General Cycling Discussion - Just picked up a new(used) bike!

Not sure where I should have posted this. This will be my commuter, my tourer, and my rodie. So since cross posting is a big "no-no" I have elected to post it here in the General forum.

Just picked up this Bianchi San Remo. Not sure of the year. It has a lugged chromo frame, Campagnolo Mirage groupo. Blackburn racks front and rear. Ritchy clipless pedals. Mavic GP4 rear rim. Campagnolo Topaz 6000 series front rim. Iso Tech 3 Tire on the front and a Rhino on the back. It also has a Profile aero-bar on it. Paid $150.00.

I took it out for a quick 8 mile spin this evening. Wow! I'm in love! This is not a very good photo. I'll post some better ones tomarrow.

Good deal, I just bought a 2002 Fuji Roubaix today its in very good shape took it out for a 14 mile ride today and it worked wonders for me. I have tried the aluminum frames and steel frames and I can honestly say steel works for me, of course where I live the roads are crap so when I go over a crack in the road there is more give on the bike instead of me. I didn't get the carbon fiber fork today but will in future. Got a new seat and such, I am very happy with my purchase. Adding the helment the the total game to $660, the bike alone was $450, a brand new mint Fuji Roubaix goes for a bout $1300 and I was happy with the LBS that sold it to me and they have a very respectable background.

Nice bike at a great price! Lugged steel frames are great. Strange tire combination on it though :D
Aren't the chainstays a little short for panniers?

Nice bike at a great price! Lugged steel frames are great. Strange tire combination on it though :D
Aren't the chain-stays a little short for panniers?

Thanks.

I think the person that had it before me just through some old crummy tires on they had laying around. I'll be putting new rubber on, for sure.

The chain stays seem to be fine. I am running my panniers commuting today with no problems. Actually, I think the San Remo is Touring specific geometry. Notice the large space behind the seat stay before the wheel. Also the cantilever brakes and the wide spacing on the fork and seat stays to allow for fender installation. It also has 3 "water bottle" mount locations.

Now if I could just figure out what year it is. Anyone know how to do that with a Bianchi?

http://www.gtc-mhc.org/n7cz/bianchi1.jpg

http://www.gtc-mhc.org/n7cz/bianchi1.jpg

I don't know why Bianchi stopped making the San Remo. It's better than the Volpe and lighter. I like my Volpe but would have purchased the Remo if it were available.

I like the idea of a fatter rear tire for a tourer because that's were all the flats seem to happen. I did that on my Univega and will do it again on my other bikes. You do lose some performance but a tourer should have heavier rubber anyway.

Department store bikes are costing as much as you paid but your bike is waaaaaay better. What a steal!

All right!

Big step up from your '78 10 speed, if I remember correctly.

So, when are you going to tour to Colorado and we can ride together?

Ya, now that I look at it closer I see the brakes and nice gap between tire and seat stay.I just saw the shifters and didn't think tourbike. I don't know much about Bianchi except they make race bikes and I've seen a few hybrids here and there. I would email Bianchi with the serial numbers and they should be able to tell tou everything you could want to know about that fine steed. bianchi@bianchi.com (bianchi@bianchi.com)

Other than the touring geometry (and the color), that San Remo looks a lot like my CDI (Campione D'Italia). The only difference in gruppo is the triple on yours. I'm going to guess mid 90s, since anything much older than 95 wouldn't have Mirage.

All right!

Big step up from your '78 10 speed, if I remember correctly.

So, when are you going to tour to Colorado and we can ride together?

Hey Denver! That sounds like fun, as long as you take it easy on me. :D
Actually I am going to eastern Oklahoma the end of September for the bikejournal.com First Union get together and ride. Sounds like we'll have 2 centuries back to back and some shorter stuff either side of them. The other option, is you come up here and tour Montana with me!

Your right! It is a HUGE upgrade from my 1978 Raleigh Grand Prix!



Ya, now that I look at it closer I see the brakes and nice gap between tire and seat stay.I just saw the shifters and didn't think tourbike.

Yep. You do have to look close. The differences are small in appearance, but big in performance. The shifters are part of the Campy Mirage groupo. They are simular to the Shimano Sora shifters as they have the thumb lever on the inside of the housing. This should not be a problem since I probably won't be shifting from the drops. (not racing)




I don't know why Bianchi stopped making the San Remo. It's better than the Volpe and lighter. I like my Volpe but would have purchased the Remo if it were available.

I like the idea of a fatter rear tire for a tourer because that's were all the flats seem to happen. I did that on my Univega and will do it again on my other bikes. You do lose some performance but a tourer should have heavier rubber anyway.

Department store bikes are costing as much as you paid but your bike is waaaaaay better. What a steal!

