JennyBianchi

So, I have been looking to upgrade my bicycle for some time now, and as I finished my thesis I thought now would reward myself!

I found this Bianchi, but I know some are better than others and I was wondering if someone was an expert on these frames.

I think they are pretty and I have owned Bianchis as well as columbus frame bikes before but never something this era/line/caliber.

Is this a nice price, is there anything I should know?

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/3101573614.html

bibliobob

It's a fair price, if it's your size. Shimano 600 performs very nicely. This was a mid/high model at the time. A few notches down from the top, but still a nice bike.

Best of luck!

Muttleyone

I'm thinking that it is lust that will turn into love At that price it would hard to go wrong in my opinion. Bianchigirl will be along shortly. She is the expert on Bianchi's and will give you the skinny on that model.

Mutt

JennyBianchi

Thanks for the responses thus far! Looking at the list of your two's bikes I cannot help but feel like the "newbie" I am!

eja_ bottecchia

Get it, you won't regret it!

bikemig 

A celeste bianchi is a cool bike. I like Shimano parts but I think the bike would be more desirable with campy parts. That said, Portland I'm sure is a hot market for used vintage bikes so the price may well be OK.

JennyBianchi

@bikemig Do you think that I would do the bike an injustice to put on some campy parts? My original knee jerk when I read about it was "Shimano? Where's the Campy!?", but then I was told some Shimano parts are great if not superior so I was unsure.

bikemig 

The shimano 600 parts on the bike are fine. So if all I wanted was a bike to ride, then I'd think about buying this bike. If I wanted a bike to love or lust after, I'd get a celeste Bianchi with campy parts. So the real question is whether the bike is a reasonable price with Shimano parts. I don't think so but maybe I'm off base on this.

jon c. 

Shimano 600 is very nice stuff. There's certainly nothing wrong with switching to Campy, but I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Shimano.

Muttleyone

LOL, thanks but as far as lists of cool bikes, I'm afraid I fall well down the list, but thanks. It is an addiction. It's a lot like potato chips, you can't have just one.
For components 600 is very nice but my thoughts are ride it see how you like it. If you want to switch to campy, go for it. Full disclosure: I do think Italian bikes need Campy, but you won't go to hell if you don't, LOL.

Mutt

JennyBianchi

Does anyone know where I could find a catalog telling me the specific differences between this bike and a top of the line one?

There are quite a bit of opportunities for me to find vintage campy hardware (I live in Portland) so I think that may be a long-term goal.

I just sold my Schwinn Voyageur with Columbus tubing to pay for this one so I hope I like it, LOL.

But please if anyone has some more info I would love to hear your take! I am in full-on "lust" mode now!

zukahn1 

Seems like a good price. The 600 stuff is fine switching to Campy stuff would be cool but won't make the bike ride any better. For me the cost of switching to Campy stuff doesn't realy make sense vintage Campy prices are real high right now and the $200 plus it would cost to find stuff that matches the bike probably wouldn't be worth it.

jyl

I live in Portland. As you know, we're in an expensive market. This bike is in Eugene which helps. I think it is a good, reasonable, fair price. If I were ready for another bike, I'd buy it for that price without hesitation, it being so clean.

Shimano 600 is fine stuff, it evolved into Ultegra so that is basically #2 in the Shimano pecking order. I built a bike with 600, very nice. You can collect the vintage Campagnolo bit by bit as you go along, or run across a donor bike, or do a retro roadie with modern Campagnolo, or leave the bike true to it's original spec. It is all fine.

Bianchigirll 

Hello Jenny. Welcome to to the forums!

First and foremost does this fit you? Can youy get a few better pics of this? The exact model of the bike may be hard to pin down. The seller claims he had it new since '89 but the decals and tubing sticker look more like '85-87ish. If the tubing is Bianchi Formula 2 tubing then the frame is a '86 or '87 and the frame was used over a range of 4 or 5 models.

As the bike sits if it had a Forumla 2 frameset it would be very much like a '86 or 87 Limited but they were not offered in Celeste. The Limited was 5 from the top in line up of 13 models of road bikes. It is possible that either the components between two models were swapped to give a buyer a Limited in Celeste or this was some leftover like a Campione de Italia or Squadra and the Campi/Ofmega/Modolo/Miche was taken off and the 600 added to give index and make it better seller.

As for putting some Campi on it I see nothing wrong with that but unless your ready to upgrade to 9+spds with brifters stick with the shipmano derailleurs and freewheel for the indexing.

randyjawa 

Keep what you have, for now, and ride the bike. The 600 stuff works just as good as Campy, perhaps even better, and belongs. If you don't like the look/feel of the Shimano components, you can always change things out later. Or, just go get a Bianchi with Campy fitted. In the long run, it will likely cost you less than buying that lovely celeste model and then spending a small fortune swapping parts out.

Just an opinion but I would keep the bike as original as I could, preserving the bicycle as well as its collectable value, in the process.

JennyBianchi

BianchiGirl! Thank you for your wealth of knowledge - oh my! I did end up purchasing the bike this afternoon. Twas love at first sight! Bit I am still interested in learning about it.

It is formula two and I know the owner bought it new in '89 because he has all the receipts and records! It is a very well cared for bike.

I think I will stick with the Shimano, as it runs very smooth and the free wheel's ticks are so soft and consistent. Very nice.

It's serial number is 20845 and it has a sticker on it that says 1986-1987 Colorado Springs...? Any idea what that's about?

Bianchigirll 

Congrats and welcome to the Celeste Club!

OH I saw that Campion del Mondo sticker and forgot about it. They were put on most all '87 and all '89/89 bikes then the style was switched to a simpler sticker. It just celebrates that a rider on a Bianchi won the '86 World Cycling Championships which were held in Colorado that year.

Is there a model name on the top rube? I still think it is a left over model of some sort as the '89 decals would have been different but no matter what I am sure you will love it. I have a '88 Bianchi with a Formula 2 frame and it is a great rider. lots more pics please.

JennyBianchi

On the top tube it says "Limited" - here are some more pictures!

BlueDevil63 

Nice bike. I think you got an excellent deal.

Bianchigirll 

OH it is a '87 Limited!! I guess they changed the color from metallic Celeste to basic Celeste.

Great bike excellent deal

fixed1313

Great looking bike, been on my wish list for a long time. Some day. Enjoy the ride.

bikemig 

JB: I'm jealous. This is a great bike; enjoy it.

gioscinelli 

That's one beautiful Bianchi Limited!!! I like the Roman Eagle on the fork crown, pantograph chain stays and the color! Excellent group of Shimano part, with the aero pedals. You did yourself right! Enjoy and ride safe!

JennyBianchi

Thanks so much guys! And thank you BianchiGirl! I am excited to know it is an '87 and to know of the color options back then - metallic celeste green is so pretty!

I did get a great deal and I am so happy I found it. The guy that sold it to me turned away two other people because they didn't love it enough. He was excited that I was willing to drive four hours to pick it up! Ha!

Dream bike. And Fixed1313, don't give up!

jyl

Beautiful bike. I'll keep my eye out for you riding around in PDX. If a guy on a white Peugeot is chasing you, it's probably going to be me yelling "87 Limited!"