Bianchi USA Inc. San Jose

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Providence Bicycle

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Through the city

Bike Setup:
61 cm with stock wheels, Conti Gatorskins 700x23, Egg Beater SLs, silver fenders.

Summary:
Nice inexpensive steel commuter/beater, relaxed geometry, nice wheels, comfy levers.

Strengths:
Crashed it....a lot...but it has held up. I have had all 200 lbs of me SMASH into a pothole at night that I didn't see coming while going fairly fast and flatted the tube but the wheel was fine. The hubs turn smooth, the rims rarely require truing and I ride this bike at least 4-5 times a week and hard (for a commuter) over potholes and all. Steel!

Weaknesses:
Front brake shudder. I'm suprised more people haven't mentioned this. I am one of three that I have spoken to that have this problem. But I ride it fixed + clipped in so it's very rare that I even use the brake, which is good because I had to toe the pads so far in to quiet them that they have lost quite a bit of power. It's been over a year....I wonder if it's too late to try to get a new fork from Bianchi... Oh yeah also I broke the bars clean in half at the stem....but I think I had over-tightened them. Shoulda come with a deeper drop front cable hanger too.

Similar Products Used:
Nothing similar too extensively.

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Price Paid:  $0.00 at Capitol Hill Bikes

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Off-road, but I digress

Bike Setup:
As purchased with the following changes: running 42x16, Terry Fly seat, 28 touring slicks and fenders added. Crank brothers pedals.

Summary:
I've been using the San Jose as my commuter for the past year (I typically commute 16 miles rt 4 days a week year-round). I enjoy riding this bike as much as any other bike in the stable. The frame dampens the many bumps I face on the DC commute and gives me a stable yet fast ride. The single-speed setup - I ride 42x16 freewheel - is hassle free. I've also come to really enjoy riding single-speed, which works well for a varied-pace commute. Moreover, it gives me strength training that has noticably increased my climbing pace.

Not much has been changed from the original specs. The faux fur seat is $20 junk, so it had to go, and I also switched to 28 touring slicks since I didn't really need the knobbly cyclocross tires for my all-pavement commute. And I installed some fenders. Initially I thought I'd put a carbon cyclocross fork on it, but I've come to love the solid compliance of the steel fork. Just changed out the rear brake pads but no other maintenance other than 1 flat.

Strengths:
Nice steel frame is stiff yet compliant. Overall setup is light for what is essentially being used as a steel beater-commuter. It is simply a joy to ride and is holding up to daily abuse.

Weaknesses:
This is a $600 bike, so there are obvious weaknesses off the rack, such as the throw-away seat. The wheels are holding up OK but they are clearly heavy and the rear likes to fall slightly out of true.

Price Paid:  $400.00 at Craigslist

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Any

Bike Setup:
bullhorns, continental slicks, candy's

Summary:
Phenominal bike. It's my favorite in my stable. I've put more miles on this than any other bike since I bough it. It's great for training, I can already tell the difference. I'm riding it fixie - in fact, I'm taking the freewhell off. I'll probably never use it.

Strengths:
Nice frame, super fast, easy to maintain/clean. Great rain rider.

Weaknesses:
Hmmm... none.

Similar Products Used:
Kona Paddy Wagon

Price Paid:  $600.00 at georges cycles

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
any

Bike Setup:
Has been set up with 35cm cross tyres and 42-20 gearing and ridden as a mt bike. Right now it has planet bike fenders, front and rear racks, and the stock wtb tyres. They work well in the snow and ice. Most importantly the on one bars the midge bars are the best.

Summary:
I hace ridden this bike everywhere in boise, commuted on it, rode it in the foothills. Even rode a century on it!

Strengths:
Most comfortable bike I own. Versitile.

Weaknesses:
Wish I could fit some bigger tyres and disk brakes.

Similar Products Used:
Redline cyclocross, SS redline monocog

Price Paid:  $600.00 at Rib Mnt. Cycles

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
Replaced the front wheel (so as to have a quick release), Brooks saddle (looks GREAT, still needs some breaking in for long rides though), CB Egg Beaters.

Summary:
The thing about this bike is either you buy into the fixie concept, or you don't. The bike is solid, it's taken some beatings, but it has held up well. It's nice having a simple ride, where you don't have to worry about too much going wrong. I love it, and I think if more people would give it a try, they would too.

Strengths:
Simple. About the only thing you can have go wrong is a flat tire, broken chain, or busted spoke (I've had all 3, but never on this bike).

Weaknesses:
A little heavy compared to some other fixies, but...
Hard to find a good match for paint touch ups.

Similar Products Used:
my first and only fixie (so far, and probably for a while)