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Favorite Ride: Chappell Hill, Pattison-Bellville loop
Bike Setup: Veloce 10spd all around, mid-size cage rear derailleur, Selle Italia SLR, KEO carbon, Fulcrum 7 wheels, all else stock
Summary: Review is for a 2008 T-cube w/Veloce and Fulcrum 7 wheels. I just bought the bike about 2 months ago and only ride it on weekend long & group rides, ~250 mi on the bike so far, frame arrived truly like new & components had 0 miles. This is my first all-carbon bike. It came with a Bontrager saddle, not stock. Replaced with SLR vanox, best saddle I've owned. This bike accelerates superbly, and climbs like a dream. Truly the best climbing bike I've ever ridden, seems to accelerate up hills. Its very stable on the flats and the carbon frame & post soak up larger bumps pretty well. I have noticed a goodly amount of hand buzz from poor condition chip-seal roads, wondering if a carbon bar might help with that. The bike is amazingly light and very nice finish - Bianchi Green!
Strengths: climbing, accelerating out of corners
Weaknesses: none yet
Similar Products Used: '86 Falcon 6spd, Reynolds 531 steel
'06 Guru chron'alu tri-bike
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Summary: 2008 C2C with 105. I have put about 3500 miles on this bike since purchase in 2008. I have done a century ride and a 270 mile three day tour on it. I can't imagine a more comfortable bike for long rides. It really absorbs the bumps. If you are looking for a high miler this bike would fit the bill.
Strengths: Great bike for centuries and tours. Bike came with lifetime frame warranty and my LBS threw in free maint. for life as well.
Weaknesses: The shifter cables rub on the top portion of the fork. The rubber sleeves around the cables are suppose to prevent this but don't because they slide up and down. It is a cosmetic issue only.
Similar Products Used: Raleigh, Cannondale
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Summary: I purchased this frame as an upgrade to a 2002 steel Bianchi Veloce. I then upgrade all of the Campy Veloce goup to Record. I thought I had the bike setup just the way I wante it. While I enjoyed the new frame and liked the appearance I was very disappointed when cracks appeared in two spots on the frame near the seatpost. Bianchi stood behind it, with a fee to upgade to the new 928 SL since they no longer made the frame or had any in stock. It took quite a while to get this change over complete.
Strengths: Appearance - Very nice looking frame. Very stable especially descending at higher speeds (> 45 mph)
Weaknesses: It cracked! Also, it was not as light as it could have been. I also noticed some heavily discounted frames - after I purchased mine. I could have gotten one cheaper.
Similar Products Used: Bianchi Veloce and now Bianchi 928 SL
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Favorite Ride: SD-Mt. Soledad-Torrey Pines and back
Bike Setup: Ultegra
FSA carbon pro cranks
American Classic 420 wheels
Summary: I really have enjoyed this bike so far. It is very light and stiff and climbs and descends well. I made the similar upgrades as others, i.e. seat, handle bar and wheels. I went with a compact bar, Selle seat and American Classic 420 wheels with Conti 4000s tires. I think I am right around 16.5 lbs now.
Strengths: Stiff frame, light, and really sharp looking. I get "that is a beautiful bike" all the time. Durable so far.
Weaknesses: Bianchi OEM parts, like all OEM parts aren't very good IMO.
Bike Setup: 59cm Frame. Ritchey WCS Carbon Stem, Bars, Seatpost. Chorus shifters and crankset, w/ Record derailleurs, and Record pedals. Zero-gravity brakes. Ksyrium ES clinchers. Michelin ProRace3 tires. Terry Zero-Y saddle.
Summary: Purchased last fall from LBS. Luckily one of the guys in the local shop is the same size as me, so I picked up his old 07 928SL HoC for about $2k less that it would have cost me to assemble the parts myself. Was my second bike after riding an 07 Madone from July-Oct. I just finished my first year of riding so I don't have a ton of experience, but even so, the differences between the 928SL and the 07 Madone 5.2SL were significant. The most notable differences were 1) Weight: the 928SL was about 15.75lbs. with my pedals and Terry Zero-Y saddle vs. 18.0lbs. for the stock 07 Madone with my pedals and a Selle San Marco Aspide Composite saddle. 2) Handling: The 928SL has very aggressive geometry (rake/trail) and as such is very "responsive". It took me about a month to come to grips with it's handling characteristics compared to the comparatively mundane Madone. Riding hands off the bars for more than a few seconds has some risk, especially it there is even a mild cross wind. I've recently gone back to a trek while my 928SL frame is being warranted for a crack where the chainstay meets the bottom bracket, and realize I really miss the quickness of the 928SL now that I'm accustomed to it. It literally turns on a dime. 3) Stiffness: The 928 seems stiffer in the BB area, and more efficient in translating pedal effort into forward motion.
I'm getting the T-Cube version of the 928 as a warranty replacement hoping its additional weight and stiffness will equal additional strength (the frame crack issue has made me weary of saving 100grams on a $3000 part).
This is a great bike if you're a racer, or are into competitive group rides where the hills turn skyward. It's definitely not a touring or casual ride bike. Also, it's geometry will suit people with shorter torso's (top tube is shorter compared to seat tube).
Strengths: Weight, Quick Handling, Style (It's the best looking bike in town, and honestly the 07 looks better than the 08 (07 has Carbon Weave visible)).
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