Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - WTFNOOB's broke Bianchi build

First and foremost, hello. I just recently signed up to the forum and finding it an excellent resource. This will be my official build thread for my first fixed gear bicycle. I am still learning about bikes, so bear with me. If you have advice or anything that can help me with this build, by all means, post in here. I'm not an expert and I will probably do things wrong, after all, this is the first time I took up a project like this.

Got this 49mm Bianchi frame for 40 bucks (not the best deal). I later realized that it might be a little too small for me. It's a heavy frame for it's size (7.7lbs with fork and headset). I tried finding more information about the frame, however came up with very little with the help of the guys in C&V forum:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=470612

It appears to be a circa 1984 Canadian market Bici I. What is the seat post diameter?
I still need to borrow the appropriate tool to measure the seat post diameter. =(

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0677.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0684.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0699.jpg

Began stripping the frame of all the unnecessary components and of it's paint. No bead blasting or acid dip.
The end result:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0734.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0742.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0738.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0737.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0736.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0732.jpg


Should be painted shortly. Stay tuned.

The only good thing about that bike (other than being a Bianchi) was the beautiful color... and you went and stripped it. Why? So it can match your Veeeeeeeeee's?

Im doing a similar conversion with a Motobecane right now. Trying to figure out how to save the badge, probably just mask it off. Must admit thats a nice lookin bike.

That was a nice frame:( I hope you do such a classy frame justice, and dont do a jackassed build/paintjob on it.

Wow, thats sad.

lol noone ever wins on bf.

The only good thing about that bike (other than being a Bianchi) was the beautiful color... and you went and stripped it. Why? So it can match your Veeeeeeeeee's?

I guess I should emphasize on how low budget this build really is. I'm aiming the bike, once completed, to have cost less than a set of the Deep V wheels. I would of kept the paint as is, however I wanted to get rid of the wirestops because I refuse to wear a top tube pad.

no rear brake for you then?

Could someone explain why that paint job was stripped? Wtf? Someone please punch the OP in the face. Crime against humanity good god.

eh it was a pretty ho hum frame in the first place...

Eh. To be honest, if I was the OP, I would've stripped it too. I can't say I like the color much.

What are your plans for the build?

the username is so fitting...

I'm glad you stripped it. That cornflower blue sucks.

i love how people don't read posts on forums.

and yeah, i don't like the blue either.

in fact, i don't like any of bianchi's colors instead of white...

eh it was a pretty ho hum frame in the first place...
Exactly, I'm not sure why others can't see this.
That Bianchi is a low end model. It had rust building around the dings. However, to entertain the bored losers crying about this POS frame, the decals were in amazing condition, I had a sweet ass time peeling them off.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0689.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0696.jpg

no rear brake for you then?
Fixed gear, don't really need a rear brake. The front should be enough for what the bike will be used for.


Eh. To be honest, if I was the OP, I would've stripped it too. I can't say I like the color much.

What are your plans for the build?
I have a few parts laying around for it, I won't tell you which ones just yet - as I may not even use them on this bike. I still need to find some wheels, which will probably take a good chunk out of my budget. The paint will be plain 'universal' white. I had other colors laying around, I was planing on using the OEM green Acura paint: http://www.emenki.com/cbw/CustomGreenTaillights1.jpg . However, that would mean I would need borrow an air compressor (I have the gun) from someone as it's not in a rattle can.

I wouldn't have stripped it, but thats because I'm lazy and sanding bike frames sucks not because this is some wonderful historical piece. I thought the blue looked nice though.

How small is a little too small?

I wouldn't have stripped it, but thats because I'm lazy and sanding bike frames sucks not because this is some wonderful historical piece. I thought the blue looked nice though.

How small is a little too small?

I would probably fit better on a 52cm.

I'm looking forward to following this build, we need more threads like this.

Wrong sized frame so you are wasting your time anyways but you could have sold it for a few bucks more than you paid since it is a Bianchi but you ruined it instead.

Most appropriate user name. Ever. EVER. EVER.

Are you good with an airbrush? Since you went through all the trouble of stripping the original paint, I hope you do something more than just repaint with a single flat color. Get creative, use two or three colors and set up patterns and contrasts that direct attention to the prettier parts of the frame, like the headtube and seatube lugs. Personally I like white-to-anything fades, you really can't go wrong with white.

Are you good with an airbrush? Since you went through all the trouble of stripping the original paint, I hope you do something more than just repaint with a single flat color. Get creative, use two or three colors and set up patterns and contrasts that direct attention to the prettier parts of the frame, like the headtube and seatube lugs. Personally I like white-to-anything fades, you really can't go wrong with white.

That was something I wanted to do. However, I can't come up with any interesting ideas that would be easy to pull of (other than the simple outlining of lugs). I don't know anyone with an airbrush, or anyone who has experience with one. It's probably not to difficult to learn, so I may consider it. The other option, is having an artist friend pinstripe something along the frame. He also offered to paint the Bianchi badge back on, which sounds like a good idea to me.

I guess something along these lines would be pretty nice, yet subtle:

http://www.waterfordbikes.com/images/rs/rs2khd.jpg
http://www.waterfordbikes.com/images/rs/rs2000.jpg
http://www.waterfordbikes.com/images/style_styps1.jpg
http://www.waterfordbikes.com/images/style_styps3.jpg

If you have any other ideas please post them up, I would love to hear them.

