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Bianchi Sempre Pro - Athena or Ultegra

I'm in a bit of a quandary, I've decided on a Bianchi Sempre Pro as my next bike, but I can't decide between 2 versions of the same bike.

Any advice between the two?

Athena http://www.bianchi.com/de/bikes/bikes_detail.aspx?ProductIDMaster=189604

Ultegra http://www.bianchi.com/de/bikes/bikes_detail.aspx?ProductIDMaster=189602

As you can see they've got slightly different finishing kit which only adds to the questions.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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21 comments

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therevokid | 9 years ago
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campag .... never felt comfortable with that side ways moving brake lever idea
that shimano came up with. ... now di2 ... that's a different story  3

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Beefy | 9 years ago
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Italian bike Italian group set would look very nice, I use Shimano but then my bike is not of that pedigree!

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RR | 9 years ago
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Note that Athena shifters are Powershift, not Ultrashift. So no multiple upshifts on the thumb shifter.

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il sole | 9 years ago
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I've got the new 11speed athena on my self build boardman CX bike and I really like it. I agree with other posters ref FSA chainsets. I had to replace two bigrings on my wilier, so in the end got rid of them and got a proper campag one.
As to the age old debate of campag vs shimano, you've just got to try them both. After 3 bikes with campag, I can't ever contemplate a life without a little thumb shifter  7

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Mombee | 9 years ago
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When I bought my Sempre Pro last summer, the local bike shop (Veloton in Tetbury) upgraded the original fit brakes for the Ultegra units, so it had a full Ultegra 6800 groupset... and they also added Fulcrum Quattro wheels at a small cost. So defintely worth a bit of negotiation with the dealer.
At the time I had it in my head that a Bianchi should come with Campag and I was carrying this thought this year and was toying with an upgrade to Chorus or Record, but (he's says quietly) I quite like the way that Shimano kit work (no thumbs involved)... and the 6800 Ultegra groupset does work exceptionally well.

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Smoggysteve | 9 years ago
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Rumour has it FSA will be pushing out their complete groupsets exclusively on Bianchi's before being available on other brands of bike.

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wycombewheeler replied to Smoggysteve | 9 years ago
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Smoggysteve wrote:

Rumour has it FSA will be pushing out their complete groupsets exclusively on Bianchi's before being available on other brands of bike.

By 'available' you mean 'inflicted' right? Not impressed by fsa chainsets or bb. So no confidence in them having a go at gears.

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dunnoh | 9 years ago
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I have Campag and love it. But Ill be getting Shimano next time. All bike shops here and abroad stock bits. I have had two moments in the last couple of years where events nearly had to be cancelled due to a last minute wheel and and rear mech failure.

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edster99 | 9 years ago
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how could you have a Bianchi without Campag??????  35 does not compute  35

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nadsta replied to edster99 | 9 years ago
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edster99 wrote:

how could you have a Bianchi without Campag??????  35 does not compute  35

exactly. only a fool would dare

http://road.cc/content/news/138994-2015-worldtour-bikes-lottonl-jumbos-b...

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edster99 replied to nadsta | 9 years ago
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nadsta wrote:
edster99 wrote:

how could you have a Bianchi without Campag??????  35 does not compute  35

exactly. only a fool would dare

http://road.cc/content/news/138994-2015-worldtour-bikes-lottonl-jumbos-b...

I can't defend their choices....  20

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matthewn5 | 9 years ago
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Go with the celeste, if just to stop everyone you ever meet on the road saying 'why didn't you get it in celeste?'!
The two groupsets are both excellent, weigh exactly the same (c. 2,275g), but for mine it would be the Campag, because it's Italian.
But ultimately, get the one you want!

Good call about Epic cycles, Fulcrum 3s are well worth having.

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GustyCycling | 9 years ago
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I'm tempted by Campagnolo just for a change from 105 I have currently. Ultra Shift is a good selling point as well, but celeste is a big selling point.

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Shamblesuk | 9 years ago
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I had one of these and my subjective observations:

. It's a very aggressive riding position and didn't work for my back - just be aware of the geometry
. FSA brakes are rubbish compared to Ultegra
. Chainset also poor and heavy

I'd go for black, personally. But then I'm a Shimano devotee and that would also sway me.

Note the 12-27 on the Campag compared with 11-28 on the Shimano. I'd again go for the latter for extra climbing and downhill gear respectively.

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nadsta replied to Shamblesuk | 9 years ago
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Not sure where you're buying from but it's possible to trade wheels back to the dealer and get a credit towards a better pair if you want an upgrade. I traded the stock Fulcrums 5's or 7's for 3's and paid the rrp diffrence. Or you can pick up 3's (or better, obv) pretty cheap on eBay and keep the stock as winter wheels.

Shamblesuk wrote:

I had one of these and my subjective observations:

. It's a very aggressive riding position and didn't work for my back - just be aware of the geometry
. FSA brakes are rubbish compared to Ultegra
. Chainset also poor and heavy

Regarding geometry, it's not too extreme but it's no 'sportive' set up either, definite race numbers. I've ridden mine on the Dragon and London to Paris without suffering any discomfort. Other than the Dragon ate my legs.

Gruppo brakes are a relatively cheap upgrade as is something like a carbon FSA SLK chainset. Ebay is your friend.

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RR | 9 years ago
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I agree the version with celeste splashes does look better than all black!

The finishing kit looks similar on both bikes. I don't have personal experience of either of the wheels, but the Fulcrum 7 wheels are decent and probably easier to get replacement spokes for if you ever need them. The Vision Team30 wheels, which are FSA's brand, are usually a bit more expensive than the 7s and have a slightly better spec with deeper rims and bladed spokes.

I'd talk to a dealer that has a good knowledge of the bikes. As you appear to be shopping online, then Epic Cycles may be worth looking at: http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/bianchi_sempre.html. I haven't used them before, but they appear to be a specialist Bianchi dealer. They also have a good value upgrade available on the wheels to the Fulcrum 3s, which are more in keeping with the level of the frame and worth having.

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GustyCycling | 9 years ago
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Luckily the Ultegra one online in the UK does have celeste splashes.

Thanks for the feedback so far. Any views on the other kit on the bike? Other than group set my main other query is around the wheels.

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Jeroen0110 | 9 years ago
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looking to build one but budget doesn't allow more than the 105 5800 gruppo... I know some purists may shoot me down but I'm sure it will be great either way. Personal choice, go with what makes you happy.

But... Bianchi must have some form of Celeste in the paint job, to have it in black would really be sacrilegious!

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pants | 9 years ago
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all italian bikes should come with campag.

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2 Wheeled Idiot | 9 years ago
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I would pick Ultegra, but that's only coz I don't get on with the campag paddle shifters.
Go with whichever one makes your heart happy, they're both good bikes  4

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nadsta | 9 years ago
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Nevermind the Campag/shimano debate.

It's a Bianchi so the correct answer is ALWAYS...

The celeste one.

Beware its ships with fsa gossamer crank and brakes either way, so your gruppo is incomplete. Great bike though, I have a the '11.

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