[DaDitka]

Oh, jrenaut, maybe it’s just the picture of the nickel colored Volpe disc on the Bianchi website. The brown handlebar tape and saddle with black frame of the regular Volpe looks great.

[DaDitka]

Looking at the Macho Man Disc specs it seems that the front derailleur is actually a Shimano CX70 while the rear derailleur is a Shimano 105. No idea what that means, but maybe they chose the CX70 for the reason hozn mentioned (although I don’t quite understand what that reason is). I’m assuming since that is an upgrade hozn recommended that having the CX70 base is a good thing and not a downgrade?

[DaDitka]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Bruno, thanks for the link. Good thread, it gave me some ideas.

The Bianchi Volpe Disc and the Salsa Vaya 3 tick all the right boxes. I don’t like the nickel look of the Volpe Disc though. The Vaya 3 looks great, but no LBS has any in stock for a test ride. Also, it is a Sora groupset. I had kind of limited my survey to Tiagra and 105 bikes for the ~$1500 range. Should I have done that/will I notice any difference from 105 on Macho Man Disc or Tiagra on others vs. Sora on Vaya 3?

The Salsa Fargo ticks the right boxes too, but seems a little more trail oriented than I need. Also I couldn’t tell if it could take a rear rack.

Giant Revolt and AnyRoad look like they might work as well. Have to find a good Giant dealer around here with some to try out though (Giant dealer I know around here is small and doesn’t carry them).

Hozn, you are right, the Macho Man Disc has fender mounts (see description of bike here). Are the fender mounts actually strong enough to rack a mount? I would of figured they aren’t reinforced or whatever. Also, fair point about the frame material. I just got it in my head that steel is the way to go after the rides, objective or not. I don’t think I need titanium and don’t really want to buy a used bike or build one up. Neat idea though. Mason looks cool.

The CAADX I rode was a great bike, but I liked the less aggressive geo of Felt V85 if I was going with an aluminum bike. I’m also not a big fan of the largely plastered Cannondale statement on the frame. If I was racing, I would probably go for an aluminum bike and quite possibly the CAADX. Great bike just not my style.

I have kind of moved toward Space Horse vs. Macho Man Disc (or a Salsa Vaya 3 if I can test ride one). As they both All-City bikes are the same price, its kind of down to rear rack capable vs. disc brakes (plus slightly better group set and the amazing orange frame). Seems like its more utility vs. more bike decision between those two. I’ll try and find a Vaya 3.

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