Classic & Vintage - 1994(or thereabouts) Bianchi Campione D'Italia all Italian Build!

So although this bike is almost complete, I have decided to create a build thread. This started out as a lonely frame I won on ebay and had no initial plans for it. For about a week it sat in the backseat of my hatchback under a blanket so no one would know I had it. I guess the Campy bug bit me during that time and decided I wanted to build it with DT shifters. But I also wanted a modern shifting bike. I recently put a pair of 9 speed Dura ace DT shifters on my Crosscheck and fell in love with shifting a modern drivetrain with a pair of dt shifters, especially friction front shifting. I knew from previous sleuthing that it was possible to use bar-end shifters without their pods as dts. While I was researching that more(and discovering that it would be very expensive), I figured out a better way. The indexing gear in every dt/bar-end shifter is the same(adjusting the gear for increments of speed) post '94(?). I bought a pair of nos veloce shifters from campyoldy and a 10 speed index gear from branford bikes. Everything else on the bike has just been good deals as I find them. So far all the components are italian with the exception of the stem and rims(both mavic) For now I will leave you with a few pictures of the frame after I un-boxed it at work. More later.

http://i.imgur.com/rhFtn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/USXUV.jpg
That crack is only in the plastic covering of the headset, nothing disastrous

Like!...Techy gearing stuff, mixing components, good stuff. I’d look at the drivetrain you hope to use and work backwards. Double, triple? If you’re going 9 spd, there may be issues. At least you have the DA barcons. In friction mode, I believe they can do anything.:thumb:

I forgot to mention that I have pretty much every part required for this bike. Record 10speed RD, Record FD, Veloce crankset, Veloce 8speed shifters with 10 speed gear,Record wheelset, Veloce brakeset, C-Record seatpost, chorus cassette(in the mail!), modolo levers, cinelli bars(in the mail!).

Pictures of components/bike in almost-complete state later.

Nice. Frame looks to be in awesome shape.

Frame looks great, but I'm not digging that unicrown style fork. Would it be blasphemous to change out the fork with an earlier one (from another Bianchi) with a nice investment cast sloping fork crown instead? A fully chromed fork would also brighten the bike nicely.........Just a suggestion...

Chombi.

I'm not so into the fork either, but its what came with the frame and i havent found a suitable replacement.

I'm not so into the fork either, but its what came with the frame and i havent found a suitable replacement.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_174894_-1___

Don't think I want to put a carbon fork on here. I'm going to measure the rake when I get home and see about finding a chrome replacement .

Don't think I want to put a carbon fork on here. I'm going to measure the rake when I get home and see about finding a chrome replacement .

In addition to measuring original fork rake, take a measurement of the frame HTA and perhaps consider a replacement with a non-original rake to better optimize the fork trail measurement to suit your purpose. Plug the HTA and rake into fork trail calculator at;
http://yojimg.net/bike/web_tools/trailcalc.php

Large manufactures are notorious for using identically raked forks over all sizes/angles of thier frame rather than custom fitting the rake to the HTA to achieve a specific desired trail, sometimes produces less than optimal trail. Also take into account the fork A-C measurement and consider what change that may cause if you go to a shorter A-C fork, unicrown forks tend to have a rather large A-C. 20mm change of A-C will alter your frame angles by 1 degree.

Maybe one of these would work: http://www.retro-gression.com/category/frames-forks

Aesthetics nonwithstanding, I have heard from a few people that upgrading the stock steel fork with a carbon one was almost de rigueur among roadies in the 1990s.

Purdy!!

I also think it'll look better with a chrome fork instead of CF. But don't rush into it until who've ridden it with the original fork.

In addition to measuring original fork rake, take a measurement of the frame HTA and perhaps consider a replacement with a non-original rake to better optimize the fork trail measurement to suit your purpose. Plug the HTA and rake into fork trail calculator at;
http://yojimg.net/bike/web_tools/trailcalc.php

Large manufactures are notorious for using identically raked forks over all sizes/angles of thier frame rather than custom fitting the rake to the HTA to achieve a specific desired trail, sometimes produces less than optimal trail. Also take into account the fork A-C measurement and consider what change that may cause if you go to a shorter A-C fork, unicrown forks tend to have a rather large A-C. 20mm change of A-C will alter your frame angles by 1 degree.

I knew about trying to get measurements the same, but I hadn't thought about changing the rake for a more suitable ride. Thanks for that link.


Maybe one of these would work: http://www.retro-gression.com/category/frames-forks

Superficia I know, but I want something with a Columbus decal on it.


