Which of these 2 bikes would you choose?

[trickywoo]

More or less the same money. Bike 2 looks nicer but think bike 1 has better parts and is likely to be a fair bit lighter (don't know the weight of bike 2).

BIKE 1

Frame Focus X-Tro Light G7 alloy racing frame
Fork Carbon racing fork with fibreglass steerer
Rear Derailleur SRAM Rival
Shift Levers SRAM Rival
Transmission Front: 50/34, Rear 12-27
Crankset SRAM Rival
Brakes SRAM Rival
Brake Levers SRAM Rival
Handlebars Concept Extreme alloy race bars
Stem Concept Extreme aluminium ahead stem
Wheelset Mavic Aksium 622-15
Tyres Schwalbe Stelvio foldable 23-622
Saddle Concept Extreme
Seat Post Concept Extreme, 2-bolt, aluminium
Weight: 7.85kg + pedals

BIKE 2

Frame: VIA NIRONE 7 ALU-CARBON
Fork: Bianchi FL5 K-Vid Carbon/Alu 11/8"
Cranks: Fsa GOSSAMER MegaExo Compact 50/34
Pedals: NO
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo VELOCE
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo VELOCE
Shifters: Campagnolo VELOCE
Cassette: Fac Michelin PRIMATO 12/25
Chain: Kmc DX10SC
Wheels: Fac Michelin RACING 28h Hubs, Ambrosio WS 23 Rims
Tyres: Continental ULTRA SPORT 23x622
Brakes: RC-466E Forged Alloy Dual-Pivot
Brake Levers: Included
Handlebar: Fsa WING shape alloy
Headset: Fsa ZS4-CUSTOM
Stem: Fsa OS-190LX shiny black
Grips: La Spirale ribbon
Saddle: San Marco PONZA m)cr-mo
Seat Post: RC SP-928-G Carbon fiber 31,6 mm

[foreright]

trickywoo said:

More or less the same money. Bike 2 looks nicer but think bike 1 has better parts and is likely to be a fair bit lighter (don't know the weight of bike 2).

I bought a Bianchi a few months ago and looked at this model (but went for the 1885 in the end) - it weighs a lot more than bike 1 - over 9kgs from what I remember but then it is more for touring than sprinting.

Is that the same price factoring in that the Bianchi needs pedals?

Personally I would go for the Italian but then I'm biased

[trickywoo]

foreright said:

Is that the same price factoring in that the Bianchi needs pedals?

Personally I would go for the Italian but then I'm biased

Both are within a few £ of £700 with pedals. I'm edging toward the Bianchi because it looks better finished.

[anonymous-user]

personally i would go with the focus. campag veloce is nothing like sram rival and the focus' i saw at the bike show at earls court this year were very well finished.

[mat205125]

I bought my Bianchi this time last year, and don't regret the purchase one little bit. I'd take one again any day.

[castex]

pablo said:

personally i would go with the focus. campag veloce is nothing like sram rival and the focus' i saw at the bike show at earls court this year were very well finished.

(slightly)O/T:
Pablo would you care to expand on this comparison? What makes Rival better than Veloce? Is it about the Itie kit's noisy freewheel? I'm on the point of buying the latter as a NOS '07 groupset and would appreciate any last minute guidance you or anyone else might have to offer.
Thanks!

[castex]

Oh and to the OP I would certainly choose the Bianchi because I LOVE celeste blue.

[anonymous-user]

castex said:

pablo said:

personally i would go with the focus. campag veloce is nothing like sram rival and the focus' i saw at the bike show at earls court this year were very well finished.

(slightly)O/T:
Pablo would you care to expand on this comparison? What makes Rival better than Veloce? Is it about the Itie kit's noisy freewheel? I'm on the point of buying the latter as a NOS '07 groupset and would appreciate any last minute guidance you or anyone else might have to offer.
Thanks!

at first its a bit subjective really so might not be of much use but when i have had a play with a Rival equipped bike, i have been able to do anything on the pedals and felt confident that it would not mash up the shifting even when you need a while to get used to the double tap method.

Then you notice stuff like the ergonomics of the cheaper campag stuff which is, in a word, shocking. Not only are the hoods made from a really cheap plasticy rubber which would be uncomfortable enough after a few minutes but i found the moulds to be a very odd position given the "racing" position the Bianchi geometry throws you into, my hands seemed to place a lot of pressure on my wrists, may have just been me?... anyway, SRAM look like they have actually modelled the hoods using a real life persons hands...

Veloce in terms of comparison is probably somewhere between tiagra and 105 (in shimano language) and it will show in terms of materials, build quality, finish and weight and i just dont think that the Bianchi frame and wheelset justifies hte use of lower level groupsets at that price of bike.

hope that helps, now i will a flaming from the campag users

[castex]

Pablo, thanks ever so much for taking the time. That's some serious food for thought you've rustled-up there.
It's just...
You know, the black skeleton brakes look so cool and I've sourced the lot for £280, and the frame that's been keeping me awake at night came with campag back in '78 and I'm a penniless student and, and...

• runs off to spoil someone else's thread*

[LRdriver II]

The Rival group weights 2244gr and veloce heavier at 2445gr so apart from that fact you need to try both shifter styles.. the campag is a bit fiddely with the thumb activated shifter to drop down the cog. This may be an issue if you have large hands and ride the hoods alot

SRAM is very different with everything at your fingertips... the Double tap system takes a small while to adjust to but its great having everything via one lever.

Whichever way, best idea is to got with better frame as everything is upgradeable (SRAM rival-force-red) and (campag Veloce-Centaur-Chorus-Record-SuperRecord.. and the news 11's)

One VERY important thing not to forget is choosing the bike which makes you happy. If you arent a racer, then stuff the odd weight difference, go with the one that makes you feel best. If the Bianchi, with its race heritage and passion, makes you feel like you did back then, drooling over it and all it stands for then I would go for that one.

Focus is a very strong brand, alot of bike for the money with good components with a more tech-advanced frame..so much so that one of the Pro-tour teams are now riding them. But its about as heritage laced and stylish as any efficient yet boring car brand.

You have to choose, drive the ruthlessly efficient modern car or the slightly older/slower but more charismatic classic.

Me?.. I'd go for the Bianchi.. Build it with your own bare hands, and fall in love with it, and slowly ugrade to better lighter wheels later. The passion and History counts more in my book in terms of satisfaction rather than some bland Focus.

(My next build is a retro Painted Colnago Extreme Power in Saronni 1982 colours with full Record and a set of handbuildt low profile rimmed wheels... I aint a racer and everybody and their granny are spitting out 900gr carbon frames, wheres the fun in that.. Old skool, handbuildt in italy by virgin maidens on a misty hilltop.. yea man..il passione )

[anonymous-user]

Given that I ride a Boardman purchased from a store commonly associated with chav motoring types, i dont mind not having a name and the history if it means i get a good deal on a bike!

how much prestige and history you can associate with a Bianchi is very subjective in my humble opinion... Pro bikes may well be made by naked virgins in the foothills of the Alps but the cheaper end bikes bearing the same name will be sweatshop specials from a non-descript Taiwan factory like most others...

[Kylie]

I would go the second set up for the frame mainly, but I would be inclined to eventually upgrade the veloce to chorus/record when funds allow. Also upgrade to ceramic bearings is a must to take away that free wheeling clatter, each to their own. Then you should have a nice bit of kit