Bianchi USA Inc. 1999 Eros

Price Paid:  $2.00 at Police Auction

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo Mirage/Veloce on Easton Circuits with CST Ultra Speed tires.

Summary:
My father picked this previously stolen Bianchi up for me at a Police Auction for the sweet price of two dollars. I immediately fell in love with it, it was nice to own a Bianchi that wasn't made in Asia. Not too mention the gorgeous Celeste Green.

Strengths:
-Celeste Green
-Handmade in Italy
-Stiff frame
-Durable
-Campagnolo Veloce/Mirage groupset

Weaknesses:
Not sure if they came on the bike originally but CXP 21's, while durable, were sluggish. Not a flaw with the frame and have since replaced them with Easton Circuits.

Similar Products Used:
Not sure of model, but a Carbon Fiber Giant, Steel 80's Raleigh w/ SunTour, a late 70's Steel Raleigh w/ Campagnolo, and a post-2000 Motobecane Le Champion.

Price Paid:  $850.00 at Stoughton Cycles, WI

Favorite Ride:
SAGBRAW

Bike Setup:
Stock mechanicals. Look pedals, Profile Carbon Fork, Velocity Aero rims w/Record Hubs, Air Strike aero bars.

Summary:
Bought new in 96. Stock seat and post were landfill. Upgraded to Sella San Marco suspension then, ProLink Basic (oh yeah!). This is the ultimate "all day" or "all week" ride yet I can hang with most of the high end bike riders on club rides. Carbon fork was only slight improvement over stock CroMo but feels better while on aero bars. What can you say about Italian steel at this price?
It's fast (enough) stable, smooth and with the upgraded wheels rolls along with rides costing three times as much. If you look at this bike today, there have been many improvments by Bianchi without much price increase although I've had no problems with the stock Mirage/Veloce mechanicals even after 11K miles. This bike climbs, decends and reacts well to flat out hammering though I don't think it's the first choice for your state crit title. But if the Eros is in your price range, don't by anything until you ride this or any other Italian Steel. You'll love it for a long time.......long time.

Strengths:
Ride, comfort, durabilty, classic European geometry, value. Did I mention Italian steel?

Weaknesses:
Some or all of this may be different (improved) now. Saddle, wheels, seat post, headset.

Similar Products Used:
Myata aluminum Late 80's Cannondale tooth cracker

Price Paid:  $950.00 at RiverCity Bikes

Favorite Ride:
Mt Hood area roads

Bike Setup:
Of course the seat comes off before the first ride; otherwise straight stock.

Summary:
Bicycle frame is very comfortable and reponsive. Overall concept and pricing for the bike is good. Any demanding cyclist will be disappointed with the Campy Mirage deraillers.

Strengths:
Fair price. Well engineered frame. Attractive Celeste paint job. Good reputation behind product.

Weaknesses:
Mirage deraillers disappoint again and again. Dealer not able to correct shifting problems. Rode cycleoregon(400miles)and required the daily services of mechanics to attempt to get gears to shift properly. Particularly poor in maintaining rear down-shifts.
Rear wheel poorly tuned and eventually fell apart.Replaced by dealer.

Similar Products Used:
Upgraded PX-10 Peuogout; DeBernardi; Specialized

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Price Paid:  $900.00 at Spokes Etc.

Favorite Ride:
Catoctin Mountains

Bike Setup:
Stock.

Summary:
Overall, a good bike for training and recreational riding. The steel frame has a nice ride. And the Mirage component group offers good performance.
Had two problems of note: a bum headset and a poorly packed and too tight front hub.
Headset was replaced by LBS with a Chorus. Works great very smooth.
Front hub was not packed with sufficient grease and was too tight. Needed new cones and bearings. The front hubs are difficult to find cones for as they are a generic hub with the Campy name. Campy does not stock parts for it.

Strengths:
Nice ride, after seat was replaced.
Mirage groupo has sufficient performance. Does not go out of tune. But needed about 500 miles of breakin.
High performance to price ratio.

Weaknesses:
Headset and front hub.

Price Paid:  $900.00 at local bike shop

Favorite Ride:
Tour de chesapeake

Bike Setup:
no upgrades

Summary:
I was looking for a sturdy steel frame with rack eyelets for use both for daily commuting (15 miles each way) and longer rides, including centuries. Bianchi recommends the Eros for centuries, but it's also worked great for commuting. A big factor in my purchase is that I did not have $1,000 + to spend. After doing alot of research and test rides, I determined that the Eros and the Jamis Quest were the best bikes for what I wanted and in my price range.

Strengths:
steel; eyelets for rack are plus for commuters

Weaknesses:
shifting not as smooth as it could be

Similar Products Used:
Jamis Quest, Bianchi Campione