Bianchi USA Inc. 1999 Veloce X3

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at College Park Bikes

Bike Setup:
Upgrades: Chorus Headset, Chorus Pro-fit Pedals, 11x23 cogset combined with Triple cranks creates HUGE gear range, Selle Italia Octavia Saddle, Cinelli Spinacci for century rides.

Summary:
This bike has taken care of me for a year and about 8,000 miles. It has taken me to a new level in the sport and will soon be joined in the shed by a Moser Power Record Equipped rig. The Bianchi will be relegated to spring training rides and basement trainer sessions, but it will always be my "first love." Excellent "high-end entry level" bike. Not good for racers or someone seeking the lightest most durable bike (veloce gruppo).

Strengths:
Durable and Comfortable all day long. Excellent Price/Value ratio. Celeste.

Weaknesses:
On the heavy side. Fork Threading was flawed resulting in a broken headset and fork replacement.

Similar Products Used:
trek, specialized, scwhinn

Summary:
This bike is a great deal. Buy it.

Strengths:

the combination of a carbon fork, steel frame, and third
chainring really makes this a great bike for rough roads and long rides. Great shock-absorption.

Weaknesses:

the single-sided wellgo pedals
are crap. I replaced them with
double-sided super-large
float Speedplay x/3's

Similar Products Used:
None

Bike Setup:

same as out of the box

Summary:
Nice bike. Fast, corners well, I like the geometry (shorter top tube than some frames), and
it looks great. Don't know what I'm getting out of the funky profile down tube and curvy
stays, but they say I want it.

Strengths:

Campy Veloce drivetrain
carbon fork
great italian styling (Bianchi Celeste frame with
blue pedals and Celeste/blue saddle -- very cool
looking)

Weaknesses:

maybe a little heavy
TIG welding not as pretty as lugs

Similar Products Used:

Bianchi Giro