My 1st Roadie. Battered Bianchi. Anyone know what it is?
Discussion
Hi guys,
I've posted in here on the odd occasion about mountain bikes etc, however I've decided to pop my road cherry.
Bit of a long post but any advice welcomed, even if it is to "scrap it".
Now before I get flamed for this heap I would just like to say, I fully intend spending about £1k on a nice modern bike asap. This was going to be in the spring but I've just got married and now have a honeymoon to pay for. My lass has just decided she wants to move house next spring too so with money tight (and most probably time, hence whatever I buy may not get used) I began to scour Ebay, etc for something that I'd not whinge about if it just sits there when I'm busy with other projects.
After seeing a few old heaps go for silly money a mate at work mentioned his dad had an old bike in the garage and said he'd find out what it was that night and if he would sell it.
Fast forward to this morning and he came in and said "It's a Bianchi. he wants £50 for it."
I went along for a look tonight and it was older than I expected. I already knew it had downtube shifters so thought early 90's, but it looks even older than that, with rusted bolts etc. Once I rode it though, that was unimportant. The thing rides beautifully. It's solid, silent and just goes! I had a go of a mates £2000 full carbon Bianchi 2 weeks ago and to my untrained senses, it wasn't 40 times better to ride than this, gievn the cost.
Anyway, if anyone knows what it is and approximate age, just out of curiousity, that would be good.
Also, how should I best tackle this project? Obviously as little cost as possible as I doubt I'll get it back. On the other hand I don't mind buying good bits that I could transfer onto a later bike when I get one.
Here are some pics and details.
Bike -
Frame sticker
Front brake. Rear the same.
Bottom bracket.
Wheel rim.
Rear deraileur (can't spell it)
View down over back wheel.
Quick release lever.
Seat post and seat.
Here are some details and what I'm thinking of doing. Excuse my lack of knowledge in part names, I'm not upto speed.
Frame - Columbus CroMar - Clean up and use.
Fork - Columbus CroMar Foderi - Clean up and use.
Steering head (chrome rings where stem pops out) - Ofmega. Clean and use.
Stem - Bianchi - Clean and use. Would like to change but its small. 22.2mm dia.
Seatpost - Gipiemme - Change for lightweight swept back item.
Seat - Bianchi - Change for more modern one.
Wheel hubs say Quattro - They're fine. rear only 7 speed. Happy to keep but maybe upgrade. Between rear frame (seatstays?) measures 130mm just, metal to metal.
Wheel rims - Campagnolo Gamma Electrox Strada. Could keep but spoke ends are rusty so would like to fit new wheels. Do I have to change hubs as obviously it's only 7 speed. Would like new hubs but not sure on compatibility. I'm happy with the 7 speed gearing wise.
Crankset - Suntour Quattro with Ofmega chainrings 42/52.
Brakes - Shimano 105 Super SCR - Happy to keep but need new bolts etc, are they easy to source?
Tyres - Select sport 700/20. Cracked so want to upgrade.
So basically I want to change to modern wheels/tyres, seat/seatpost and generally tidy up inc. nuts, bolts and quick release levers. Does that require spindles? Any recommendations on what parts will work?
Sorry for the long novice post. The bike is totally useable as is, although the rear tyre is a bit soft and cracked. I rode to the nearest cashpoint to get the 50 quid to buy it and it flies. I just want it to look a bit more recent/modern. I hope that isn't a big no-no. I'll keep all the standard parts if it's better too, although I'm guessing they're later updates anyway?
I'm hoping it will get me out with my mates on a Sunday morning and not leave me trailing miles behind. That is all I want from it.
Thanks in advance for any help.
PS Ignore the fluff and grit on my floor. It's not usually that mucky. Half of it was off me bringing the bike in, much to the other halfs annoyance!
I've posted in here on the odd occasion about mountain bikes etc, however I've decided to pop my road cherry.
Bit of a long post but any advice welcomed, even if it is to "scrap it".
Now before I get flamed for this heap I would just like to say, I fully intend spending about £1k on a nice modern bike asap. This was going to be in the spring but I've just got married and now have a honeymoon to pay for. My lass has just decided she wants to move house next spring too so with money tight (and most probably time, hence whatever I buy may not get used) I began to scour Ebay, etc for something that I'd not whinge about if it just sits there when I'm busy with other projects.
After seeing a few old heaps go for silly money a mate at work mentioned his dad had an old bike in the garage and said he'd find out what it was that night and if he would sell it.
Fast forward to this morning and he came in and said "It's a Bianchi. he wants £50 for it."
I went along for a look tonight and it was older than I expected. I already knew it had downtube shifters so thought early 90's, but it looks even older than that, with rusted bolts etc. Once I rode it though, that was unimportant. The thing rides beautifully. It's solid, silent and just goes! I had a go of a mates £2000 full carbon Bianchi 2 weeks ago and to my untrained senses, it wasn't 40 times better to ride than this, gievn the cost.
Anyway, if anyone knows what it is and approximate age, just out of curiousity, that would be good.