Wrong sized frame so you are wasting your time anyways but you could have sold it for a few bucks more than you paid since it is a Bianchi but you ruined it instead.

Most appropriate user name. Ever. EVER. EVER.

Most contributing post. Ever. EVER. EVER.

You should just get a Waterford frame:rolleyes:

The frame actually weighs almost 8lbs? Damn..

You should just get a Waterford frame:rolleyes:
I should start using a variety of examples.
http://www.cyclart.com/ParamountstripedDT.jpg
http://www.cyclart.com/ParamountstripedHT.jpg
http://urbanvelo.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/desalvoside.jpg

The frame actually weighs almost 8lbs? Damn..
Frameset (fork, headset, frame). Frame is around 5lbs, I don't remember the exact figure.

How exactly did you strip this bike? Heat gun or just sanding? I've been working on sanding down a frame by hand because I don't trust myself with chemicals (I spill stuff a lot)... but I've been having a hell of a time getting right up next to some of the lugs and inside the drops.

How exactly did you strip this bike? Heat gun or just sanding? I've been working on sanding down a frame by hand because I don't trust myself with chemicals (I spill stuff a lot)... but I've been having a hell of a time getting right up next to some of the lugs and inside the drops.

Started by sanding down the tubes, and sanded down as much as I could, skipping the hard to reach areas. I didn't want to use chemicals on the whole bike.
Than I tried using the aircraft paint remover on the hard to reach spots, but it didn't work too well.
http://www.tcpglobal.com/autobodydepot/images/KLEQAR343.JPG
I found that the metal brush attachment on the dremel makes life alot easier, especially with the hard to reach corners.
http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/293654_front200.jpg
95% of it all was sand paper. 320 and 220 grit.

You appear to be a poor man with expensive tastes

jk

Could be Ishiwata tubing.

If you are really broke, wouldn't it have made more sense to keep the original paint instead of buying aircraft paint stripper, sand paper, primer, paint, and clear coat?

Maybe I'm wrong and you have all of that already.

If you are really broke, wouldn't it have made more sense to keep the original paint instead of buying aircraft paint stripper, sand paper, primer, paint, and clear coat?

Maybe I'm wrong and you have all of that already.


I have too much of that stuff laying around in my garage. Probably enough to strip and paint 3 more frames.

Getting a 40mm 2008 Bianchi Pista track bar today. FREE!

looking good friend1 get er painted i wanna see.

I like threads like this. Wish more people would document their builds. I have an 80's Panasonic frame that same size. It "almost" fit me, but was an uncomfortable ride. Hope this works out for you

"I would of kept the paint as is, however I wanted to get rid of the wirestops because I refuse to wear a top tube pad."
what the hell is that supposed to mean? why would leaving cable guides on the bike necessitate a top tube pad?

"I would of kept the paint as is, however I wanted to get rid of the wirestops because I refuse to wear a top tube pad."
what the hell is that supposed to mean? why would leaving cable guides on the bike necessitate a top tube pad?

Wouldnt want to snag the family jewels on those. :eek::twitchy:

good frame for a g-narly single speed project--- paint it dull italian purple with gun metal v's
cut and flip cinelli 44's -- shine all the aluminum-- high gloss db swiss shiney spokes---
think vintage- yet messenger style-- lets race--- you run a 53-18 with white ind.freewheel...
outstanding frame-- good size for tricks and jumping.... good show... do it, do it.................

^ummm.........

good frame for a g-narly single speed project--- paint it dull italian purple with gun metal v's
cut and flip cinelli 44's -- shine all the aluminum-- high gloss db swiss shiney spokes---
think vintage- yet messenger style-- lets race--- you run a 53-18 with white ind.freewheel...
outstanding frame-- good size for tricks and jumping.... good show... do it, do it.................

X-Treme post of the month

^ummm.........

I see you've just met G piny parnas, bikeforums.com's resident mouth-breather!

I guess I should emphasize on how low budget this build really is. I'm aiming the bike, once completed, to have cost less than a set of the Deep V wheels. I would of kept the paint as is, however I wanted to get rid of the wirestops because I refuse to wear a top tube pad.

Hold on. I thought top tube pads went on bikes.

G piny parnas....

....zip-a-dee, YAY!

Just got the 2008 Bianchi Pista drop bars.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/buryak/PICT0755.jpg

Total cost of the project is still at $40. =)

Total cost of the project is still at $40. =)

Unless you've got a stem with a removable faceplate, be prepared to add a couple of rolls of bar tape to that budget. =(

Nice bars, though. Looking forward to seeing this build. Keep us posted.

Unless you've got a stem with a removable faceplate, be prepared to add a couple of rolls of bar tape to that budget. =(

Nice bars, though. Looking forward to seeing this build. Keep us posted.

I'll try to reuse it, since the tape is fairly new.

OP, are you from Baltimore?

why put track parts on a road conversion? i have no ill feeling towards conversions like some people, but it seems a bit silly to make a road bike look like a track bike. granted, those bars were free and this is a budget build, so you make do with what you have, but track drops are going to look dumb in the long run.

who cares, it's free.