Bianchi To Return To 29″ers
April 20th, 2006 by Guitar TedMany “old skoolers” might remember the Project 7 series bikes built by Bianchi back in the early 90’s. They really were one of the very first “29″ers” ever mass produced. Well, they didn’t have “the tire” ( WTB’s famous Nanoraptor) back then, but if they did, those Project series bikes would have been “true” 29″ers and at any rate, they were way ahead of the times!
I spoke with a Bianchi rep today who let on that Bianchi will have a new 29″er singlespeed based off of their cyclo cross frame with a front suspension fork for the upcoming ‘07 season. This source thought it might even be available by fall. Celeste and big wheels! Sounds pretty cool. Welcome back, Bianchi!
What is RSS?
Get our articles in your inbox:
Not that I’m complaining or anything, but ANOTHER steel SS? Can’t the Mfr’s get off this broken record? There’s plenty of these damned things out there already. Give us Geared bikes! Steel or Alu, I don’t care, just give us gears. Straight up geared. No hoopty geegaws to make it both. And based off a ‘cross frame? That’s cheaping out. Go ground up Bianchi! Bring up the Project sereis again! That’d be a great way to jump into the fray. I’m sure you’re just protecting your SS “core” image though….
“hoopty geegaws”
That just made my day. I have to say, I am in the same boat as you. I would love to see them do a full rigid 27 speed (or 1×9) bike made of some nice Reynolds 631 or 853. I basically want to see the MUSS (love that color) in a 29er geared. There are a few trails around me that a SS would be fun but I am a gearie. Well I had heard this rumor and I am glad its true. Bianchi makes nice stuff.
Amen to the above!
“based off of their cyclo cross frame”
Did they do that in the early 90’s too then, or was it a 28-wheeled MTB for real? Come on, MTB’s are not cross bikes! Sharing a rim size doesn’t mean new road bikes are based off touring bikes, or the other way around, right?
Steel+SS+700c is not such a magical combination that any shot is a hit. It you’re going to make the 30th offering like that, better do it properly.
An alu all-geared bike, now that would be a sure hit, as there hardly is such a thing on shop floors right now. Odd, as in the other wheelsize it’s all you can get!
I spoke to my Bianchi rep yesterday and she said that it was still at the drawing board or maybe she just hasn’t heard if there is a final design. I told her that it should atleast have a der hanger, horizontal dropouts are fine, but atleast put a hanger on it for those who would like gears. I’m glad its going to be steel, steel is real, but hopefully it doesn’t share the same frame as the San Jose (their singlespeed cross bike). That would be some wierd geometry with a suspension fork. Yay Suspension, Yay Steel, Yay Disc, Boo no gears. (you could always run a Saint or Hone rear hub/der set up cause they don’t require a der hanger). Thats probably what I’m going to do on my monocog 29er when i get it. Not everyone that is riding 29ers wants a geeky single speed, some of us are just 6′4″ and don’t fit on 26ers as well as 29ers. They don’t all have to be freak show bikes.
Actually, I’d settle for being able to get anything 29′er in Germany. I asked about getting 29′er tires at one of the best shops in the city (Münich) he told me it would take 3-6 weeks minimum. That’s tires in the country that Swalbe is based in and I can’t get 29′er tires.
I can pretty much guess that I won’t be able to get this bike here either. Grrr. Hurray to Bianchi for doing it, but someone, please, someone release 29′ers in this country.
Unless you’re into overly grippy, low-volume, slow rolling tires, you don’t want the Schwalbe’s anyway.
Look up http://www.singlespeed.nl , they try to keep 29″ tires in stock.
Can’t any Trek/Fisher dealer get you the (fine) Bontrager tires?
That’s a great idea… but finding a ‘real’ dealer for any of these products is tough in this town. The same dealer that told me 3-6 for Schwalbe was also talking about Maxxis which is huge around here. I have not seen one 29′er on a floor anywhere in any of the 12+ shops that I’ve visited.
I’m generally the only one at the races other then a random Fisher or Salsa rep. that has one sitting around. Tried emailing the Kona rep. a month or so ago and have heard zip. Oh well, buying a Moots for me now anyway… I think.
Cool!! Bring it, Bianchi. I for one can attest that the San Jose frame would not be a good candidate for 29er. No disk mounts and too narrrow chain stays, not to mention the wrong geometry. It’s an awesome single speed cross bike, but that’s where it ends. I vote for a ground up design. But I won’t be getting another Bianchi for a while since I just got a Karate Monkey for the dirt. My San Jose will still serve it’s purpose as an ultra tough commuter.