Bianchi USA Inc. 2001 Milano

Price Paid:  $250.00 at Craigslist

Favorite Ride:
My bike(s)

Bike Setup:
2003 Bianchi Milano
Brooks B17 wide in brown
Anodized Gold Eastern Pedals (looks suweet with the bike)
Freewheel adaptation to Nexus (so's you can pedal backwards, I'm just used to that)

Summary:
I have been wanting one of these beauties since I saw one in person. I had seen them on the Bianchi website, but was floored when I saw a gal riding one around on one of my bike routes. It was awesome, and I told her so. Too expensive for me at the time, at least to justify a purchase of a 'niche' bike. Can't ride it 30 miles one way, can't take it up a mountain, not a valid commuter considering how far my work is from my house, to nice to leave outside anywhere, etc, etc. And then I found a nice guy on Craigslist who wanted to unload his for $250, an he'd already added freewheel (comes with a coaster brake), and a very nice B-17 Brooks seat. So I bought it. Absolutely the funnest bicycle I have ever owned. It's not heavy, it's not clunky, in fact it's pretty fast, and handles very well. You can ride it with regular clothes on, which is a major asset. Slap a rack on the back, and you absolutely MUST replace the horrid plastic pedals (they flex so bad under power, the second time I road the bike I actually bent the pedal, and I weigh about 160lbs), and you have a totally viable grocery getter, intown social bike. Get a decent lock though, cause it looks more expensive than it is.

Strengths:
Fun, funnest bike I own. Constant complements from bikers and pedestrians alike. Beautiful, and very, very comfortable. Suprisingly quick and light, even with the Nexus. Nexus makes hills, and not getting sweaty a lot easier. Fenders are very nice, bike is not noisy at all (most bikes with chain guards and fenders can be a rattletrap on broken sidewalks, this thing is just fine). Paint is absurdly beautiful. If you like the photos of this bike, it will blow you away in person.

Weaknesses:
Pedals are absolute rubbish. Seat is pretty uncomfortable for anything longer than 30 minutes. I'd replace both. Brooks seat looks very nice on this bike.

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi Veloce, Specialized Sirrus.

Price Paid:  $600.00 at Some shop in Bend, O

Summary:
Coolest bike I've owned.

Lighter than all the imitation curved frame cruiser bikes because of the aluminum frame. Many other cruisers use derailleur gearing, which can get clogged with dirt and sand.

I replaced the cheap plastic pedals with some more durable metal and better rolling ones.

Also put a smaller chainring on. I use this bike on Cape Cod as a "going into town to buy the Sunday paper" bike. Even though there aren't that many hills, the stock gearing wasn't low enough.

I've noticed there is some inherent drag on the wheel from the internal Nexus gearing system. Additionally, if I'm shifting to lowest gear sometimes the pedals will spin freely without engaging if I don't pause to let the system catch up. It's done this since the day it was new.

Strengths:
Maintenance-free Nexus hub, lighter weight than most cruisers. Exclusiveness do to the cost. Mega cool factor.

Weaknesses:
Cheap pedals, chainring not geared low enough. Drag inherent in the Nexus gearing system.

Expensive - but worth every penny.

Similar Products Used:
HEAVY rental cruisers, of every brand and gearing.

Price Paid:  $500.00 at Bikyle

Favorite Ride:
Alpe d'Huez

Summary:
I agree with everything the guy previous said. Great city bike.I have a BOB trailer that i use for grocery shopping.

Strengths:
Looks, pedaling ease

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi Veloce

Price Paid:  $500.00 at bikyle.com

Favorite Ride:
all of 'em

Bike Setup:
2000 model in black and red. setup is stock - Nexus 7-speed internal gearing, leather grips with matching saddle, Whal baskets on the back and oh, don't forget the kickstand

Summary:
This is a great bike! I've used it for commuting mainly (about 5 miles each way). With the dork baskets on the back, I can carry all my work gear without getting backpacker's sweaty-back. The 7 speeds have plenty of range for smallish hills and flat cruising. Also did a charity ride on it (my friends only had Mt bikes, I thought the road bike would be unfair/unfun) and did 25 miles in complete comfort. This is the best around-town bike for short trips to the grocery or just cruising around when you don't feel like getting all bike-geeked out. Most importantly, it's a Bianchi.

Strengths:
Shimano Nexus 7-speed works great. Upright position is really comfortable. Integrated rear light in the seat. Fantastic value on a durable Al bike. Bicycling Mag was right when they called it "the coolest coffee-shop cruiser on Earth"

Weaknesses:
makes friends feel bad about their bike purchases

Similar Products Used:
this is my first (and last) cruiser