Classic & Vintage - A HUGE Thank You to a Fellow C&Ver

I would like to send a huge Thank You to ChicagoAl :thumb: who, despite his marital problems, was a big help to me last night. I stumbled across something on CL that I had to have but the seller would not ship. originally I had contacted Al as i was having trouble emailing the seller. Al offered to drop everything and rush right over and check it out. :)

a few hours later he called me from the sellers house and described in detail the condition of the bike and components. after confirming that the bike did indeed appear to be original Al and I came to terms on purchasing it. I immediately sent Al the funds to cover the purchase plus shipping. Al will try, again despite his difficulties at home, try and get me some better pics later today and get the bike packed and shipped for me also. :)

OH yes of course it is a Bianchi but you have to wait until I get it to see just what it is. it is not however a X-4 or a Centenario. :innocent:

thank you again Al for your invaluable assistance. :thumb:

Al do hope you will keep the details under your hat for me ;)

dames

That Al is a nice guy, and we're all hopeful he can patch things up with the Mrs. :)

And of course I already know what you're buying, but I won't spill your secret, BG. I even offered Al a box to ship it over to you.

Your secret is safe with me, BG, though I was surprised as I did not know Huffies came in that color. :)

BG, you're a total addict! Making me feel good about owning two bikes and wanting more.

That Al is a nice guy, and we're all hopeful he can patch things up with the Mrs. :)

And of course I already know what you're buying, but I won't spill your secret, BG. I even offered Al a box to ship it over to you.

gossip travels faster here then in the powderroom


BG, you're a total addict! Making me feel good about owning two bikes and wanting more.

your well on your way to becoming a addict too LOL.

uuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

pics or it didn't happen

How's this for a hint?

161853

The jigs up BG.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/huffy_green_machine_h20_3858.jpg

was it this one? ;)

http://www.hypebeast.com/image/2009/05/hypebeast-solebox-adidas-bianchi-bike-5.jpg

Here I am doing a little disassembly prior to packing it up. Going just great---BG will be so excited!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a47/moralpanic/fixed-gear-wales/sun-worksop-frame-restoration-2.jpg

was it this one? ;)

http://www.hypebeast.com/image/2009/05/hypebeast-solebox-adidas-bianchi-bike-5.jpg

I think that looks pretty nice, is that how it comes from the factory?

Har har har, congratulations Bianchi girl. I hope you have some industrial strength glue.



Here I am doing a little disassembly prior to packing it up. Going just great---BG will be so excited!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a47/moralpanic/fixed-gear-wales/sun-worksop-frame-restoration-2.jpg

OK OK all kidding aside it is actually this one,

http://images.craigslist.org/3nf3k53l95Z35T25W4a7red74feb8f94d15ba.jpg

the seller threw in the Panda for free!

I heard the the domestic situation has been fixed.
He now goes by Big Al and it had something to do with the pool table.

was it this one? ;)

http://www.hypebeast.com/image/2009/05/hypebeast-solebox-adidas-bianchi-bike-5.jpg

To be quite honest, that scheme looks quite good. Startling, but visually appealing.

-Kurt

How's this for a hint?

161853
Are my eyes deceivng me or does that bike look...."Ashtabulated"!.....
Didn't think BG was into that "non-modern" stuff.

Chombi

Credit where credit is due department: Primitive Don offered me a box and some packing material including those little plastic dealies, which I picked up last night, so BG and I both owe him thanks. Always happy to meet a C&Ver.

The box turned out to be just a little tighter fit than I was comfortable with, so I went to my LBS (which I might as well name as the extremely helpful Iron Cycles) and got a slightly bigger one. With the plastic pieces on the axle ends, seattube and stem openings, and in the fork dropouts, and a pretty full Miami Jim approach, the bike fit just right into that box, and the other box got cut up into extra reinforcement.

It's now on its way to BG, and I'm sure she'll love it, even if it does mean she is changing her name to Giant Hybrid Girl.

thank you again Al and Don two true gentlemen of the C&V world.

I would like to say that while this thread was intended to give Kudos to ChicagoAl I am very glad everyone is having a good time joking and having a general good time.

I do promise as soon as I get the Giant Hybrid unpacked I will start posting pics.

