Bianchi USA Inc. Axis

Price Paid:  $800.00 at via roadbikereveiew.

Favorite Ride:
Griffith park and Hollywood hills

Bike Setup:
all stock.

Summary:
I come from a mt. biking background, and wanted a road/cross bike so that I could get some rides in without driving to a trail. I looked up high rated bikes on this webiste and this one came up at the top. So I looked in the classifieds, found one for a good price, and bought it.

Bottom line, this bike is everything the reviewers said it would be. I LOVE it. I put some slicks on it right away and have used it for road riding on a mix of normal roads, and some pretty run-down roads. I love everything about the bike (except the brakes!). I love how it rides, I love that it wasn't expensive, I love the gearing wich is well suited to my moutain bike background than a straight road bike. I also love how it looks hanging on my wall rack at home. Has any bike ever had a cooler paint scheme? No.

Strengths:
Great all around bike. Not super-expensive, does it all quite well. Paint, seat, wheels are all great.

Weaknesses:
Need long stems for the tubes. Brakes really sucked in the beginning. I swapped new pads and re-adjusted and they work better now, but nothing close to mtb v-brakes

Similar Products Used:
none.

Price Paid:  $950.00 at Friend

Favorite Ride:
Climbing Mt Tamalpais

Bike Setup:
2002 Axis with Easton Ultralite frame, XT/XTR drivetrain (48/36/22 and 12/34), SRAM chain, Avid Shorty 6 brakes, Winwood carbon fork, 105 shifters and hubs, and MAV3 wheels on Continental tires.

Summary:
LOVE this bike! I also own a MTB, but reserve it for only the most serious technical off-road rides. I can't imagine buying a road bike ever again. Why, when I can pace most road cyclists and then hang a left at the dirt trail to go over the mountain while they go around?

Strengths:
I completed a century earlier this year drawing on each of the Axis' benefits: speed to pace and pass the "roadies;" durability to handle muddy pock-marked forest roads; and a natural inclination for climbing tall hills (all 70 miles of them!). Few activites in life give one as much satisfaction as watching a road cyclist's face as you cimb past them up a steep wall riding a slightly odd-looking road frame with off-road tires...

Weaknesses:
The stock brakes (Shorty 6s) scream like you wouldn't believe! Great for warning tourists you're coming up on them, but not so great when going down an as yet peaceful and steep mountain trail. Fortunately, I have arms like an orangutan so leaning back while going down steep trails is not as much of a problem for me.

Love the frame, unimpressed by the stock components...

Similar Products Used:
Many road and mountain bikes

Price Paid:  $1300.00 at Vertical Earth, cda

Favorite Ride:
the next one

Bike Setup:
stock

Summary:
If I had to choose one bike, it would have to be my Bianchi. This bike is great for road, fire road, and singletrack. It's light and climbs like a mofo. I weigh about 205 and have had no problems with the wheels, even with frequent curb hopping and rocky downhills.

Strengths:
Pretty paint job, comfy, do-anything machine, good mtb trainer, great climber.

Weaknesses:
Brakes are a bit weak, cranks a bit flexy.

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at Some snobs

Favorite Ride:
The same

Bike Setup:
Stock bike

Summary:
I love the bike, but I hate the damn rear brake. It just does not work !!!I will buy another Axis in the next 2 years only if they equip the bike with a good brake or a disc brake. Avid shorty sucks !!!

Strengths:
I love the bike

Weaknesses:
Brakes reallllllllyyyyyyy suck !!!!!

Similar Products Used:
trek 5500

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at BIG SHARK

Favorite Ride:
ANY TRAIL OR UNPAVED ROAD WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC

Bike Setup:
Stock except thomson post 26.8, frog speedplay, and XT hollow cassette.

Summary:
I love this bike. The geometry is very stable and predictable. It is fairly light and the gearing ratio is great for the climb. It is good for the road and paved trail. Shimano 535 wheelset is smooth and durable. However it brakes are not the best, I will replace them pretty soon. They are not very responsive.

Strengths:
Stable, comfortable, no jarring ride, great value, good components, great carbon fork, stiff and efficient under hard pedaling effort.

Weaknesses:
Less-than-perfect braking system

Similar Products Used:
none