start cycling. This seems like a really good piece of kit, very well specced but unavailable this year. The Fi Comp was apparently available earlier this month for £430, we would have snapped it up at that price but for £800 she would rather spend the extra for the "pretty Bianchi"Dizeee incoming in 3... 2...
Having said that she hasn't been and looked in Halfords, so it's worth going to see it in the metal.
I always end up saying this on noob threads...
Check the bottom gear - smallest chainring, largest sprocket. Lots of "starter" bikes come with fairly high bottom gears - which is fine on the flat but means the rider will be walking up quite a few hills to begin with. I maintain it's the single biggest reason why people give up on the sport: it's hard to begin with. Look for something with a compact chainset giving 34x28, maybe even 34x30... Believe the Bianchis come with 34x25.
Sounds wimpy, but you wouldn't put the gears from a Ferrari in a Fiesta: because there isn't the power to turn them around. Same applies...
Check the bottom gear - smallest chainring, largest sprocket. Lots of "starter" bikes come with fairly high bottom gears - which is fine on the flat but means the rider will be walking up quite a few hills to begin with. I maintain it's the single biggest reason why people give up on the sport: it's hard to begin with. Look for something with a compact chainset giving 34x28, maybe even 34x30... Believe the Bianchis come with 34x25.
Sounds wimpy, but you wouldn't put the gears from a Ferrari in a Fiesta: because there isn't the power to turn them around. Same applies...
drinks said:
Mrs. Drinks has decided she want to start cycling and hence needs a road bike. After trawling the web and narrowing down her potential candidates she has concluded she wants a Bianchi ideally in green with white text . As far as I can tell this is purely based upon aesthetics. Budget is ~1K may be subject to budget creep as I want a shiny, shiny new bike next year.
I'm no expert having been cycling for 18 months on and off using my 2012 Giant Defy 1 which was top of the reviews for a 1k bike last year.
Is a Bianchi more about paying for a name at this price point and which model/spec should I be pointing her towards. Quite happy to direct her towards other brands even if just for comparison purposes.
http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Bianchi_Via_Nirone_7....
Seems to be the most sensible starting point. Not sure if I linked to the dama version or not actually and that leads me on to the next question. Are female specific bikes substantially different to male specific?
Have pretty much the same bike, but all green and bought second hand from a mate a few months ago as my first road bike and bike since I was a kid, its 3/4 years old and so far loving it. Does look good, but I am slightly bias. As far as I can tell this is purely based upon aesthetics. Budget is ~1K may be subject to budget creep as I want a shiny, shiny new bike next year.I'm no expert having been cycling for 18 months on and off using my 2012 Giant Defy 1 which was top of the reviews for a 1k bike last year.
Is a Bianchi more about paying for a name at this price point and which model/spec should I be pointing her towards. Quite happy to direct her towards other brands even if just for comparison purposes.
http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Bianchi_Via_Nirone_7....
Seems to be the most sensible starting point. Not sure if I linked to the dama version or not actually and that leads me on to the next question. Are female specific bikes substantially different to male specific?
Gizmoish said:
I always end up saying this on noob threads...
Check the bottom gear - smallest chainring, largest sprocket. Lots of "starter" bikes come with fairly high bottom gears - which is fine on the flat but means the rider will be walking up quite a few hills to begin with. I maintain it's the single biggest reason why people give up on the sport: it's hard to begin with. Look for something with a compact chainset giving 34x28, maybe even 34x30... Believe the Bianchis come with 34x25.
Sounds wimpy, but you wouldn't put the gears from a Ferrari in a Fiesta: because there isn't the power to turn them around. Same applies...
For the sake of the £15 and 5 minutes it takes to change a cassette I wouldn't base my buying decision on it.Check the bottom gear - smallest chainring, largest sprocket. Lots of "starter" bikes come with fairly high bottom gears - which is fine on the flat but means the rider will be walking up quite a few hills to begin with. I maintain it's the single biggest reason why people give up on the sport: it's hard to begin with. Look for something with a compact chainset giving 34x28, maybe even 34x30... Believe the Bianchis come with 34x25.
