I located a Bianchi Volpe touring frame, which was completely with all the nice braze-ons, but with slightly more sporty geometry than a typical touring rig. I ride a 2002ish volley,bought it new 10 years ago. I have used my 2007 Volpe for a 3650 mile fully loaded cross country-ride, the Pacific Coast Route from Lund BC to San Francisco, and several other multi-week tours. The general spec level is decent, albeit somewhat below the brilliant value GT Grade AL 105. Take an Open U.P. I also have a Surly LHT which is a good touring bike. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. 2017 Marin Four Corners But something about the Zurigo clicked with me. I bought my first in 1991, which I now use only at events (read as Burning Man -- yes, I need a Volpe even there), and my second I bought in 1999, which is still great for around-the-city travel, even after riding down the majority of the West Coast. Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational), Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area. It successfully mixes, erm, classic Bianchi livery and subtle metallic sliver paint scheme with that most modern of features on a road bike, disc brakes. One other thing that occurred to me. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'sheldonbrown_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',821,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sheldonbrown_com-banner-1-0')}; Last Updated: All demo fees are applied directly to your purchase. 2016 Rawland Ulv and Ravn At around 12kg for each of the models (plus and minus), these bikes would make excellent commuters and road bikes too (with a tyre change). In 1997, Sheldon Brown was so taken by the Volpe that he devoted a, The Volpe may no longer be unique, but count it as a positive development that it has survived at a time when there has been. And then one day maybe in 1998 or 1999 I left it locked on the street and it was gone when I came back. I arrived at this combination on the Volpe first. The lowest gear is 29 gear inches, which may not be low enough for loaded touring. Nothing rides like steel. We only email once per week. The 103 is compatible with square taper cranks. Like most Bianchis, it uses oversized round->oval chainstays with no clearance dents. Are there any problems with racks and fenders sharing eyelets? 2017 Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon Do Not Sell My Personal Information -. just be aware that the gearing will be too high for really mountainy areas with steep hills, and high overall if it has a 52/42/30 Other than that, if you can put stuff on it and have fun and the wheels stay together, presto, its a touring bike and you can go on a trip with it. While Warren loves fast road bikes and the latest gravel bikes, he also believes electric bikes are the future of transport. Advertising - We had the frame powder coated a really beautiful dark blue color, which protects the frame very well against the elements and also makes the bike less attractive to thieves. He has covered all the major innovations in cycling this century, and reported from launches, trade shows and industry events in Europe, Asia, Australia, North American and Africa. The frame is composed of Demos are using the bike in the way it was intended, more than a couple of laps on a side street. Retro styled yet modern disc equipped urban 'cross machine. We offer ENVE SES Wheelsets, Open Cycle Builds, and TERN E-Cargo Bike Demos. The Volpe uses a simple yet effective build to keep the price down while maintaining proper performance. Interestingly, Bianchi opted for a road triple Tiagra 4700 groupset on this model, which offerslower gear ratios than the disc model. In all, despite the inflated price and niggles with the saddle and rear brake cable routing, we certainly fell for the Volpes charms. The Tiagra drivetrain works very well, with smooth shifting and a good range from the 50/34 chainset paired with an 11-32 cassette. Demos are using the bike in the way it was intended, more than a couple of laps on a side street. super high quality Bianchi double butted chromoly. Newb Needs a Touring Bike.. Nashbar Sale, Surly LHT, Randonee? We offer financing on all purchases over $350 made with your MECHANIC/bicycle pro shop credit card. Bianchis fox will take you anywhere. With interrupter brake levers & knobby 32c Kenda tires, My Volpe is one of the last with the 1" steerer, I believe 2005. One of the main things that stood out to me was how much of the ride feel was about things other than frame material. Just recently, Bianchi introduced a range of bikes that they call All Road; I prefer to think ofthem as light touring bikes. Originally released in 1996, there are 17 versions of this bike. It lazily darted in and out of alleyways and felt compliant as I navigated the sometimes broken streets of Pittsburgh. by Harriet Fell, Thirty-six, count 'em 36 spokes per! 36h XT wheelset, rear derailleurs, vintage Suntour friction shifters, Shimano MTB levers, and a wide range XT cassette to conquer the hills. Want the best cycling experience? If you've learned a thing or two from me, consider supporting my independent resources, Bikepacking . One hundred and thirty years ago, Edoardo Bianchi started a bicycle manufacturing business in Milan, pioneering the use of equal sized bike wheels with pneumatic tyres. Over the years, Warren has written about thousands of bikes and tested more than 2,500 from budget road bikes to five-figure superbikes. This guide is updated annually with the latest modelsat no extra cost! 2016 Specialized AWOL We have set up the same drive train on four bikes: Surly LHT, Bianchi Volpe, Cannondale T800, and a Co- Motion, Norwest Tour. 2017 Trek CrossRip, CyclingAbout is an Elite Cafemedia Lifestyle Publisher. I have it setup as an 8-spd w/bar-ends, which keeps the cost of cassettes and chains down. It also looks and feels racy. I can see why so many people around town choose the Volpe as their go-to urban commuter. The Volpe is great when things get messy, with snow or mud, though I'll select a lighter bike whenever conditions allow. Despite these quibbles, I really, really like this bike a lot, and recommend that you check it out at your local Bianchi dealer if you are in the market for a reasonably-priced touring bike. I can't wait to do some touring on it. Please? Get a Snycros iS Couple bottle cage when you subscribe to Mountain Biking UK today! Frame Materials for Bicycle Touring It has a few downfalls (fork chatter, its a bit heavy, the stock components are not ideal for my use) but with new wheels and some cockpit adjustments, I think it's infinately rideable. 5 Types of Insurance That All Cyclists Should Consider. to The Wiss, run a lightweight carbon ENVE wheelset for an important race, or see what it's like to grocery shop and school run on an e-cargo bike. The down sides are well known and relatively minor, and it is quite a bit more responsive than the equivalent Surly or Trek offering. 2017 Salsa Marrakesh I just got a 1998 Volpe for commuting in Philadelphia and I am loving it so far! I have a 2007 Volpe that I have used for everything from club rides to commuting to cyclocross to light trail riding. Understand Bicycle Frame Geometry Its a mountain bike derived unit, and while we like the shape and the deep padding is comfortable, it feels very short. 2017 Salsa Fargo Its possible to get it down to 25 gear inches with a MTB derailleur and cassette, or 22 gear inches if you swapped the cranks out for a compact plus setup. Bianchis Volpe is part of the firms Classic range, launched to celebrate its 130th anniversary. In his time as a cycling journalist, Warren has written for Mountain Biking UK, What Mountain Bike, Urban Cyclist, Procycling, Cyclingnews, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike and T3. Appraisals. Its not like this testers EU44 feet are excessively big, either. Then I was forced to build it--right. I did try to replace a Shimano trekking crank with a mountain crank on an Octalink BB, and ran into the same chainline problem. I could use a racier bike in my stable, and my mountain bike background is very attractive to the tubeless rims. Trek 4300 Mountain Bike Review Should You Buy It. This makes the Volpe a seriously pleasant place to spend your riding time. I would say to use it and maybe try an overnighter or weekend trip to test the waters and see how you like its performance when loaded. Get off the beaten track though and they come into their own, holding onto traction brilliantly on gravel and even mud. I read that 1997 article and bought a '98 Volpe directly from Sheldon that I still ride. By logging into your account, you agree to our. After a relaxing, tasty espresso, I headed home on the Zurigo. 2017 Bombtrack Beyond Bianchi has been at the bike game for a long, long time. Anyone on here know someone interested in selling a Bianchi Volpe 58cm? Take an Open U.P.