Bianchi upgrade!

[JhnBssll]

Whilst my current Oltre XR3 disc has only done 1700 miles from new last year I recently found myself in a position to be able to swap the frameset for that of an Oltre XR4 disc for minimal outlay using the cycle to work scheme. With kids on the horizon and a potential house move brewing the situation was unlikely to come around again in the foreseeable future so I've grabbed it with both hands and wrestled it to the floor

I've discussed it at length with the lbs, filled in the forms and am now awaiting approval from work - in the meantime I have a difficult decision to make regarding colourschemes I'll be going for a Tavolozza frameset where you get to configure the colours from some presets. There are a few thousand possible combinations but a lot of the colours are pretty grim and easy to rule out My current XR3 disc is graphite with fluro celeste detailing and a matt finish which I really like so I'll probably aim for something similar. I'll be transferring the orange Hope brakes and other bits and pieces over on to the new frameset so I can't have anything too clashy Here's the XR3:

So for the XR4 I'm thinking of swapping the colours around and using graphite as the detail colour, and also swapping the fluro celeste for the classic celeste...

I've got a little while to decide but the situation reminds me a bit of when we first got Sky TV - we didn't know what to watch because the choice was too big I am however sure that I'm not keen on the two standard colour options as they're both a gloss finish. Which is a shame, as that would have saved me some money

Exciting times!

 

[Ridgeway]

Both are really nice looking bikes, the 2nd one though is stunning and i love the classic colours on it.

 

[BianchiVirgin]

Jammy git! Nice problem to have.

 

[chriscross1966]

The more Celeste the better. Even better if you can get the older, greener version

 

[Ridgeway]

On second thoughts i think the Oltre XR4 CV is a terrible choice, not jealous at all

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S45kEyZSBRc


That thing is

 

[Pale Rider]

Always good to see a rider who can have high end kit.

The OP already has a newish version of the next model down, so I wonder if he will notice much benefit from the upgrade.

I doubt I could tell the difference, but that's irrelevant and I can grasp that some riders could.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

So what's the claimed improvement between the current bike and the intended new one? Apart from a different colour scheme I doubt I would notice any difference at all!

 

[JhnBssll]

On second thoughts i think the Oltre XR4 CV is a terrible choice, not jealous at all

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S45kEyZSBRc


That thing is

Thanks for sharing the vid, I hadn't seen that one before Interestingly they've swapped the wheels for the ones I've got on the XR3 which will be transferred across

I've decided on the colour scheme and received the cycle scheme voucher All that is left now is to decide on the bar/stem dimensions, order it and wait ~12 weeks for them to make, paint and deliver it Here's the colourscheme I've gone for - very similar to the one above, except I've swapped the black bianchi logo for graphite to match the seat tube and forks

Obviously it'll look a little less classy once I've bolted my orange Hope brake calipers on, but I do like my builds to be a little different

Always good to see a rider who can have high end kit.

The OP already has a newish version of the next model down, so I wonder if he will notice much benefit from the upgrade.

I doubt I could tell the difference, but that's irrelevant and I can grasp that some riders could.

The XR3 is a fabulous bike, no doubt about it. I expect the main difference I will notice has nothing to do with my (very average) riding ability but more my weight - I'm not your average build for a road cyclist and 90kg would be me at my leanest, I'm over 100 at the moment. I get a bit of flex around the bottom bracket when I'm accelerating out of the saddle - not much, but enough to get the chain to rub on the front mech every so often. I've tried to adjust it out but as soon as it stops rubbing on one pedal stroke, it rubs on the other side on the next one Anyway if it fixes that, which I suspect it will, I'll be a happy chap

 

[JhnBssll]

So what's the claimed improvement between the current bike and the intended new one? Apart from a different colour scheme I doubt I would notice any difference at all!

I doubt you would too John. It's a silly purchase which makes very little financial sense or otherwise.

I'm pretty excited about it though

 

[avsd]

I think this is a 'want' rather than 'need' thread . I am looking forward to seeing the build evolve. Standard of finish on previous projects have been excellent to read about.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

I am looking forward to seeing the build evolve. Standard of finish on previous projects have been excellent to read about.

The most expensive carbon machinery money can buy will never come near the aesthetic qualities of a nicely painted vintage steel frame. They aren't in the same league. Matt blacks & greys look particularly uninspiring, I think of them as unfinished primer coats,TBH

 

[Pale Rider]

I get a bit of flex around the bottom bracket when I'm accelerating out of the saddle - not much, but enough to get the chain to rub on the front mech every so often. I've tried to adjust it out but as soon as it stops rubbing on one pedal stroke, it rubs on the other side on the next one Anyway if it fixes that, which I suspect it will, I'll be a happy chap

I had the same problem on the last two front derailer bikes I had.

It was annoying, so if your new frame doesn't do it I can see the benefit, albeit at a high cost.

 

[EltonFrog]

Never mind about all this Bianchi Beau Larques, what’s happening with the bloody Brompton?

 

[Heigue'r]

 

[Heigue'r]