Purdy!!

I also think it'll look better with a chrome fork instead of CF. But don't rush into it until who've ridden it with the original fork.

Thanks! Im def not going to replace it in the near future, it will be later on down the road, I'l probably get a campy hs at the same time.

Promised pictures:

shifters:
http://i.imgur.com/OjV7n.jpg
RD:
http://i.imgur.com/ZXHpE.jpg
FD:
http://i.imgur.com/c5of2.jpg
Cranks(rings coming! Thanks thirdgenbird!)
http://i.imgur.com/WBJPe.jpg
Relatively complete bike:
http://i.imgur.com/5rYvZ.jpg
I have a matching pair of wheels coming from DC, I bought a front hub to build a matching wheel to the back one, but it's cheaper this way. I also have some Cinelli bars coming and have a cinelli to replace that mile long Mavic

Looks nice!

It looks much better with that silver wheel. I don't much care for the black one it replaced, black with silver brake track, eww

that looks great. i love that color. hopefully your rings arrive by saturday.

this bike makes me second think selling my record bar end shifters. i currently have them on pauls thumbies (the original mounts cracked) but they would make good downtubes. ive got both an 8 and a 10spd ring for them.

Nice frame and a good build you've got going. Interesting tweak with downtube shifters on a 10 speed setup. Looks classic.

This is going to be nice! I'm really digging the mismatched modern campy.

Thanks y'all(My true colors are showing)

Hopefully my cassette comes in next week and I can take care of a slight problem with the seatpost clamp so I can get this beast rolling!

Lookin' good!!! How long is that stem? Looks like a 140.

I have a question concerning my seatpost clamp issue. My binder bolt is about 28mm wide fully tightened. My problem is that when tightened fully, it doesn't catch the frame on the side being tightened. It had about 1mm of washers on the side being tightened between the head of the bolt and the frame. With another 1mm washer, I was able to get the post to at least stay in position, but with a slight touch, it moves. I wanted to eventually get a Campagnolo bolt, so I guess now's my chance. The campy bolts are 19mm, will that work?


Lookin' good!!! How long is that stem? Looks like a 140.

Its a 130 I bought off of craigslist for 5 bucks. The ad said it was a cinelli, but no big deal, same clamp size.

My binder bolt is about 28mm wide fully tightened. My problem is that when tightened fully, it doesn't catch the frame on the side being tightened.The campy bolts are 19mm, will that work?

When I had this problem I used a bench grinder to shorten both the "nut" and "bolt" end of my binder until it all worked together.

Estimate that when tightened, the ears are about 25mm wide. Guess that when the Campy bolt is tightened all the way to 19mm the "bolt" part is flush with the outside of the "nut" part.

If those guesses and estimates are correct, you'd have 13mm of thread engagement in the middle of the Campy bolt with the seat tight. I don't know how much is enough, but that's half an inch... I'd ride it. :)

I always loved that color and I am pretty sure the year is correct '94. I believe that was the only year they uses the full title and not simply Campione on a Japanese (or wherever bike)

I am sure someone brought this up but the color would be the biggest issue on the fork. finding a nice crowned crhome fork can be pricey but if you really want to do it I would use the Soma Staight Blade track fork for about $150ish

BTW your making me feel bad about only going with Veloce on my Batavus build

I am sure someone brought this up but the color would be the biggest issue on the fork. finding a nice crowned crhome fork can be pricey but if you really want to do it I would use the Soma Staight Blade track fork for about $150ish

If all goes according to plan, I'd have a chrome fork, so color wouldn't be an issue. I have a nice tange on my track bike I may cannibalize.

Thanks for the comments, so far I've spent less than 800 dollars on her.

I that Tange fork drilled for a brake? also the rake and trail are likely to be very different if it is a track fork

Well now, it's not a 1995. My 1995 Campione d'Italia has the full name decal on, but it's Dedacciai tubes and a clamp-on FD. Fork looks about the same. Also, I don't have adjustable rear dropouts.
234947
All that aside, it's a wonderful ride...You should enjoy that for many miles.

I that Tange fork drilled for a brake? also the rake and trail are likely to be very different if it is a track fork

It's drilled and is a road fork, I need to measure bot to make sure they are the same. I estimate the tange to be about 41mm, but I know for a fact right now the axle to crown heights are different.

http://i.imgur.com/hOnit.jpg

My rings came in from thirdgenbird! Thanks! Just waiting on my cassette and this should be rolling.

