Death of a Pista

After 3 years of faithful service the last original part of my beloved Bianchi Pista, has died. I have discovered a massive crack in the seat tube area.

I know not many people have much love for them but she was my first fixed gear bike, I brought her home with me from NYC and I loved riding her. Over the years I had replaced everything apart from the frame and forks.

So the time has come to get a new frame. I don't want to change anything else I've got a nice 27.2mm Thomson layback seatpost and new cranks (due to the recent failure of my Sugino messengers http://www.lfgss.com/thread54089.html)

I've got about £300-£500 to spend, I don't do tricks and want something fast and reliable in steel. So I'm thinking maybe a Bob Jackson or a Brother (thanks to the list GA2G)

Any ideas folks?

Bianchi Pista Chrome 2007 - 2010 RIP

isnt the frame under 5 year warranty?
I got a replacement one after 4 years for a cracked seattube;-)

They do like a cracked seat tube those Pistas.

steamroller!

I've been riding my pista frame about with a cracked seat tube and a dis-attached seat-stay for the past 3 years. It's been fine. (I did stop riding it on the track).

But if you need an excuse for a new bike...then I'll shut up!

oh, and it can be welded, despite what the nay-sayers say.

To answer your question, I'd probably go for a Bob Jackson, myself. Will most likely do just that in the new year, actually, to replace the frame on my beater/commuter.

I was also looking at the Cinelli Gazzetta frameset, but it seems to be impossible to build it up in such a way that it doesn't look like a HHSB.

Those Condor World Series special editions might be worth a look too.

Hmm 5 year warranty eh? Still might just upgrade anyway and sell on the replacement if get it, or build it up as a beater.

Not sure how easy it'll be tho as I got it in the states. Would ibe able To go via any uk supplier?

So I have dug out the warranty and it is indeed still under the warranty period. However I have no proof of purchase. I'm gonna have to chase up the bike shop in NYC could be complicated. Fingers crossed.

Black on Black Bob Jackson a la Mr. Paul Smiths personal steed, looks the dogs bollocks!

Yeah if i went for a Bob black on black would be my choice.

I just emailed my old bike shop in NYC to see if they can send me a proof of purchase.

Brooklyn Machine Work Gangsta.

You know it make sense.

My Bob Jackson is about 30 years old, I'm 17 stone at the minute and don't treat it with kid gloves... I have ridden it off road, down stairs, and most importantly on the wartorn cycle lanes of leeds. It feels quick and light but is obviously pretty tough as well.

I would also check out the SteamRoller from Surly. AND go look for that proof of purchase i NY. Maybe the shop will be more likely to help you if you by the new frame there..

Even if you can't find the proof of purchase, it's worth contacting Bianchi. They should be able to tell when it was made by its serial number, and might help you out. Also, can you post a picture of the crack? I have a Pista, be nice to know where the fault line is.

@ Ed - Did you not get a Bob Jackson? I don't really like the look of the BMW and can't see on their site how much they retail for. I would also like to buy British if i can. Why do you think it makes sense?

I'll try an put a photo up soon.

good luck dude,
its always worth trying, good customer service is what these firms should be doing, and if it comes off you can get another different bike with the cash you would have spent on that one.

@ Ed - Did you not get a Bob Jackson? I don't really like the look of the BMW and can't see on their site how much they retail for. I would also like to buy British if i can. Why do you think it makes sense?

I'll try an put a photo up soon.

I had a Bob Jackson.

main reason why I no longer had it is because it's not the right size for me (to cut a long story short - I need a top tube length that'd fit a 5'4 person despite being 6'), but I'd still have it had it not been for my odd sizing.

The BJ was lovely, noticably lighter (due to 631 tubing probably) and feel somewhat different to the Pista, the Pista felt a bit sluggish in comparison, not sure why, perhaps it's in my head.

What I like about the BJ is that it's a lovely ride, a proper British Lightweight so to speak, comfortable in a long distance ride, still feel fast (with the right component says a light wheelset), won't feel as stiff as the Pista, but defintely doesn't feel sluggish.

I agree, it make sense to buy local, especially in the environmentally unfriendly world of our, but the BMW Gangsta is still a fantastic bike to ride, to put it simply, it feel so *right (*but then I'm biased since I'm picking mine up tomorrow... hopefully).

Having says that, test ride as much bike as you can, from an On-one Pompino to the Surly Steamroller, bicycles are personal choice after all, if you like how the BJ handle (especially the tyres clearance!), go for it, if you don't, there's other option.

Oh the BJ cost £500, that included their own headset and seatpost.

Here is a photo of the state of it.

Thanks Ed, nice detailed answer there.

How much did the Gangsta cost by the way?

1 Attachment

Sorry, in my last post, it's the BMW Gangsta that cost £500, not the Bob Jackson!

man that Pista look like it has ridden a hard life.

Yeah she's been used and abused. I've replaced everything apart from the frame and forks. Saw no reason to change the frame till this happened. I'll have to put a picture up of her in full ugly neon glory

Sweet!

I have got a copy of the original invoice from the awesome guys at Chelsea Bikes in NYC where I originally got her from.

No response from Bianchi UK however I spoke to Evans as they are a supplier and they said I can just drop the bike in and they'll deal with Bianchi.

Only issues are it costs £125 to break down the bike and then build it back up again when the new frame comes in. Also I think I might buy a new frame and sell the replacement so i guess i would have to drop them in any other frame i wanted them to build up. Also they said it takes bloody ages, 1 month +

I've tried the DIY approach on repairs and i always cost myself more time and money by stripping threads and breaking shit.

Stripping a fixed bike is a piece of cake. You could do it in less than an hour. 125 quid sounds like a bit of a con.

this is evans we're talking about.

money grubbing shysters. hate hate hate.