Also, how should I best tackle this project? Obviously as little cost as possible as I doubt I'll get it back. On the other hand I don't mind buying good bits that I could transfer onto a later bike when I get one.
Here are some pics and details.
Bike -
Frame sticker
Front brake. Rear the same.
Bottom bracket.
Wheel rim.
Rear deraileur (can't spell it)
View down over back wheel.
Quick release lever.
Seat post and seat.
Here are some details and what I'm thinking of doing. Excuse my lack of knowledge in part names, I'm not upto speed.
Frame - Columbus CroMar - Clean up and use.
Fork - Columbus CroMar Foderi - Clean up and use.
Steering head (chrome rings where stem pops out) - Ofmega. Clean and use.
Stem - Bianchi - Clean and use. Would like to change but its small. 22.2mm dia.
Seatpost - Gipiemme - Change for lightweight swept back item.
Seat - Bianchi - Change for more modern one.
Wheel hubs say Quattro - They're fine. rear only 7 speed. Happy to keep but maybe upgrade. Between rear frame (seatstays?) measures 130mm just, metal to metal.
Wheel rims - Campagnolo Gamma Electrox Strada. Could keep but spoke ends are rusty so would like to fit new wheels. Do I have to change hubs as obviously it's only 7 speed. Would like new hubs but not sure on compatibility. I'm happy with the 7 speed gearing wise.
Crankset - Suntour Quattro with Ofmega chainrings 42/52.
Brakes - Shimano 105 Super SCR - Happy to keep but need new bolts etc, are they easy to source?
Tyres - Select sport 700/20. Cracked so want to upgrade.
So basically I want to change to modern wheels/tyres, seat/seatpost and generally tidy up inc. nuts, bolts and quick release levers. Does that require spindles? Any recommendations on what parts will work?
Sorry for the long novice post. The bike is totally useable as is, although the rear tyre is a bit soft and cracked. I rode to the nearest cashpoint to get the 50 quid to buy it and it flies. I just want it to look a bit more recent/modern. I hope that isn't a big no-no. I'll keep all the standard parts if it's better too, although I'm guessing they're later updates anyway?
I'm hoping it will get me out with my mates on a Sunday morning and not leave me trailing miles behind. That is all I want from it.
Thanks in advance for any help.
PS Ignore the fluff and grit on my floor. It's not usually that mucky. Half of it was off me bringing the bike in, much to the other halfs annoyance!
Fifty notes for any Bianchi frame is good value. Lots are being fixied by the Hackney menace.
That looks pretty sound, I'd just clean it up and ride it. Tension the wheels, or maybe buy some new ones, lube and so on and go.
Old bikes are very cool. Too much new on one and it starts to look a bit odd though IMO.
That looks pretty sound, I'd just clean it up and ride it. Tension the wheels, or maybe buy some new ones, lube and so on and go.
Old bikes are very cool. Too much new on one and it starts to look a bit odd though IMO.
Well worth the effort, loads of options to update the drive train... did a Harry Quinn recently and discovered that Shimano 8 speed cassette spacing, with Shimano rear mech (treason on a Bianchi I know but 105 or ultegra polishes up a treat and looks pretty without the screen printed branding) will index with modern Campag 10 speed ergos - just saying as 8 speed Campag is not that easy to come by so far as decent ergos are cocnerned, plenty of hubs and cassettes about 'though - I used a Campag hub and Miche cassette but spaced for Shimano, all in 130mm stay width.
Edited by Pupp on Thursday 20th December 10:10
7 speed to 8/9/10 speed is going to mean respacing the rear triangle isn't it ?
http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html
I don't think the frame is anything particularly special, apart from saying Bianchi on it. It's a fairly low end tubeset. The components aren't anything special either.
So not bad for £50, but once you start looking at upgrades, you're getting half way to the cost of a new bike. I'd just give it a really good clean, lube and use it.
I had the same model but in the celeste (??) blue colour. My first ever proper nice road bike and some 
nicked it from outside the local swimming baths - cut through the lock with some bolt cutters. They were only a couple of hundred quid new IIRC so it's nothing special, but they're still a nice bike.
nicked it from outside the local swimming baths - cut through the lock with some bolt cutters. They were only a couple of hundred quid new IIRC so it's nothing special, but they're still a nice bike.Marcellus said:
Bacon Is Proof said:
They are indexed, aren't they? 
Nope, pull/push the lever for how far you want the Derailleur (front or rear) to move.The lever doesn't even click as you pull/push it.
They look like Suntour Accushift indexed levers, the plastic cap with "thumb paddle" which can be twisted to select either indexed or friction.
Bacon Is Proof said:
Marcellus said:
Bacon Is Proof said:
They are indexed, aren't they?
Nope, pull/push the lever for how far you want the Derailleur (front or rear) to move.The lever doesn't even click as you pull/push it.
They look like Suntour Accushift indexed levers, the plastic cap with "thumb paddle" which can be twisted to select either indexed or friction.
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