Bianchigirll 

New Rose '87 Sport SX, very nice Bianchi. My first real road bike was one of those albeit in black. It will be a great rider

VintageSteelEU

Quite a lot of wrenching, actually. I have received Vx front derailleur in post this week and managed to install that on my Grand Sprint (so now it has Vx front and rear derailleur, Suntour Power Shifters and Suntour Winner freewheel) . A version without a cable stop, so that took some acrobatics. The NDS chainstay now has a positively homemade looking cable guide holding the outer. Finally finished cleaning up centrepull Vainqueur 999 brakes and install on the bike as well. For now with original vintage Weinmann pads I got lying around and which seem to have quite a bit of life left in them. We'll see how these hold up when I get to test the bicycle. Then, since I was already in a full blown grease monkey mode, I decided to have a look at the crankset because it seemed to cause chain rub on the front derailleur. Discovered some play in the bottom bracket, so will have to have a closer look at it during the week. I was afraid the chain is rubbing because of the chainrings or the spider being somewhat off, but these seem to be alright as far as I can tell. So hopefully sorting out the BB will take care of the chain rub problem or minimise it. Now, that's nothing serious, I'm talking about chain rubbing in certain forbidden combinations (especially big - big) which I'm not using anyway. And which can be taken care of with a bit of trim if I wanted to use that combo for whatever reason. I'm spoiled because I'm used to having no chain rub on the FD on my other bicycle in any combination of gears. Though BB play = not good. But hopefully, I will be able to sort things out over the next few days and take the bicycle out for a spin.

I also got distracted by the beautiful piece of cycling history below. It looks NOS (especially now), but was definitely used. Pulley wheels were filthy and stiff and there was some gunk inside the parallelogram and on the cage plates. I didn't dare to look under the cage pivot bolt. It works great, all springs seem perfect, so decided, for a change, not to do a complete overhaul and do not touch anything that's not causing issues. For now I just cleaned it thoroughly, put some oil into the knuckles and pivots and it will live on my desk for a while, waiting for its frame.
It was missing the cable pinch bolt assembly. Thankfully, I had a damaged front Ar derailleur. And looks like any Suntour FD cable pinch bolt assembly fits perfectly. I'm not exacly sure which version of Superbe it is. The parallelogram spring assembly is with a hex bolt, which, would suggest RD-2100 (Superbe). The mounting bolt and tension spring bolt are aluminium and without markings, pulley bolts are aluminium and allen key, which would suggest RD-3100 (1st version of Superbe Pro). Date code is September 1977. So it's all a bit of a puzzle. One thing is sure though: it gave me a serious case of Superbe Lust. Disease, whilst not deadly, rather pricey to treat... I'm working on a C5 frame in need of repairs, so I think after that's ready, I will try to equip it with a full Superbe gruppo from the late 70's. This is going to be painful for my wallet, especially the crankset, but I think the frame is deserving to be a showcase of the best the 70's cycling industry had to offer. Also, I think it's one of the best looking derailleurs ever made. At least one that actually does what it's desigend to do, unlike some other derailleurs of the era.

ascherer 

Figured it out, there was schmutz/corrosion on the contact rings for the ground terminal. A bit of steel wool
polishing and the lights came on.

merziac

There's always some schmutz mucking up the deal, rub out the schmutz!

janthenat

Also my first road bike, in mint celeste… I think I have a picture of it around here somewhere, I’ll have to scrounge a bit. I splurged and bought a full Campagnolo Athena (the original) group set for it, which was very nice. Bittersweet memories having sold it ages ago.

Now I'm wondering if the SX and Sport SX are different? I believe the Sport SX frame was made in Taiwan and not Italy. Photo found (taken prior to Athena upgrade)...

janthenat

Somewhat lately... I disassembled my 1995 GT Tequesta gravel conversion in order to build a new gravel bike on the Miele frame in the background. Other parts on the way, and prepping to build new wheels from the existing rims + Shimano M525 disc hubs.

drewfio

Glad to hear these make good riders! I'm building it up for a friend (though I would most likely keep it if fit me).

Having not researched much, my guess is if there is a "sport" version of something, the non "sport" version is a step up. I can't make out the decal on your seat tube but it looks like it says Bianchi something or other, as opposed to the "Tange 900 CR-MO Double Butted Tubes" mine says.

SurferRosa

@Wildwood is thinning the herd, and @Mr. 66 and I were fortunate to have been bestowed several beautiful bikes. Here are two I've been wrenching.



I fully overhauled this '72 Bottecchia a few years ago for him and just had to tweak a few things this time. It came back to me without a seatpost, and I chose to file down a 27.2, which was a real *****. Unfortunately, the saddle is creaking now, so there's still some work to do on that.

I was really happy with adjusting these center pulls. Normally takes me forever to do that, but it went by really quickly this time. However, the maiden voyage tells me there's still work to do there.



I had to source a few more parts and fully overhaul this '84 Pinarello. @Mr. 66 provided crank arms and brake levers. The original S600 arm tapers were a little deformed. They weren't horrible, and maybe they would have worked, but the chain line didn't give me the warm fuzzies. The S600 replacements are perfect.

This bike is basically done, but I'll be on the lookout for a black Turbo-style replacement saddle. And, like the Bott, if I want to ride it at all before selling, I'll definitely have to add clips and straps.

​​​​​​

Monkitoucher

Got this put together.