Thats interesting information, Steve. Thanks. I need to get replacement tubes and new rubber. The rear tire has no markings left on the sidewall, so will have to guess at the size.

I was happy to rescue this baby. They also had a Trek 1000 that they wanted $350.00 for. It was about a 2000 model with a 26" Planet Bike fender on the back. It also had funky stickers all over it. Told them they were nuts!




Other than the touring geometry (and the color), that San Remo looks a lot like my CDI (Campione D'Italia). The only difference in gruppo is the triple on yours. I'm going to guess mid 90s, since anything much older than 95 wouldn't have Mirage.


Cool! Thanks for the info! I sure rides awsome! Well, compared to my old 10 speed! :D

I've never met a Bianchi I didn't like. Nice bike!

I've never met a Bianchi I didn't like. Nice bike!
:lol:

Thanks.

I think the person that had it before me just through some old crummy tires on they had laying around. I'll be putting new rubber on, for sure.

The chain stays seem to be fine. I am running my panniers commuting today with no problems. Actually, I think the San Remo is Touring specific geometry. Notice the large space behind the seat stay before the wheel. Also the cantilever brakes and the wide spacing on the fork and seat stays to allow for fender installation. It also has 3 "water bottle" mount locations.

Now if I could just figure out what year it is. Anyone know how to do that with a Bianchi?

A very nice buy!..when I owned my store we sold the Bianchi brand. This color scheme was used for a few years. I'd ball park it around 97-99. Price about $650-700 (approximate). The bike was touring bike specific geometry, meaning very comfy ride unloaded and good control with bike loaded with panniers. A definite weak point is the brake system. The cantilevers mated with the campy ergo brake levers result in insufficient leverage to stop the bike as quickly as say, sidepulls. To remedy this, there's a "widget" (for the life of me, I can't recall the name) that increases the mechanical advantage of the brake levers resulting in better braking. You would absolutely, positively want this "widget" if you ever put packs on it, because without it, you'll continue to scream down the hill past the stop sign...well, you get the idea...

Yowza. Nice bike - especially for $150. Looks like it fits you too, which is an important factor in buying a bike at any price.

A very nice buy!..when I owned my store we sold the Bianchi brand. <snip>
Thanks for the great info, Tom. Do you know if those "widgets" are available to purchase any place? Bianchi San Remo=Sweet ride :D. Not being able to stop coming off McDonald Pass=bad :(


Yowza. Nice bike - especially for $150. Looks like it fits you too, which is an important factor in buying a bike at any price.

Hey Mike! Where ya been, sir?
Thanks. It fits nice. If it did not fit, I would not have purchased it. I don't know if you noticed in the photos, but in the first one, it still had the bars extended up pretty high. I lowered them all the way down to a more comfortable position. When they were up, I felt like I was driving a truck. :rolleyes:

I made a few more adjustments this morning before the commute to work. Slid the sadle back and raised it another cm. Also changed my cleat position moving it forward .5 cm. Felt pretty good. I am going to ride it with these settings for the rest of the week. I'll re-evaluate this weekend.

Good to hear from you! Take care.

Thanks for the great info, Tom. Do you know if those "widgets" are available to purchase any place?

I'll do a little research...call my former store and get some details..I'll be back in touch

After some research, it appears that the devices which you could attach to your cantilever brakes to increase the mechanical advantage of your Campy Ergo brake levers are no longer made. The most elegant solution was the World Class V-Daptor.

However, all is not lost, another way to get increased braking power would be to buy a set of V-brakes
(lots of price points available) and add a gadget called the "Travel Agent" which is a small pulley arrangement that you would add to the front and rear brake (you'll need two). This would permit you to use your present Campy levers and realize increased braking power. See link below for picture of "Travel Agent".


http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=2647&subcategory_ID=5221

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=2647&subcategory_ID=5221

Last link doesn't seem to work, try this one....

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=2647&subcategory_ID=5221

Last link doesn't seem to work, try this one....


Wow, thanks Tom! You didn't have to go through all that trouble. I sure appreciate it. I do intend to do some touring. I am thinking about a small one this year. Say from here to Lolo, Montana where the in-laws live. Then perhaps something a bit longer next year. I've had thoughts of an west to east tour of Montana. This bike opens up so many possibilities!

Thanks again!

Bob

Nice looking ride, N7! Great upgrade for you, and I'm sure it'll give you a lot of good service.

More pics!

Nice looking ride, N7! Great upgrade for you, and I'm sure it'll give you a lot of good service.

More pics!

Hey Stu! Man, you have been working to hard. I'm almost caught up to you on Activebody.org! Hot on your heels, as they say. :p

Yep, its a great upgrade. Still dialing things in. I'm getting real close.