90s Celeste Bianchi - odd ball with lots of chrome
04-20-21, 09:58 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Ottawa. Canada
Posts: 187
Bikes: Colnago • Bianchi • De Rosa
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
90s Celeste Bianchi - odd ball with lots of chrome
Hello everyone!
Ok, so I just bought this (1997?) Bianchi frame off ebay from Itally. Before I posted here, I thought i would do my homework. I spend hours and hours trying to find any information on this frame. Normally, I can narrow down some info on most bike. In all my research, I found a single example that was close (in Itally), the only difference was mine has chrome socks on the forks. That bike was labeled as "1997 Bianchi Mega Set Zero".
The entire frame looks to have chrome under the pearlescent Celeste paint. Every "window" reveals chrome. Wow. The serial number under the BB says "C2428" and "55" on the other side. The rear dropouts have "T124" stamped into the inside. Front dropouts have Bianchi engraved. It has internal cable routing. Seat post is 27.2 and steerer is obv threaded. BB shell is 169mm wide. I dont know the threading yet.
Any help with this would be fab! Many thanks for your time.
Mark
Ok, so I just bought this (1997?) Bianchi frame off ebay from Itally. Before I posted here, I thought i would do my homework. I spend hours and hours trying to find any information on this frame. Normally, I can narrow down some info on most bike. In all my research, I found a single example that was close (in Itally), the only difference was mine has chrome socks on the forks. That bike was labeled as "1997 Bianchi Mega Set Zero".
The entire frame looks to have chrome under the pearlescent Celeste paint. Every "window" reveals chrome. Wow. The serial number under the BB says "C2428" and "55" on the other side. The rear dropouts have "T124" stamped into the inside. Front dropouts have Bianchi engraved. It has internal cable routing. Seat post is 27.2 and steerer is obv threaded. BB shell is 169mm wide. I dont know the threading yet.
Any help with this would be fab! Many thanks for your time.
Mark
04-20-21, 07:34 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,031
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4509 Post(s)
Liked 6,374 Times
in
3,666 Posts
I got nothin and normally can't get past any unicrown fork BUT this one is yanking my chain, odd, plenty of chrome, Celeste, in pretty great shape, mostly all good,
mostly.
Paging @Bianchigirll
mostly.
Paging @Bianchigirll
04-20-21, 07:40 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Ottawa. Canada
Posts: 187
Bikes: Colnago • Bianchi • De Rosa
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Very much the same about the unicrown. I saw this thought it was time to explore the 90s as vintage, ya thats right.
04-20-21, 07:51 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,031
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4509 Post(s)
Liked 6,374 Times
in
3,666 Posts
And well Celeste is Celeste, I have an 80 SC languishing in kinda rough shape but with almost all original parts and two other Celeste frames, 1 great shape and 1 in poor shape.
04-20-21, 08:39 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,832
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 603 Post(s)
Liked 1,062 Times
in
534 Posts
No Idea, but that is one gorgeous frame! I didn’t even notice the unicrown fork until reading follow on posts. Maybe it’s just the Celeste and chrome, or probably cause I have an early 80s Bianchi with one, got the bike as a crashed frame, with the Bianchi replacement unicrown fork.
I’m not saying the replacement fork is pretty, but I’ve gotten used to it, and definitely not complaining about the ride.
Tim
1983 Champione del Mondo
I’m not saying the replacement fork is pretty, but I’ve gotten used to it, and definitely not complaining about the ride.
Tim
1983 Champione del Mondo
Last edited by tkamd73; 04-20-21 at 08:44 PM.
Likes For tkamd73:
04-20-21, 08:41 PM
#7
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 485
Bikes: Pinarello Gavia TSX; Bianchi Intenso
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 164 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 92 Times
in
62 Posts
Reminds me a lot of my old SBX, however this one looks to be TIG welded and I only remember Bianchi doing that to an AL frame, like my long gone SL Lite. Maybe a replacement fork?
04-20-21, 08:47 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: City of Angels
Posts: 4,870
Bikes: A few too many
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1363 Post(s)
Liked 2,178 Times
in
1,182 Posts
Bianchigirll might be able to assist, I consider her to be an expert on these.
Best, Ben
Best, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
04-20-21, 09:31 PM
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 87
Bikes: Raleigh Mojave 4.0, Panasonic DX1000
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Liked 22 Times
in
15 Posts
What is a unicrown fork?
Also, the Celeste color always reminds me of Easter eggs. Anyone else? Just me?
Also, the Celeste color always reminds me of Easter eggs. Anyone else? Just me?
04-21-21, 12:30 AM
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 87
Bikes: Raleigh Mojave 4.0, Panasonic DX1000
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Liked 22 Times
in
15 Posts
(Sorry if this counts as hijacking the thread)
04-21-21, 01:06 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,031
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4509 Post(s)
Liked 6,374 Times
in
3,666 Posts
04-21-21, 03:10 AM
#13
Steel is real
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 1,105
Bikes: 40 - accumulated over 40 years
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 375 Post(s)
Liked 1,081 Times
in
303 Posts
Picture google "Bianchi Genius" and you shall recieve. Yours seem to have decals and headbadge corresponding with catalog material for the 1998 season. The Bianchi Genius were in catalogs circa 1993 to 1996. If yours is repainted and decaled or if it was just a late bloomer... I do not know.
Likes For styggno1:
04-21-21, 06:14 AM
#15
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,793
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1390 Post(s)
Liked 1,322 Times
in
835 Posts
That's probably why my Schwinn mountain bike has one. According to Schwinn literature, the objective of the Project KOM-10 bike and KOM-20 (King Of the Mountains) frameset was to "build the fastest, lightest mountain bike" they could. At least my unicrown hides behind the RollerCam front brake. 
A unicrown fork doesn't look quite as objectionable on a mountain bike. This is a 1988 model.
A unicrown fork doesn't look quite as objectionable on a mountain bike. This is a 1988 model.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
04-21-21, 07:07 AM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Ottawa. Canada
Posts: 187
Bikes: Colnago • Bianchi • De Rosa
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Picture google "Bianchi Genius" and you shall recieve. Yours seem to have decals and headbadge corresponding with catalog material for the 1998 season. The Bianchi Genius were in catalogs circa 1993 to 1996. If yours is repainted and decaled or if it was just a late bloomer... I do not know.
Anyone know where the Genius sits in the model line?
04-21-21, 01:52 PM
#21
Edumacator
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 6,772
Bikes: '87 Crestdale, '87 Basso Gap, '92 Rossin Performance EL-OS, 1990 VanTuyl, 1980s Losa, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 1987 PX10, etc...
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2434 Post(s)
Liked 3,107 Times
in
1,957 Posts
It’s a big mountain bike!
just my two cents and I am NOT an authority on anything, but maybe produced for another market briefly, and repainted in the only set of decals available to the refinisher?
just my two cents and I am NOT an authority on anything, but maybe produced for another market briefly, and repainted in the only set of decals available to the refinisher?
__________________
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
04-21-21, 02:00 PM
#22
Steel is real
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 1,105
Bikes: 40 - accumulated over 40 years
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 375 Post(s)
Liked 1,081 Times
in
303 Posts
Yes they did - as I wrote earlier picture google "Bianchi Genius" and you will see plenty of TIG welded Columbus Genius tubed Bianchi: s. The Genius tube set was designed especially for TIG welding according to Bianchis own litterature.
That is a lugged frame.
That is a lugged frame.
Last edited by styggno1; 04-21-21 at 03:09 PM.