Sounds wimpy, but you wouldn't put the gears from a Ferrari in a Fiesta: because there isn't the power to turn them around. Same applies...
OP - Buy the Bianchi. It might not be the best bike but it will be the bike that she enjoys the most.
Mr Will said:
For the sake of the £15 and 5 minutes it takes to change a cassette I wouldn't base my buying decision on it.
OP - Buy the Bianchi. It might not be the best bike but it will be the bike that she enjoys the most.
Fair point, but you have to know to change it. Otherwise noobs just assume that "20 speeds" are all the same. OP - Buy the Bianchi. It might not be the best bike but it will be the bike that she enjoys the most.
Gizmoish said:
Mr Will said:
For the sake of the £15 and 5 minutes it takes to change a cassette I wouldn't base my buying decision on it.
OP - Buy the Bianchi. It might not be the best bike but it will be the bike that she enjoys the most.
Fair point, but you have to know to change it. Otherwise noobs just assume that "20 speeds" are all the same. OP - Buy the Bianchi. It might not be the best bike but it will be the bike that she enjoys the most.
Good point that a novice probably wouldn't know to ask, though, and would end up without that lower gear, frustrated by steeper hills. If you swap out for a cassette with more teeth on the biggest cog, then later find you don't need the lowest gears to bail you out on the hills, cassettes are 'wear and tear' items anyway - when you wear it out, swap it for one with the original ratios.
My first proper road bike was a Bianchi. Bloody loved it for the few months I had it before some scrote nicked it. It's the colour. Put it this way, it may be not quite as a good as another bike in the same price bracket, but cycling is ALL about the motivation to ride, and if it makes you smile when you open the garage door, that counts for a lot!
Mr Will said:
Gizmoish said:
I always end up saying this on noob threads...
Check the bottom gear - smallest chainring, largest sprocket. Lots of "starter" bikes come with fairly high bottom gears - which is fine on the flat but means the rider will be walking up quite a few hills to begin with. I maintain it's the single biggest reason why people give up on the sport: it's hard to begin with. Look for something with a compact chainset giving 34x28, maybe even 34x30... Believe the Bianchis come with 34x25.
Sounds wimpy, but you wouldn't put the gears from a Ferrari in a Fiesta: because there isn't the power to turn them around. Same applies...
For the sake of the £15 and 5 minutes it takes to change a cassette I wouldn't base my buying decision on it.Check the bottom gear - smallest chainring, largest sprocket. Lots of "starter" bikes come with fairly high bottom gears - which is fine on the flat but means the rider will be walking up quite a few hills to begin with. I maintain it's the single biggest reason why people give up on the sport: it's hard to begin with. Look for something with a compact chainset giving 34x28, maybe even 34x30... Believe the Bianchis come with 34x25.
Sounds wimpy, but you wouldn't put the gears from a Ferrari in a Fiesta: because there isn't the power to turn them around. Same applies...
OP - Buy the Bianchi. It might not be the best bike but it will be the bike that she enjoys the most.
It came with a 12-28 on the rear, not quite as wide a range as her previous triple but enough to get her up most rolling hills.
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. There seems a general positive vibe towards the Bianchi, so that is good. I think those of you that mentioned about, "if she likes it then she is more likely to ride it" have hit the nail on the head. At least for the first few weeks until the novelty wears off.
The cassette issue is a good point too but certainly not a deal breaker I'm quite capable of changing a cassette if needed.
Options at the bike shop we are visiting on Saturday, appear to be the Sora equipped bike at £810 which is a 9 speed cassette or a Xenon mix though they can order in the Tiagra equipped bike for us.
I would rather get the Tiagra or the Campag in theory, as they are 10 speed. However I know absolutely nothing about Campag group sets, are xenon and veloce good or bad?
Unisex campag:- http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Bianchi-C2C-Via-Nirone-7-A...
Female tiagra:- http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Bianchi-C2C-Via-Nirone-Dam...
Or is the 2014 batch due so imminently that it's worth waiting, I think this may be a non-starter as she wants to ride now not in 4-6 weeks.
The cassette issue is a good point too but certainly not a deal breaker I'm quite capable of changing a cassette if needed.
