A friend of mine who is a bicycle mechanic just bought
a Bianchi bike. Says they are really good bikes.
It's an alternative to made in China bikes.

Bianchi 2008: HomeItalian high-performance bicycle manufacturer with over 120 years of racing triumphs.
www.bianchiusa.com/ - 10k - Cached - Similar pages
Bicycles

ciao Villa,

Italy has always been renowned from it's bike industry
Just think about Bianchi, Campagnolo, De Rosa, Pinarello, Dedacciai
and many, many others...

I'm sure that Bianchi makes fine bikes - in a nice italian style...
But I think that some of their low cost frames - like many others
- are made where food is eaten with chopsticks and labour is cheap.
No european manufacturer can compete with the low cost Chinese/Taiwan
frames made from standard aluminium and carbon...

Even the largest and most prestigious names in the bike industry does this and though the quality is fine, the lack of "cuore" is obvious...

So watch out the - frame you are buying may be italian design,
but made else where...

A friend of mine who is a bicycle mechanic just bought a Bianchi bike. It's an alternative to made in China bikes.

But are they really made in Italy?

My Italian ASOLO hiking - back packing boots were made in Romania.

But are they really made in Italy?

My Italian ASOLO hiking - back packing boots were made in Romania.

Si, e vero ma chi ha la colpa? Io non ho la colpa.(I do not shop at Wal-Mart and try not to buy things from China...) Tu non hai la colpa. Quindi, chi ha la colpa?

The reason is simply because corporations look for where they can get the cheapest labor without caring what it does to the rest of society.

I have ridden a Bianchi bicycle for many years - but unfortunately mine was manufactured in China. Most biycle components (brakes, derailleurs, etc..) on medium to reasonably high-end bikes (unless you pay multiple $1000) are still typically Shimano or Suntour - which are Asian components.

Carlo, it would seem like you and I have a lot in common from what I've read of your posts. I've lifted weights most of my life,
rode bicycles, climbed mountains, boxed, wrestled in high school & college and played college football.(Also wrestled on an Italian
wrestling team in Italy) I'm also a 7th degree black belt(red)in Jiu-Jitsu. Black belt in TKD and Judo.

At any rate it's interesting to note that I lived for 2 years in Vicenza, Italy where they make
Campagnolo bicycle parts. Had heard of Campagnolo gears and the like molti anni fa.


Campagnolo
via della Chimica, 4
36100 Vicenza - Italy
+39 (0444) 225500 tel
+39 (0444) 225400 fax
campagnolo@campagnolo.com
While Campagnolo does not sell full framed bicycles, they are an integral part of any Italian bicycle purchase as they are the leading
manufacturer of bicycle components. Campagnolo components date back to 1933, where they were first created in a small workshop in Vicenza
by Campagnolo's founder, ex-racer Tullio Campagnolo. Among the many accomplishments of Campagnolo are the creation of a quick release mechanism
for bicycle wheels and the early advent of the front and rear derailleur. Campagnolo parts are so highly regarded that Campagnolo's proprietary
dimensions have, in several cases, become adopted as de facto international standards. When purchasing a bicycle, it is wise to check for Campagnolo
components, primarily the drivetrain (i.e. crank, derailer, etc.) and rims.

Villa,

Thanks for the info on Campagnolo components. Do you have guestimates on the cost or price point of bicycles that use Campagnolo components?

Do you still climb mountains? If you are interested come to Colorado - I would be happy to host you - and you can help me with my Italian!

I was in California last April. I led a trip of 7 people to climb the Mountaineer's Route on the NE side of Mt Whitney.

Carlo

Carlo, I once drove up Pike's Peak. LOL. Visited the Olympic training center too. I'll help you with your Italian but my
mountain climbing days are pretty much over. Strolling through the park is about all I can handle now.

Complimenti on all your adventures and escapades. That's quite the feat climbing Mt. Whitney.

Will ask my bicycle mecanic friend about the Campagnlo parts.