4funbikes

Followed up on a local ad for a Rock N Road Tour. The ad mentioned one bike, but when I showed up, it was a pair of BG’s!

Long story long;
This couple was at a coffee shop in Petaluma in the early 90s. A gent rolls up on a wonderfully restored Roadmaster ballooner. They engage the gent and it happens to be Bruce. He opens up his shop for them on a Sunday, they get measured, and put the deposits down on this pair of bikes on the spot.











I also (almost reluctantly, as I’m not much for Italian bikes) hauled this Bianchi home as well. Ultimately charmed by the Celeste paint (I am human after all), and it fitting a bill I had been looking for, I slapped a bunch of modern (Japanese) components on.
now the question is, What is it?
It is Italian threaded BB and Headset. Appears to be finely crafted. It had Pat. 84 derailers, super record non-fluted cranks, and Modolo Equipe brakes. Serial number is something like WA1184 on the BB. Campy drops and fork ends w/o eyelets. The Campione Del Mondo 86-87 indicates a bike post 87 at least, but I’ve struck out looking through catalogs. The earlier components complicate matters as well, but again, I’m no Italian expert. Any guesses on a model and perhaps tubing spec?

T-Mar

The Bianchi is a re-paint with replacement decals. Based on the dual bottle mounts and lack of a pump peg I'd place this circa 1985. The "B" embossed stay caps, in conjunction with Campagnolo dropouts and a chromed drive side chainstay should make this one of the Mondiale/Campione/Vittoria family of frames. However, it does look like it still has the OEM headset, which appears to the Campagnolo Victory used on the 1985 Campione and Vittoria. If it started its life in the optional, non-celeste colour, you may be able to verify the model based on colour remnants remaing inside the frame (BB shell, head tube, seat tube, steering column). The Campione came in Electric Rose, while the Vittoria came in Mediterranean Blue. Still, it's a bit of a moot point, as the frames for these models were identical in geometry and construction. Of course, that assumes it a USA market model. That serial number sounds like it could be for a Danish market model. Please submit a photo of the serial number and headset.

stardognine

Excellent grab. 👍 I don't know anything about Bruce Gordons, except for the fact that a lot of folks like them. And you have a cool story with yours. 😎

himespau 

Nice bikes. Those saddles look very...cushioned.

4funbikes

Thanks for the insight! I had a suspicion it was a repaint, this compounding my search as to what it might actually be.
Here’s the requested shots.

JacobLee 

I remember that cafe next to the Bruce Gordon shop in Petaluma. Groovy spot, and a good spot to get swept away in a double-custom bike buying experience. Do you know if they tig welded these in California, or if these are Taiwanese?

I was showing a friend my new Made in Japan Bruce Gordon the other day, and he had a funny story about trying to get BG to make a frame for his wife a decade or so ago. Apparently, the cantankerous Gordon argued that the measurements they provided couldn't be accurate and wouldn't make her a frame. I've heard this story twice, but can't vouch for it's accuracy. I think Bruce left that impression on a certain percentage of people. He seems to have had the opposite effect on the couple who ordered these bikes, probably because he could measure them himself on a quiet Sunday.

4funbikes

He wasn’t shy about that. It’s right in the pamphlet that accompanied these bikes..



and this bit about the welder of these frames…

JacobLee 

That's so cool that you got the paperwork with them! I've got a couple of frames made by a Petaluma builder who worked for BG and now I see where he learned his spiel. He would never disclose the tubing he used, and I always thought it was strange. Everyone else at the time was slapping big old 853 stickers on everything. So thanks for this bit of insight.

himespau 

Doesn't Richard Sachs (or maybe I'm thinking of someone else) say pretty much the same thing? "You're paying me for my expertise, either trust me to know what is the best mix of tubing for your frame or go buy from someone else." If your name/reputation is big enough, you don't have to try to boost the quality of the frame by adding an impressive-sounding tubing sticker on it.

T-Mar

UHfotunately, they don't help. I can't read the serial number character before the "A" and the headset shot required is the upper stack.

aceves 

Great haul, 4funbikes! Enjoy the ride!!!

aceves

79pmooney

When I ordered my Peter Mooney, he said the same except that for $50 more he would go all 531 and put a sticker on. He felt the better bike got his choice and charged more for the 531 to discourage people. I still don't know what my bike is.