Classic & Vintage - what to do with old bianchi road bike?

I have a 1987 bianchi strada - 8 speed, double chainring , cro-mo frame ,
it's heavy - 27 pounds.

the frame is 21 inches or 53/4 centimeters, and the stem is 9cm.

the handle bars are 38cm wide.

the reason i mention that is my new lemond is a 55cm, 56 measureed c-t, the stem is 12cm, the handlebars are 46cm wide.

the bianchi was always too small, now it feels ridiculously so when I compare it to my lemond.

anyway, I don't really want to part with it if there is something useful i could do with it - cyclocross maybe, or maybe just a more sturdy bike for short family rides when I dont' need to go fast.

obviously it's a quill stem , so if i keep it, i need a longer stem, but what about the handle bars?

how much weight could i save by swapping out parts?

any ideas will be appreciated.

Do the obvious.....convert it to a fixed gear.

Do the obvious.....convert it to a fixed gear.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM ... and the steady drum beat continues

-mark

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM ... and the steady drum beat continues

-markok,ok....I'll tone it down a bit.... but you might just be next... ;)

You could always fix it! But, if it were mine I'd just go ahead and FIX IT!!!!!


FIX IT, FIX IT, FIX IT!!!


Is it Fixed yet? Well, what are you waiting for...fix it already.

PJBAZ

would you be interested in parting with those 38cm handlebars? i like very narrow bars for urban commuting, but i am having a hard time finding ones that narrow.

Hmm, Strada huh? Cantilever brakes? If so, give the narrow bars to legalize_it, buy 46cm bars and knobbies for it, then go cyclocross racing in the fall. Or fix it like others have mentioned.

Hmm, Strada huh? Cantilever brakes? If so, give the narrow bars to legalize_it, buy 46cm bars and knobbies for it, then go cyclocross racing in the fall. Or fix it like others have mentioned.

i like that idea :)

I once had a friend who rode an old touring bike for 23 years. When he finally replaced it with a new Trek, he realized he couldn't part with the old bike, so he decided to end its life. The rumor was that he took it to a field, gave it a proper sermon, and shot it with a 22 caliber. Unfortunately for him, the bullet hit the seat post, returning back to hit him in the knee, and has never been the same rider since. The bike is still rusting in the field after 4 years. A serious biker. True story.

I wouldn't recommend this.

Cheers,

Urbanmonk

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM ... and the steady drum beat continues

-mark

Resistance is futile, you will be dederailerated.

Resistance is futile, you will be dederailerated.

I do have this older frame sitting around collecting dust ...

wait! what am I saying?

-mark

Wait! what am I saying?

-mark

It's how it starts. I'm working on fixie #2. Or SS #2.

Well I finally took it apart. stripped the old paint down to bare metal. got a can of rustoleum black spray paint, the 'hammered' version, the kind you can use without primer, they claim even right over rust, though I did spray rust remover on the frame first, and sprayed the frame, damn it looks pretty good I'm surprised. So now the decisions come. I 've got the BB taken apart of course, do I grease it up and reassemble or get a new/old one . I 'm not sure what will fit. the integrated type BB's I dont' think will fit as they are too thick in the middle. It's an english BB as this Bianchi was made in japan.
I 've got a nice 120cm cinelli stem for it, 44cm 3TTT prima handlebars, some new diacomple brake levers, I 'm sticking with the downtube shifter I love those things.

I may go with some new wheels , freewheel, derailleurs also.I 'm getting psyched.
it's not going to be a cross bike. just a kickass vintage roadie. Can't wait...