jeirvine 

So Record RD would be '62-'66, if the Campagnolo Timeline is correct: Velo-Retro: Campagnolo Timeline
It looks like 151 BCD cranks which ended in '65. Is there a slot in the cable stop on the front derailleur - I can't quite make it out? That got added in '63. So likely a '63-'65 bike?

abdon 

I thought we were talking spokes failing, not rims. The miniscule amount of surface rust would cause no degradation of the spokes.

As somebody already said either something happened to crack that rim ahead of the eventual failure or there was a manufacture defect. Old age alone didn't do that.

MooneyBloke

I'm not willing to go along on that. Wheels take a lot of crap, and aluminum does fatigue. In my case it was a GEL280 on the front. I still stand with it being stupid to take chances on old aluminum parts subject to high stress, especially when you don't know the full history. I also think modern stainless spokes and more recent alloy hoops are a hell of a lot better than what we used to use.

Why are people so keen on using the old worn and even corroded crap? Being safe is a hell of a lot more important priority than being period correct. Just gainsaying me is not going to change my view here, so save your breath.

mackgoo

Found it on Face Book. With the help from a couple guys from Classic Rendezvous, one to check it out and the other to pick it up for me and pack it up to send it down as I'm close to 500 miles away it's mine.
The story is two guys in Italy had the Bianchi and a Legnano. They raced together, nothing professional, as far as I know. They made it to the states. One of them died and they hung up the bikes in the garage. They got into one of the daughter's hands and she paid a contractor for some work he did with the bikes. Now I have the Bianchi. I'm trying to get the contact of the daughter. I'd like to see if there's any pictures kicking around of them with the bikes.
The person who purchased it for me is cleaning it up before he sends it down. Normally I might think about doing that, but it's something he does so I'm sure he'd do a much better job than I plus, He said it would be a "fun" project. I can't deny a fellow cyclist fun now can I?

You may find this interesting.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/146002...h/53261791088/

mackgoo

By the way. If you look close it looks like the big ring is a 54. What the heck were those guys thinking? We've been talking about the spokes They're Robergel spokes. There's plenty old new stock on eBay if needed. The beauty of this in my mind it appears to be a time capsule. The red tape is even growing on me. It picks up the graphics, although I'll replace the tape with Newbaums.

bikingshearer 

Sounds like a pretty good estimate to me.

My eyes love the bike, my knees weep at the gearing, even from here.

abdon 

So I should go through all my vintage bikes and throw their wheelsets away? They are indeed old.

jeirvine 

Those are extremely lightweight rims. I bought a used bike that came with a pair in 28h, which initially looked pretty good, but the front rim literally broke in my hands when removing the old sewup.

MooneyBloke

I won't dispute that. I think at the time I was around 137# though. I guess my overall feeling is that there are components that might be good for a museum piece or a soft twiddle around the block, but I feel strongly that if you can't ride the bike in anger safely, you probably shouldn't ride it at all beyond that leisurely putter around the block. I'm writing this as someone who's broken cranks, stems, wheels, and even frames. I also bent up my fair share of Super Champion sew-up rims in my youth too.

Pogliaghi

What is the serial number? Should be on the seat lug.
Definitely looks like 151BCD crank, Universal 61 brakes, basically all the stuff you would find on a Specialissima. You found a real beauty!

jeirvine 

From the flikr album, hub locknut date is '63:

pastorbobnlnh 

In the Flicker pictures the wheels, i.e. rims, spokes, hubs, etc., appear to be simply dirty and covered in a protective layer of old oil or other lubricants. Just take a close look at the poor Regina!

The wheels do not appear to be compromised by rust, fatigue, or former abuse. They should clean and tune up nicely, and when paired with a new set of tan-wall tubular tires, should provide a very special (sic) ride! Unless you are an angry rider, as some claim to be.

Riding my bike always makes me happy.

PhilFo 

Don’t tell all those 50-80 year old wheels on millions of British roadsters that old age has relegated them to the dump.
If it were to stay reasonably dry, I would have no reservations about mounting the original wheels on my old Rudge Sports, pumping up the Col de la Vies, and riding west until I hit the Pacific. I’m confident the bike would make it; the question is if I would.
This Bianchi is a stunning find and I’m looking forward to reading more as the restoration progresses.

Steel Charlie

I've been using DT's for everything for over 40years. Still waiting for my first problem.

mackgoo

Serial # is 165142.

Pogliaghi

So I believe that means the frame was built in 1965.
BTW, really beautiful bike!!

jeirvine 

I've been checking out the progress in the Flickr album and it looks like it is coming along fantastically:

IMG_1624 by David DeRose, on Flickr

IMG_1614 by David DeRose, on Flickr

IMG_1616 by David DeRose, on Flickr

SwimmerMike 

Wow! That looks great.

bikingshearer 

I forgot to ask: Does it have a normal 70mm wide BB, or does it have the PITA 74mm wide BB? Some Italian bikes of the era, very much including some Bianchis, used the 74mm BB shell for a few years. 1983-65 may be just a hair late for 7amm. For your sake, I very much hope it is a 70mm wide shell. Getting period-correct BBs for the 74mm shell is not easy - trust me on that. If it is a 74mm shell, save yourself some grief and just go Phil Wood. It's what I ended up doing after a fair amount of frustration.

jeirvine 

From the pics, the spindle appears to be in usable shape, whatever length it is:

bikingshearer 

Yeah, if that's the BB that came out of the frame, you should be in good shape. Those bearings look like standard 1/4" and the bearing surface looks like it is meant for 1/4", which almost certainly means 70mm.

My 1961 Bianchi Competizione (lowest-end Reparto Corse model) had the 74mm shell. It required 3/16" bearings and said so on the axle ("con sfere 3/16"). It also required thin-walled cups. Finding a new axle (mine was a bit chewed up) was not too hard, with patience and a willingness to pay. 3/16" bearings are no problem. But I could not for love or money find a set of thin-walled Italian threaded cups that took 3/16" bearings. At least that was my experience. Thin-walled for 1/4" bearings? Not too hard to find. Thick-walled for 3/16" bearings? Surprisingly not hard to find (some sort of post-NR era Campy BBs used them, IIRC)-they also will not work because, when you ionstall the fixed cup, the adjustable cup threads will just barely not catch the shell threads. But thin-walled cups for 3/16" bearings? I might as well have been trying to find the Lost Dutchman mine or a French TdF yellow jersey contender. As I said, I gave up and put in a Phil Wood.

May you never have to try to reproduce my results.

SJX426 

@mackgoo - Beautiful bike!
I believe mine is a 71 as the SN is 171 on one side and 060 on the other side, which I think is the size of 60cm, measures out ctc,
I am obsessed with mine and am happy with the red tape.
2022-12-07_04-22-24 on Flickr

The Bottecchia acquired a few years ago cam with a Nervar 54t
P1020410 on Flickr

I would not be surprized if you have the Campagnolo HS. Let us know. I beliee mine has 30 balls at each end.

mackgoo

Here it is cleaned up. I'll be receiving it Tuesday. The pump was just put on for looks. I have a Celeste one here.

mackgoo

Is there an external ID for the head set?

SJX426 

Read through this link.Bianchi Specialissima and Gran Sport headsets