markmdavis

Bianchi "bianco"??? I am interested in this nice white Bianchi road bike on consignment at my LBS. It has Campagnola brakes and drive train (14 spd). I have not found many (like 'any'!) white Bianchi's on-line although I have found a few in Bianchi's 1983 catalogue Also I have not been able to find one with this particular set of decals. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

Steel1

Well it is Columbus Cromor tubing, which is mid-level. Not super light, but I have a 58cm Cromor (different maker), and love the ride.

Bianchigirll 

Well the white color and those decals make the frame look like an ‘88 Campione de Italia but those were Formula 2 tubing and equipped with Suntour, Dia Compe etc mix. The ‘89 was CroMor but not in white and with Suntour Quattro.

It might be Canadian model from ‘89 or ‘90.

Wildwood 

If it fits.
If it works well.
If it rides well, + tracks straight.
If you want a general purposed rider.
If you want the bars above the saddle?
If the price is right.
Then with an LBS favorable rating (assuming they gave it a five-minute check)

I would say Yes. But it looks plain or almost ugly as it sits.
Recently overhauled with new grease at bearings?
Wheels true with decent brake tracks?
Condition of brake blocks?
Brake hoods just filthy or dried and cracked too?

T-Mar

Decal scheme is 1988-1989. Of those two years Columbus Cormor was only used in 1989 in the USA market and only on the Campione d'Italia. However, the 1989 USA market Cd'I was not Camapagnolo equipped, so it has been rebuilt or is a foreign market model.

Bianchigirll 

BTW that appears to Campagnolo Victory

Wildwood 

Hey, with the current stem:
if the correct saddle height for your leg length raises the saddle to handlebar level (or even above the handlebars), then check the seatpost insertion minimum is maintained.

IMHO.

markmdavis

thanks for your comments. The modern replacement stem is indeed a travesty and will be replaced by the original. (I’m also not crazy about the saddle). This bike has been maintained by my LBS for some decades. (They give it a good bill of health). It may indeed have some replaced parts but nothing that screams cheap. It is a ‘rider’ and not a wallhanger, and at the price I believe it may serve me well.

markmdavis

Does this photo of serial numbers give any indication of the proper date?

rjhammett

Sport SX. I had this on my trainer. A pretty low end bike.

Bianchigirll 

Personally I don’t see a problem with the stem. If the LBS has been maintaining the bike for decades why can’t they tell you about it? They didn’t do the parts swap?

markmdavis

Thanks for your help and the info, Bianchigirll. I am waiting to speak with the (now-retired) shop owner who knows this bike best. The shop replaced the stem at the request of the present owner who was not comfortable with traditional racing position. I get that, but still would love to have the original stem.

markmdavis

Thanks, rjhammett. Looks like a decent bike for training which is exactly what I'm looking for. (I don't need a museum quality collectors item ;-))

markmdavis

Do these look like Victory components? (Apologies for the pic quality)

Wildwood 

www.velobase.com

bookmark it for your many future inquiries, hopefully.

Victory or 980 - off the top of my head.

John E

I wonder how comprehensive the catalog color listings are. I have what by all evidence points to a 1982 model year Campione d'Italia built in December 1981. I am guessing the metallic "charcoal" is a 1981 color.

Bianchigirll 

I suspect that is highly possible. I believe most companies start build next model year in Sept or so to ship before the end of the year. So it very possible late ‘81 frames became’82s.

T-Mar

The serial number indcates that the frame was manufacturered in Italy during 1988 and early enough in the calendar year that it would be a 1988 model. It has a clamp style front derailleur which, assuming it is USA market, would point towards a Giro, Trofeo or Camapione d'Italia. The components are Victory, which would point to a Giro. However, the 1988 USA market Giro is listed as using Formula Two tubing and not being available in white. While there is a possibility that the the tubeset was changed during the model year, we have seen examples of Formula Two models being manufacturted even later in the calendar year than the subject frame, so the Cromor would appear to be an anomaly, unless it is foreign market.

In my experience, the component least likely to be changed is the headset. The 1988 Giro (and Trofeo) were spec'd with Miche, while the Campione d'Italia was spec'd with Ofmega. I can't positively identify the headset from the photo but it may provide a useful clue.

Besides the Cromor decal there are some other decal anomalies. It's missing both the fork crown and stay cap decals. Of gourse, these could have been removed or fallen off but the presence of a 2nd (and crooked) Made In Italy decal, just below the tubing decal, is suspicious. Finally, there appears to be a spot of celeste in the upper corner of the Cromor decal. Is this damage to the Cromor decal showing underlying celeste paint or an underlying Formula Two declal?

Even if it didn't start life as a Giro, it is configured as a Giro.

markmdavis

T-Mar, thank you for your detailed response. I have just examined the headset and it IS Ofmega. That was a good hint. This bike has been around long enough that various parts may very well have been replaced but as you say probably not the headset. So that certainly tips the scale towards this being a '88 Campione d'Italia.

markmdavis

My friend Scott found me a NOS Campagnolo 52T (in its original packaging no less). Here it is installed on my bike a few days ago together with the Gebhardt 36T. Today I installed a 14-34 7-spd Shimano MegaRange freewheel cassette. We used a Wolftooth Roadlink to extend the reach of the Campy RD so it would work with the larger climbing gear. It took a bit of frigging around but we got it working smoothly.


Pics of the Shimano/Wolftooth combo coming soon.

markmdavis

Campy RD in climbing mode showing the Wolftooth Roadlink in action:

The bikes been cleaned up a bit since you first saw her:

I'm looking for some new bar tape. What are your thoughts on the Brooks Microfiber bar tape (to match the saddle)? Also need a new handlebar bag.....suggestions?

markmdavis

Thanks for the Velobase link, Wildwood. Excellent resource! It leads me to believe I think I have the Campy Victory S3 made in 1988.