HSean

So this guy I know finally gave his Bianchi to me, it needs abit of work because he left it outside for many years, heres what I got, for free!

Blue Order

What kind of numbskull leaves a Columbus-framed Bianchi outside to rust away into oblivion?

Nice score, but it's going to need a lot of work to bring her back to its former glory. Hopefully, you'll treat it better than the previous owner did. It's worth the attention.

divineAndbright

I'll sure be impressed if the seat post and stem ever come out!

caloso

Oh, that is just wrong.

(Not you, OP. The original owner. Good luck!)

cudak888 

Godspeed to the OP.

-Kurt

HSean

Shes a nice bike, the seat pole and neck did come loose, So I ask the question, what color will this look best in? the paint isn't saveable, it's rusted away, I think, Ideas, ideas, I'm glad I waited till he gave it to me before I bought one, this one looks like it has a nice value, lots of nice parts, but I aint good with road bikes, this is my first true road bike, she will get alot of use, if any one wanted to know, and didn't notice, it was baby blue before, I think

stringbreaker

If I had a rubber hose I would beat the original owner with it. That Bianchi will not look good in anything other than Bianchi Celeste. I would almost bet there is a powdercoater that can match it pretty close.

cyclotoine

Nay it was celeste.

The brakes crank and chainrings are definitely salvageable. I would also pull apart the hubs and repack them, they might be okay The quick releases look like a lost cause though. At least with the aluminum you can buff it but the steel hardware is damn near irreplaceable.

That is painful to look at.

Blue Order

The color is celeste. It's the color Bianchi racing bikes, and by extension, many other Bianchi bikes, are associated with. Celeste and Bianchi are almost synonymous.

The color must remain celeste. No other color would be as appropriate on that bike. No other color will be as valued by Bianchisti.

Furthermore, the tubing is Columbus tubing, so you will want to re-badge the bike with the Columbus decal, at a minimum. Really, the proper way to approach this is to strip the frame of all rust, prime it, and repaint it in the original celeste. Apply framesaver to the inside of the frame. Commission a set of decals to replace the decals that will be damaged by the stripping & painting process. After it's been repainted, apply the new decals. Clearcoat over that is optional.

HSean

Sounds good, I thibk i'll do that, where would I aquier that paint? and frame saver

freeagent1970

I would love to find some old italian steel...good luck with her.

Blue Order

You can get framesaver at a good bike shop.

Paint depends. You have several options.

One is to have it powdercoated. That's a good, durable, inexpensive way to coat a frame. It's not paint, just a plastic coating that is applied at a powdercoating shop. Prices run about $100 for a frame. Once on, it will be extremey difficult to remove, and it will be much thicker than paint, so on a really nice Itralian frame, it may not be the best choice.

Another choice is to have it painted by a frame painter. That will result in an excellent finish, but will run you about $350 or so. This frame is worth the expense, the only question is whether that's a realistic option for you.

A third choice is to take it to an auto body shop and have them match the color and mix a batch. That should run you approximately $40 for something like a pint. They might even be able to put it in a rattle can for you. Then, afte they mix the paint, it's up to you to properly prepare the frameset (people here can tell you how to remove all the rust), prime it, and paint it yourself. This will be the cheapest route for paint, but the results will depend upon your skill and patience with sanding, spraying, and buffing automotive paint.

cyclotoine

I have seen beautiful powdercoats which are thinner than $500+ wet paint jobs.

Kommisar89

These guys do awsome work. Not cheap though. No $100 jobs from them. Around $270 for a frame and fork in a single color: https://www.spectrumpowderworks.com/

redxj

What is it with people leaving Bianchis to rust away. I found one if you can imagine in rougher shape that had been donated to the local reuse center. I looked at the rust on the frame and started to walk away then noticed the Campagnolo Ergo levers. I did a double take and it ended up being a 94/95 Bianchi Eros with 8 speed Mirage group. The frame was beyond gone, but rest of the parts cleaned up nicely with some work. I had to pay $10 for mine though. The BB and seatpost removal were a huge PITA though, but they eventually came out.

HSean

Hmm nice, well in canada bikes rust away offten in some citys here, mine theres always neglected bikes, i'll look into the painting though, wish this pant was salvagable, also how to I clean that back wheel's sproket?

John E

That is a great bike, definitely worth restoring. I concur that the best color choice would be Celeste, even though my Bianchi is charcoal-colored. With Columbus forks, yours is a cut above my humble tre tubi model.

jet sanchEz

Where in Canada are you? If you are near Toronto, I know a powdercoater that will blast and coat your frame/fork for $75.

Sirrus Rider

Are you kidding? If it were me and I had a rubber hose not only would I beat the original owner of the bike with the hose. After I was done, I'd be without the hose and he wouldn't be able to defecate right for a week.

What that dude did is a MORTAL SIN!

dannyg1 

I'm amazed that someone could've left that bike in one place long enough for it to end up looking as it does. Thieves would be all over that, here in NYC, before even the first bird dropping hit it.

Danny

HSean

My area is ottawa, as for bike theives, we put a stop to them in our the area I live in, havn't been any bikes stolen here in a few years, the secret to keeping them away is beating the crap out of them, or electric grids, they work wonders, you have a theif problem, use it, maybe the law said no, but, if you spend alot of money on something, or work hard on it, just for someone to steal it, screw it, i'll do what it takes to protect it, police do nothing to help, I lost over 50 bikes over the years, this Bianchi will be kept indoors.

RK1963

Just a gentle reminder: don't ride that bike until you've overhauled the hubs, bottombracket and headset. I strongly suspect that you will do some "metal on metal" destruction if you ride it beforehand.

Stacey

In my warped world, I would give the frame a thorough cleaning, apply frame saver to the inside of the tubes, then liberally apply wax to the frame as it is. Let it stand testament to what not to do with a bike.

John E

It would also make a good "stealth" commuter, possibly ugly enough to deter some thieves.

phillyrider

+1 Rust is kind of cool & leave the decals in place - it's a little more interesting. Paint and powder coats don't change the speed or ride of the bike.

Good luck.