Options at the bike shop we are visiting on Saturday, appear to be the Sora equipped bike at £810 which is a 9 speed cassette or a Xenon mix though they can order in the Tiagra equipped bike for us.
I would rather get the Tiagra or the Campag in theory, as they are 10 speed. However I know absolutely nothing about Campag group sets, are xenon and veloce good or bad?
Unisex campag:- http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Bianchi-C2C-Via-Nirone-7-A...
Female tiagra:- http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Bianchi-C2C-Via-Nirone-Dam...
Or is the 2014 batch due so imminently that it's worth waiting, I think this may be a non-starter as she wants to ride now not in 4-6 weeks.
drinks said:
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. There seems a general positive vibe towards the Bianchi, so that is good. I think those of you that mentioned about, "if she likes it then she is more likely to ride it" have hit the nail on the head. At least for the first few weeks until the novelty wears off.
The cassette issue is a good point too but certainly not a deal breaker I'm quite capable of changing a cassette if needed.
Options at the bike shop we are visiting on Saturday, appear to be the Sora equipped bike at £810 which is a 9 speed cassette or a Xenon mix though they can order in the Tiagra equipped bike for us.
I would rather get the Tiagra or the Campag in theory, as they are 10 speed. However I know absolutely nothing about Campag group sets, are xenon and veloce good or bad?
Unisex campag:- http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Bianchi-C2C-Via-Nirone-7-A...
Female tiagra:- http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Bianchi-C2C-Via-Nirone-Dam...
Or is the 2014 batch due so imminently that it's worth waiting, I think this may be a non-starter as she wants to ride now not in 4-6 weeks.
I have veloce on my bike. No idea on weight comparisons but I've become a campag convert after a lifetime of Shimano as it has some lovely little elegant design touches that Shimano doesn't. It's certainly as good as the similar priced groupset from Shimano or SRAM. The cassette issue is a good point too but certainly not a deal breaker I'm quite capable of changing a cassette if needed.
Options at the bike shop we are visiting on Saturday, appear to be the Sora equipped bike at £810 which is a 9 speed cassette or a Xenon mix though they can order in the Tiagra equipped bike for us.
I would rather get the Tiagra or the Campag in theory, as they are 10 speed. However I know absolutely nothing about Campag group sets, are xenon and veloce good or bad?
Unisex campag:- http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Bianchi-C2C-Via-Nirone-7-A...
Female tiagra:- http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Bianchi-C2C-Via-Nirone-Dam...
Or is the 2014 batch due so imminently that it's worth waiting, I think this may be a non-starter as she wants to ride now not in 4-6 weeks.
E38Ross said:
you'll get some saying you pay for the name and aesthetics but......they do look good. I've got one of these (admittedly was over £1k!) but i saw it and just had to have it. i don't care i could have got slightly better for the money.
Thats a nice bike, similar in spec and geo to my WilierI got the men's Via Nerone Tiagra in 2012, red with white graphics, I get caught up in spec as much as the next man (that and the weight of the bike) but when push came to paying, I couldn't buy a bike I didn't like looking at...and it DOES motivate you to get on it if you enjoy staring at it.
All I know above that is, that depsite being 'pretty' the wheels are too heavy and one day I'll sort that, but for now, the Tiagra has performed faultlessly and I'm still smitten with it despite it being at the less expensive end of the scale.
Female geometry wise I'm less convinced, the whole "men's bodies are different from women's bodies proportionally" thing, is all well and good, but men's bodies differ wildly from bloke to bloke as does a woman's and from what I read/see a smaller men's bike can easily be specced to fit a lass...shorter stem/crank, wider saddle, narrower bars...
All I know above that is, that depsite being 'pretty' the wheels are too heavy and one day I'll sort that, but for now, the Tiagra has performed faultlessly and I'm still smitten with it despite it being at the less expensive end of the scale.
Female geometry wise I'm less convinced, the whole "men's bodies are different from women's bodies proportionally" thing, is all well and good, but men's bodies differ wildly from bloke to bloke as does a woman's and from what I read/see a smaller men's bike can easily be specced to fit a lass...shorter stem/crank, wider saddle, narrower bars...
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