Well after much advice from this board and a friend at work, I bought my first road bike. Sweet! I ended up getting a used 1988 Bianchi Sport (celeste blue). It has the Biopace big chain ring, the component set is entirely Shimano Exage 6 speed. From the pictures the bike looks flawless. It also has new tires, tubes, brake pads, derailleur and brake cables.

I opted for a steel bike. I wanted the more "solid" feel. On Giants and Felts I felt like I was going to blow off the road because they were so light. What I liked the most was a Surly frame that I rode. For those that don't know Surly is most known for its fixed gear bikes but they also build "regular" road frames. I loved the feel of the steel frame. However, I didn't want to spend tons of money, on my first road bike, on my first month, on my first job, after college. ;-)

A girl at my work collects, builds, restores bikes and here favorite is her 1983 Celeste Bianchi, among her 2003 Le Mond that she converted to a fixed gear, the three frame tall bike and some Peugot bike. She explained to me that getting a Le Mond or Bianchi was the equivalent of getting an older Saab as they were unique and had a soul. Keep in mind she doesn't know I drive a Saab. That quote made me go for the Bianchi I ended up buying.

Hopefully, I will love the bike, learn to ride a road bike and eventually switch to a newer aluminum or composite bike. I just didn't feel as confident on them...yet!

Thanks for all the help I am sure I will be back to ask more questions.

Cheers

Chris "Rookie"
2000 9-3 (killed by a deer)
2005 9-2x
2004 Giant Yukon (disc brakes)
1988 Bianchi Sport SX

posted by 70.92....

tires, tubes, brake pads, and derailleur and brake cables

• To all those bike guys (pedal kind), Topher, Mon, 18 Jul 2005 19:42:19 <-- Viewing This Message
  • If your friend wants to adopt a Motobecane......., andym, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 16:38:01
    • My favorite bike ever was a Motobecane, Scott Paterson , Thu, 21 Jul 2005 17:38:03
    • Thanks!, Topher, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 21:00:46
  • nifty bike, kaslop, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 15:51:57
  • Lemond has NO Soul Now!, Kris, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:39:20
    • I disagree..., Ivan, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 13:55:32
      • me too.., jeff in MD, Thu, 21 Jul 2005 04:08:34
      • Bike art., BIll in VA, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 16:03:11
      • I also have a LeMond..., Bob M, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 14:26:24
  • Lemond has NO Soul Now!, Kris, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:39:15
  • Pedal recommendation, Schu, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 09:56:47
    • the worst for mud..., Bob M, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 10:49:40
      • ups and downs of speedplays, kaslop, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 15:25:25
        • Re: ups and downs of speedplays, Bill in VA, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 16:10:05
  • oh yeah, be safe!, Ivan, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 08:58:13
    • Re: oh yeah, be safe!, Schu, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 09:52:49
      • Re: oh yeah, be safe!, Ivan, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 11:40:14
        • Ditto for the roads around Atlanta, RS , Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:31:22
  • get rid of the Biopace rings, Canadian_Saab, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 05:42:29
  • Speaking of bikes, Anybody climb Mt Wachusset lately?, Schu, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 05:39:04
  • Congratulations (nice ride), Schu, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 05:25:53
  • Congrats and some advice for you, Nicholas , Tue, 19 Jul 2005 04:20:24
    • Love that Celeste paint, Ivan, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 08:43:57
      • Yes, Celeste is nice but my wife doesn't agree, Schu, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 09:51:14
        • Re: Yes, Celeste is nice but my wife doesn't agree, Ivan, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 13:23:07
  • Ditch the Biopace before doing serious mileage ..., Nicholas , Tue, 19 Jul 2005 04:19:09
  • neat, jeff in MD, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 04:05:44
  • one recommendation, steveC, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 00:12:18
  • Sweet Ride, OKSaabs, Mon, 18 Jul 2005 20:14:51
    • Re: Sweet Ride, Topher, Mon, 18 Jul 2005 20:49:04
      • Re: Sweet Ride, OKSaabs, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 08:17:05
        • Another Klein Rider! Nice!, PGAero , Tue, 19 Jul 2005 11:29:00
          • Re: Another Klein Rider! Nice!, OKSaabs, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 11:33:03
            • Re: Another Klein Rider! Nice!, PGAero , Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:07:56
        • pedal systems, Bob M, Tue, 19 Jul 2005 08:45:00
      • Pedals, PGAero , Tue, 19 Jul 2005 08:03:54
  • Picture...oops, Topher, Mon, 18 Jul 2005 19:43:27

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