My rings came in from thirdgenbird! Thanks! Just waiting on my cassette and this should be rolling.

good! now i can "release" the funds and get my saddle in route.

A flite for chainrings!

I also have a new, to me, wheelset coming from a friend in DC, he snagged them off craigslist. The front hub is a C-Record and the rear is a Chorus 9/10 speed, both are laced to 28 hole Mavic Open SUP rims.

A flite for chainrings!

I also have a new, to me, wheelset coming from a friend in DC, he snagged them off craigslist. The front hub is a C-Record and the rear is a Chorus 9/10 speed, both are laced to 28 hole Mavic Open SUP rims.

you got it!!!

your wheelset will be a lot like the one i am putting on my tommasini. it has a NOS 28h chorus/athena hub from the early 90s and a NOS 28h record 10spd hub. to top it off, ive got the same shifters, brake levers, derailleurs, and had those crank arms till about noon today. i could have build a bianchi cyclocross bike that was almost identical to your build.

long story short, you have good taste.

Well thank you. My other half keeps eyeing this bike with jealousy, too bad she's only 5' 4.5".

Well thank you. My other half keeps eyeing this bike with jealousy, too bad she's only 5' 4.5".

mine liked it as well but she is probably too tall for it.

It's easy to make a small frame larger, but not a big frame smaller. I'm sure she could ride it with the seat slammed.

Bikepedia has each year listed. I found out that the "new" CdI I bought in 97 is actually a 95. Here's the listing for the 94, but the colors aren't listed for that year:
http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=1994&Brand=Bianchi&Model=Campione%20d%27Italia&Type=bike

That's why the title reads "1994(or thereabouts)..." because while I'm pretty sure its a '94, I cant be certain.

The colors are listed for all the other years, and purple is not among them, so I think you can call yours a 94 with confidence.

I don't remember if the seller said it was a '94 or not, but I do remember looking at bikepedia and coming to that same conclusion.

Great bike!

Thanks.

I got my Cinelli bars in this morning. Still waiting on that cassette, does it usually take this long to ship something as small as a cassette from Canada to Texas?

So, my cassette arrived...




...in a halfway opened envelope. The cassette was just loosely thrown into the envelope too, no zip ties, twine, nothin'.

Here is the auction photo:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/CAMPAGNOLO-CASSETTE-10s-12-23-/00/s/NTAyWDUwMA==/$(KGrHqJHJB!E7)yMCL4iBPEQwCsbNg~~60_12.JPG

Here is what I got:
http://i.imgur.com/YW2Gd.jpg

Yeah, I have no idea where the spacers go, I'll take a picture of the spacers in a sec.

There is an amber 2.55mm spacer, two black 2.4mm spacers, a black 1.6mm spacer, and four black spacers with no markings on them. I cant measure them because I don't have a pair of digital calipers, just regular ones.

Yeah, I have no idea where the spacers go, I'll take a picture of the spacers in a sec.

There is an amber 2.55mm spacer, two black 2.4mm spacers, a black 1.6mm spacer, and four black spacers with no markings on them. I cant measure them because I don't have a pair of digital calipers, just regular ones.

Scroll to the bottom here
(http://branfordbike.com/articles/cassettes-and-cogs-pg60.htm)

Scroll to the bottom here
(http://branfordbike.com/articles/cassettes-and-cogs-pg60.htm)

Awesome, thanks!

My cassette doesn't match any of those diagrams, the seller said the cassette was a chorus(although he didn't seem too sure of it), but my cassette doesn't include any of the alloy spacers branford says it should. It doesnt match any of the tooth counts on the diagrams also, mine is a 12-25. Also inconsistent with the diagrams is I have all loose cogs

My cassette doesn't match any of those diagrams, the seller said the cassette was a chorus(although he didn't seem too sure of it), but my cassette doesn't include any of the alloy spacers branford says it should. It doesnt match any of the tooth counts on the diagrams also, mine is a 12-25. Also inconsistent with the diagrams is I have all loose cogs

sounds like a newer centaur. lay the parts out and snap a pic. the lock ring is not campy.

are any of the cogs joined on an alloy carrier?

I'll snap a pic. None of the cogs are joined.

I'll snap a pic. None of the cogs are joined.

that makes it a late centaur or veloce cassette

from smallest cog to largest you should have four small black spacers, then one amber one, then two thick black spacers with four tabs on it, and then one thin black spacer with tabs.

mind me asking what you payed? you may have gotten ripped off.

http://i.imgur.com/nfvo1.jpg

The 4 small black spacers seem to be 2.4mm