Mad Honk 

I spent a couple of minutes today to replace the sealed bearings in Jdawg's Superbe rear derailleur. Same bearings as were in the Bulls Eye jockeys from the 1980's. Smiles, MH

2cam16

The Datsun and Alfa caught my eye more.

john903

Yea me to. Tell us more. I see Alfa GTA, Datsun 2000?, Bmw R90s, a couple Vespa's or Lambrettas. Oh and oh course the nice Colnago.
Have a great day.

RustyJames 

Me three! Looks like a GT Junior. A joy on a twisty road.

Oh yeah, nice ‘nag too. 😇

jamesdak 

Yeah, those Alfa's sing!

SoCaled 

Tire swap on the Cuevas, from the rotten ones that came on it, to a set of 32mm gatorskins that came from an auction buy. Went better with an assist from @FBinNY (chopsticks). https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...estions-p.html
Was getting excited for a ride, until I moved onto the next step. Less happy with re-assembly of the Dura-Ace "Dyna drive" pedals. They still feel crunchy when tightened what seems like the required amount? Spin free if not fully tightened. The bearings and raceways looked and felt clean, when I had everything disassembled. Not sure what the issue is? Only schematic I have found seems to be for a slight variant on what I have or I don't understand something about the assembly. No clear numbers or marks on the pedals to indicate exact model.


If mine are the same model (Cuevas has Dura-Ace EX sticker on seat tube) as the schematic then I am missing #5, on both pedals, but not sure how that would work since #4 & #6 on mine are the bearing raceways. I am also missing #1, on both pedals, again wondering if there is an EX variant?

Monkitoucher

I wish it was a GTA... It's just a GTV. All the other stuff... followed me home at one point or another. The Datsun is a 67.5 1600. Vespas are a VM2T, VBB, and a VLA. The Lambrettas are a li125 Ser1. and a li150 Silver Special. And the airhead is a R100S.

merziac

Seems like there is a counterintuitive step that is not spelled out anywhere, can't remember where it came up but pretty sure.

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...d-process.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ve-pedals.html

jdawginsc 

Me too.

Bianchigirll 

Other than scanning some more catalogs and stuff from the '90s not a lot bike related stuff going on this weekend. I did have to explore down into this crevasse to remove this nut to replace a single small marker light. I no sooner got it back together when I realized my 7/16 ratcheting wrench was here and not at work. However there was enough room to use it anyway. Tomorrow I get to tear the Brier apart to replace a rear turn signal lamp.


Monkitoucher I'm digging the Alfa and Datsun too

JohnDThompson 

The EX pedals were entirely different from the AX pedals. There is a lower model AX pedal (the PD-6300) that may have compatible dustcaps.

Bianchigirll 

There was a Sport and Sport SS, higher model until '84 (at least for Bianchi USA) and it became the Sport SX. To my knowledge neither were built in Italy

SoCaled 

I went and looked up the Pd-6300 which led me to this:

"sbarner Certified Vintage on 09/06/22 There seem to have been at least two different versions of the Dyna Drive pedals that were stamped Dura Ace AX. The steel cage on both versions is the same, but different from the PD-7200 Dura Ace EX variant, and not interchangeable. The early EX cage used a separate piece for a toe clip loop, attached using the outer cage screw. The difference in the two AX bodies I have seen is a beefing up of the aluminum where the bearing attaches. This is probably the later of the two, as the ones I have seen have also had the later version of the bearing that uses a large blue dust cap over the inside bearing end, which seals water out better than the original, brown, plastic ring. Sometime before this change, the toe clip clamp piece went from a symmetric to an asymmetric design that provided a little more support for the shoe on the outside. It would be interesting to learn if all versions of the bearings for the DA DD pedals are interchangeable as a unit." https://velobase.com/viewcomponent.a...5b751b&enum=10..

So it looks like mine are PD-7200 EX pedals - although not all seem to have the separate toe clip
This is the version I have
https://www.velosaloon.com/products/...raps-from-1981

SoCaled 

Thanks for the links I had read those before I did the dis-assembly, but had not gone back. The bold section from your quote gave me the clue I needed, but backwards. For dis-assembly order of operations doesn't really matter. For re-assembly Cone has to be tightened until pedal spins smoothly (I was over-tightening as there is no "stop" without the set screw in place) you adjust cone until correct, then set screw locks that distance. Too loose and it wobbles, too tight and it grinds, actually very intuitive I was just not using my brain. The (use set screw for dailing position) part is either not included in "assembly" above or on the next page not scanned.

ascherer 

For now Mrs. ascherer’s Grand Jubilé can come off the stand. Transplanting the wheel set and Tiagra derailleurs from her Lotus went smoothly, save for getting the shift cable head slightly jammed inside the lever. Had to partially disassemble the lever, and the silver lining is it got a cleaning in the process.
Other enhancements include Tektro 559s, MKS Sylvans, lights, rack, and fresh bottle cage. I’d planned to put a triple up front but couldn’t rustle up an appropriate spindle so I kept the 49D intact. I would like to put something like a 46/30 setup on it before the season starts but as she’s just recovering from rotator cuff surgery, I have some time.

Next up is basic fleet maintenance and cleaning.

merziac

Great work, just simply looks so good.

Moto's are fantastic and make our efforts look good, they always look great to me no matter what and always ratchet way up when we lean in and apply the elbow grease.