See, you guys thought I was kidding. I never kid.*


162084


*j/k

Close, but it has a CycleArts repaint in Celeste --


The jigs up BG.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/huffy_green_machine_h20_3858.jpg

I heard the the domestic situation has been fixed.
He now goes by Big Al and it had something to do with the pool table.

The Big Al moniker has already been taken by another Chicago cyclist. For those Chicagoans that know Big Al, everyone knows him right?, there can only be one Big Al.

Sorry Alan but the real Big Al is a Chicago cycling legend.

do not let that grinder and humble Geeaunt' box fool you. it appears ChicagoAl has outdone himself in preparing this to ship.

and I guess Miamijim is owed a thank you as Al used his packing and shipping thread to get it ready to go.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=162153&d=1280414347

Unwrap it already!!!

I see celeste paint and housings...

Wow, what a thorough packing job! Look at all that pipe insulation.

Hmmm, I may have to call on your services again. There is a bike in Chicago that I am interested in, though I could come pick it up instead of having you pack. Currently, I am waiting for a reply...

Unwrap it already!!!

I see celeste paint and housings...

it is still on the FedEx truck (they would not ship via Helicopter and land on my deck LOL) those pics were sent to me by Al

Hello Everyone. well as they say in NASA "the Bianchi has landed". with further ado and still dirty and dusty just out of the shipping mummification job that ChicagoAl did I give you my 'New toMe' :love:

1988 Bianchi Trofeo in "Argentin Celeste". Bianchi/Columbus Formula Two tubing, a mix (typical of the period) of Suntour Sprint 9000 derailleurs and shifters, Ofmega cranks and Modolo brakes.

(I can't get my laptop to open my SD card so these are the pics Al sent me wednsday)

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=162405&d=1280536874

BG, of course you are very very welcome.

What a beauty. Glad I got to handle and look at her for a little while. I am a little tortured by the possibility that the 'mystery Bianchi' that I didn't grab :eek: off Chicago CL last December was this model, and in my size too. Well, another one will come along someday. Maybe.

I am trying very hard NOT to buy up every appealing bike that comes along though, and so this was a fun opportunity to vicariously share in the thrill of the capture. Kind of a C&V 'catch and release' if you will. Also got to learn about the bike packing and shipping process, which I would not hesitate to undertake in the future. Some time, some materials, a good box, and FedEx Ground--you're all set!

ps: Shipping from Chicago to near-NJ Pennsylvania was less than $40, with delivery in just two days, hard to beat that.

Fork looks bent.



:innocent:

ps: Shipping from Chicago to near-NJ Pennsylvania was less than $40, with delivery in just two days, hard to beat that.

When BG sent me the Club Fuji I bought from her it was $42 I think from NJ to Minneapolis...and I think it took 2-3 days as well. Yeah, not bad. Living in the middle of the country has a few benefits. Chicago Al and I don't have to ship coast-to-coast :)

BG,

I love this bike. There's a guy in my town who has the exact same one, and one day I saw the bike parked outside Safeway. I chatted him up about it, as I'm often wont to do, and he let me know he picked it up at a garage sale in Portland. For $20.

I really like the Sprint 9000 stuff and am trying to track down a donor bike with it. Will you be running it indexed?

I hope so! I have not done anything to it just yet but I am really hoping the index works OK. Al seemed to think it was OK. the worst I'll do is slide in some shimano 7spd cassette tubular wheels and put a pair of Sachs Rival shifters on it. then no one will likely know it is not Suntour.

when he said he paid $20 did you offer hime $40?

I guess I have to bump this. perhaps no one noticed I posted pics of the bike

I was out of town this weekend riding with a ladyfriend and missed this. Woohoo BG! I like the modern-ness. Modernity?

But, BG...you did RIDE the bike this weekend, right? Right???

Oh no I didn't :(. that is not to say I didn't ride, I just have not given this Trofeo the TLC it deserves. my Windstar brokedown yesterday so I have an extra day off and I am going to strip it today and overhaul the HS and BB. clean and wax it.

also I have to order come cables. any of you other Bianchi fans have experience with the Jagwire Celeste cables? how is the color?