You can use any old two-wheeler for commuting and running errands, but your enjoyment and satisfaction will really take off when you ride a bike specially designed for personal transportation. The Castro Valley has more commute-specific refinements than any other bike out there: Wide, low 18-speed gearing, fenders, and, for the pre-dawn or after-work darkness, a hub-generated headlight and reflective-sidewall tires. The whole package rolls on a road-worthy steel frame with well-balanced geometry for cruising in traffic and along bike paths. Riding a bike to get from point A to point B is a good thing. The Castro Valley makes it great.
Highlights: Double-butted chrome-moly frame with rack and fender mounts. Shimano STI 18-speed shifting. Vittoria Randonneur 700x28C tires with reflective sidewalls. Shimano 3-watt, 12-volt headlight with Dynamo front hub.
 |
Style |
18spd Commuter |
Sizes |
44, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61cm |
Color |
Dark Orange |
Frame |
Bianchi DB CrMo, rack & fender mounts |
Fork |
CrMo, rack mounts |
Retail Price |
$849.99 |
Headset |
VP AheadSet, 1-1/8" threadless |
Handlebar |
Bianchi alloy |
Stem |
Bianchi alloy, 15º |
Brakes/Levers |
Cane Creek SCX-5 cantilevers / Shimano Rapidfire Plus |
Crankset |
SuginoXD 500D, 34/50T |
Bottom Bracket |
Cartridge |
Chain |
SRAM |
Cassette |
SRAM, 12/26T 9spd |
Pedals |
Wellgo clipless, 2-sided |
Wheels |
Shimano Dynamo front, Tiagra rear hubs, Alex ACE 19 32h rims |
Tires |
Vittoria Randonneur 700x28C |
Derailleurs, r/f |
Shimano Tiagra 9spd / Shimano R4500 |
Shifters |
Shimano Rapidfire Plus |
Saddle |
Velo Bianchi |
Seatpost |
Bianchi Componenti, 27.2mm |
Other |
Shimano LP-R600 headlight; fenders |
Size, cm |
44 |
49 |
52 |
55 |
58 |
61 |
Seat Tube, mm |
440 |
490 |
520 |
550 |
580 |
610 |
Top Tube-actual, mm |
486 |
515 |
530 |
550 |
570 |
585 |
Top Tube-virtual, mm |
500 |
527 |
538 |
560 |
581 |
596 |
Chainstay, mm |
406 |
425 |
425 |
425 |
425 |
425 |
Fork Rake, mm |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
Head Tube Angle, º |
71 |
72 |
72.5 |
72.5 |
72.5 |
72.5 |
Seat Tube Angle, º |
75 |
74 |
73.5 |
73 |
72.5 |
72.5 |
Wheelbase, mm |
970 |
998 |
998 |
1016 |
1032 |
1047 |
Standover Height, in |
28 |
29.8 |
30.5 |
31.7 |
32.8 |
34 |