Yes, another Bianchi ID thread
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Yes, another Bianchi ID thread
Needing something to do on a cold weekend, I bought an old Bianchi yesterday. Frame and fork weigh 8.7 lbs. Campagnolo Valentino Extra FD and RD. San Remo rims. Otherwise a mishmash and lots of unbranded parts. In fact, as I took it apart I wasn't convinced it was a Bianchi or even Italian. The decal remnants I scraped off were definitely the 60's Bianchi style, but no model name left a trace. SN on the head tube is either 2E85861 or 2F85861.
It was a fairly downmarket bike, I realize, but it seems so odd to me to fix up an old bike without even knowing how it started life. Seems to be a consistent Bianchi thing (or Peugeot for that matter), and there are very few catalog scans to match up to even if you did have an educated guess. Seems crazy that so little material exists around such a passionately loved brand.
Nonetheless, if someone knows what this beast was or wants to be, I'd appreciate the feedback. I may put it all back together (clean and working, of course) and make this my brewery-run bike for a while, or turn it into a single speed and send it to school with a nephew.
Pics to follow ...
It was a fairly downmarket bike, I realize, but it seems so odd to me to fix up an old bike without even knowing how it started life. Seems to be a consistent Bianchi thing (or Peugeot for that matter), and there are very few catalog scans to match up to even if you did have an educated guess. Seems crazy that so little material exists around such a passionately loved brand.
Nonetheless, if someone knows what this beast was or wants to be, I'd appreciate the feedback. I may put it all back together (clean and working, of course) and make this my brewery-run bike for a while, or turn it into a single speed and send it to school with a nephew.
Pics to follow ...
#2
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These pics are mostly after a first cleaning.
Stem came out later.
Bars and seatpost are unbranded.
Sheffield pedals
ttt stem
Enormous Shimano levers and Balilla center pull brakes
Valentinos. That FD is kind of neat and loosened up with just a bit of lubrication. Japanese pump pegs.
Pretty steel rims, San Remo.
Totally unbranded crank and rings with a chain guard.
Regina freewheel. The Park FR-2 doesn't quite fit the gaps on this. It only needs to come off because the dork disk is warped and has a metal spider at its base. Spins beautifully as is.
Stem came out later.
Bars and seatpost are unbranded.
Sheffield pedals
ttt stem
Enormous Shimano levers and Balilla center pull brakes
Valentinos. That FD is kind of neat and loosened up with just a bit of lubrication. Japanese pump pegs.
Pretty steel rims, San Remo.
Totally unbranded crank and rings with a chain guard.
Regina freewheel. The Park FR-2 doesn't quite fit the gaps on this. It only needs to come off because the dork disk is warped and has a metal spider at its base. Spins beautifully as is.
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Is that an E or an F or an Egyptian heiroglyph? Regardless, surprisingly sloppy.
I sait it was downmarket, right? it has a kickstand mount.
Cool bullet shaped seat stay ends.
Unmarked here and on the forks.
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#4
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I think that the Valentino gear points to a mid-1970's production time. Toss the Shimano levers!
I've ground down the lugs on a Suntour freewheel tool to fit many a European freewheel.
I've ground down the lugs on a Suntour freewheel tool to fit many a European freewheel.
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It's a 1972 model. Back in the day, entry level bicycles with dropped handlebars and wired-on wheelsets were generally called recreational-touring, often abbreviated R/T. The only boom era Bianchi R/T model I'm famliar with is the Strada. They were virtually identical to the subject bicycle, though they typically came with a Simplex Prestige derailleur ensemble. Typically, Italian manufacturers used Prestige on their bottom of the line R/T model and Valentino Extra on the next model up. So, it might be a different model (Strada Deluxe?). However, 1972 was also the worst year for component shortages, so I wouldn't rule out a Strada with factory derailleur substitutions, especially when you consider that the closest extant Bianchi catalogue (1974) shows the Strada as the only R/T model.
Some memebers might suggest Bianchi's club racer Rekord 71 with a wheelset change/rebuild from the OEM tubulars, as this was quite common after owner's became frustrated the with tubular tyres. However, there are some differences in frame characteristics that rule out a Rekord 71 club racer, notably the use of top tube cable stops, as opposed to clips.
Some memebers might suggest Bianchi's club racer Rekord 71 with a wheelset change/rebuild from the OEM tubulars, as this was quite common after owner's became frustrated the with tubular tyres. However, there are some differences in frame characteristics that rule out a Rekord 71 club racer, notably the use of top tube cable stops, as opposed to clips.
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Thanks for all the feedback! As always, C&V is a deep well. Looking around for 1972 Stradas, that's definitely the answer. It is awfully similar to the Rekord but for the cable stops. And Bianchi was using the decals the remnants of which I had to scrape off. I'd be tempted to order replacements but it's probably not a bike that needs $50 decals shipped from Australia! After a good bit of polishing and carnauba, it looks awfully good. So I'll just finish cleaning/lubing parts and put it back the way God intended, with new cables and tires, and a set of Dia Compe brakes and levers I have.
Last edited by dbhouston; 01-19-22 at 08:47 PM.
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That’s a really nice looking blue on the bike, amazing it’s held up so well. Hope that you’ll keep updating as you progress with the build. Those Valentino derailleurs aren’t so bad as some suppose. I actually enjoyed them, on my ‘72 Bottecchia Special.
Enjoy the time doing the refit.
Bill
Enjoy the time doing the refit.
Bill
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
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Last edited by T-Mar; 01-20-22 at 07:29 AM. Reason: added photo
#11
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I fixed up a 73 Raleigh Grand Prix last year, and I'd say the materials and workmanship on this bike are comparable and it'll surely be lighter. It'll make someone a nice, theft-resistant campus bike when I'm ready to pass it on.
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You should have seen my 1962 Bianchi Corsa, whose frameset greatly resembled that one. Huret Allvit deraillerus, steel Universal sidepull brake calipers, steel 26" rims, cottered steel crankset, fork crown identical to the one shown, single piece head tube and head lugs, $55 new at Wheel World, Culver City CA, in November/December 1962. Completely low end, but rode much better than it deserved to, particularly after I upgraded to 27" wheels. This is the machine that really got me into serious bicycling, so "entry level" is an apt description in my case. This one looks like a 10-year-newer revision of mine.
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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
#13
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True. As I mentioned, my first Bianchi, far out of my current Bianchi's league, was a better machine than it had any right to be. There is something magic about Italian frame geometry.
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"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
#14
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Once I decided to just put this thing back as it wants to be, it's been much easier. DIa-Compe levers and center pulls on there, though I may put the Ballilas back on just for consistency. Filing down the Park FR-2 was a breeze and worked great. Easy to replace when needed. Cotter pins had been abused in the past, so waiting on replacements. New Schwalbes/strips/tubes to put on when I get the wheels true. New cables after that, then off to a brewery for a test ride on the first patio weather day! I'll post once more when she's done and ridden. Thanks.
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Change of direction, and done!
I vacillated between stock and mod, and ended up with what I think will be a fine campus bike in Norman, Oklahoma. It was a pain all the way through - had to change to some Rigida wheels when the original rear was declared beyond saving by the LBS. But it'll be a tank, stylish but not a theft magnet. Plus, it took more in money and time than it could ever be worth, so I'm happy to keep it in the family.
p.s Anyone want to buy some snazzy Valentino Extra derailleurs?
p.s Anyone want to buy some snazzy Valentino Extra derailleurs?
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