Bianchi Rita

[coryh5]

The Rita looks sexy as hell. I'd like to buy one but I can't find a shop in Pittsburgh that has a Large in their inventory to test ride. Anyone own or ride one? What are your thoughts?

[BigFatGuy]

The Bianchi Rita is a beautiful bicycle, but $1300 seems too expensive. If you are not yet committed to the Rita, have you also test-ridden the Raleigh XXIX? Only $700.

[coryh5]

the Raleigh XXIX has a rigid fork though. I'm looking for a cushy front end.

I might have to delay this purchase. On my ride on Monday night, I noticed some odd friction sounds coming from my rear tire of my Fuel during fast downhills. I haven't had time to fully investigate the issue. Hope its not going to be too expensive of a fix.

[hophead]

The Rita looks sexy as hell. I'd like to buy one but I can't find a shop in Pittsburgh that has a Large in their inventory to test ride. Anyone own or ride one? What are your thoughts?
Nice bike. Too bad it's aluminium.

[TOZOVR]

I owned a Rita and it is one VERY nice bike. I'm always confused when I see "Too bad it's aluminum" because a nice AL tubeset is a beautiful thing LOL. I'm 220#'s or so and the Bianchi's Easton Ultralight tubeset was great and rode very well.

I felt a bit more "on" the bike, than "in" it, but I'm not a super tall guy...I'm 5'9" and have a 30" inseam so the 17.5 fit me well but I did feel a bit odd on it at first. The wheelset is fantastic as is the flawless Reba. for $1300 it's a great deal for sure.

RJ

[hophead]

I owned a Rita and it is one VERY nice bike. I'm always confused when I see "Too bad it's aluminum" because a nice AL tubeset is a beautiful thing LOL.
Allow me to explain: My first singlespeed was a Bianchi DISS. Nice bike, but it beat the piss out of me. My favorite local trails are composed of rock, rock, and more rock. After a year of pissing blood, my Bianchi was stolen. I replaced it with a Surly 1x1. Oh, the 4130 Koolaid is sweet! I now cruise through rock gardens with a smile on my face and happy internal organs.

Now, I have no problem with aluminium. It makes great beer cans. I actually prefer caned beer to bottled. Aluminium is a superior container for beer. It blocks light, chills down quickly, and doesn't take up much cooler space. There are even some good beers now offered in aluminum cans. Dales pale ale & Guinness come to mind.

[bdee]

Allow me to explain: My first singlespeed was a Bianchi DISS. Nice bike, but it beat the piss out of me. My favorite local trails are composed of rock, rock, and more rock. After a year of pissing blood, my Bianchi was stolen. I replaced it with a Surly 1x1. Oh, the 4130 Koolaid is sweet! I now cruise through rock gardens with a smile on my face and happy internal organs.

Now, I have no problem with aluminium. It makes great beer cans. I actually prefer caned beer to bottled. Aluminium is a superior container for beer. It blocks light, chills down quickly, and doesn't take up much cooler space. There are even some good beers now offered in aluminum cans. Dales pale ale & Guinness come to mind.

I was leaning that way too until I started riding my scandium Kula 2-9. Maybe it's the 29" wheels but the thing is more comfy than any aluminum frame I've ridden. It climbs like a bastard, is light and accelerates real nicely (at least as fast as my chicken legs will get me going). 29" wheels do wonders for smoothing out the trails so it may be the perfect XC race frame material out there for me - especially when it comes to the cost factor. Not sure I'd ride another 26" alu frame these days. You may be steel biased due to those Surly fellas. My 26" 1x1 is hands down one of the most comfortable and neutral bikes I've ever owned. Takes less than 5 minutes to adjust to the smaller wheels when I ride it, which is fairly often. I just think "mountain bike, ride it like a mountain bike" and it all falls into place..

As for beer in a can... Well, I can confess to drinking some 'Gansett tall boys the other night, and I'll occassionally grab a Boddingtons but it's mostly glass for me.