wildpanda86

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum.

I have an old Bianchi Sport SX in Celeste... seems to be in pretty mint condition that I got for free. It is pretty much all original with Shimano Exage drivetrain, brakes, and biopace gears. The drivetrain still shifts very nicely for being this old. It says its made in Japan... and its all steel.


I have never really been on a roadbike before (I usually ride a Fisher Hardtail in the mountains)... and was thinking it might be too small a frame, but the top bar comes close to the jewels. I am 5'8"...

I am trying to decide if I want to turn it into a single speed vintage custom rod with new black fork or even carbon fiber fork, new black bar and black seat post, and black wheels.

Keep it all original with the Exage drivetrain... is that drivetrain any good?

Or use the frame with a bunch of newer modern roadbike parts and convert it to finger shifting.

Last option would be to just have the local bike shop build me up a Surly Cross-Check singlespeed.

Little Darwin

My personal preference would be to not go with any of the things you are suggesting, but that is just my sense of style. Brightwork should be shiny and silver in color.

On a less personal preference note, do whatever you want. It is probably a nice riding bike, but not in high demand like it would be if it were Italian built.

EDIT: As far as Exage... You answered your own questiuon. It shifts nicely... if you like it, it is fine. Not a lot of bling points, but a reasonable drive train.

AEO

exage is pretty decent, I would just use it like it is unless it's worn out.
I'm not sure if you'll be able to get a carbon fork for it.

T-Mar

The Sport SX is a nice bicycle but nothing special. Sounds like your is circa 1988, at which time it sold for $475. The Bianchi tubing should be a mix of Tange 900 and 1000, which is seamed, butted, CrMo tubing. The Exage components are good servicable components, but again, nothing special.

Personally, I would keep it the way it is, at least for while. Give it a chance, before you make your decision. Converting to brifters is not cheap. And if you do decide to go single, do not cut off the derailleur hanger and shifter bosses, as many people do. It limits your potential market, should you decide to sell the frame or bicycle.

wildpanda86

thanks... leaning towards turning it into a singlespeed and then adding changing some bits just for cosmetics & comfort... hmm

wildpanda86

Thinking of making it into something like this... except I'll keep the celeste color & go black with the wheels, drivetrain, seat post, seat, and bars.

https://https://images.google.com/imgr...en-us%26sa%3DN

wildpanda86

I meant

mvillan

I have a bianchi sx built into a fixed gear. Its a definite improvement over the original state that it was in.

wildpanda86

Mvillan,

I'd love to see pics if you have any...

jfmckenna

My bro has an old Shogun and I was quite surprised at how well his Exage group shifted.

stringbreaker

Send it to me so I can put that poor old thing out of its misery

divineAndbright

For the size traditionally you want an inch between your crotch (im sure you know not your "jewels", but check the size with actual cycling shorts on) and the top tube). I'm 5'8" too, but I have longer than normal legs, a 32" inseam, so I like a 56cm frame personally (center of Bottom bracker to center of the top tube), a normal proportioned 5'8" person would probably normally ride a 54cm frame.

mvillan

here you go, turns out is a bianchi ss but should b similar enough. This one came originally with shimano components and 27 in tires





if you need anymore, just ask

SoreFeet

Convert it to fixed gear. Single speed is fine but you get the fitness benefits from riding a fixed gear. When you can't coast and you get back on a geared bike there is a natural tendency to not coast.

The right set of wheels will make the bike weigh less and be quite the zippy grocery getter machine.

John E

I concur.

Fixed gear is definitely not my thing, but it does offer a unique riding experience some folks seem to enjoy. Ratcheting/freewheeling single speed is utterly pointless -- why not simply keep the derailleurs and leave the shift levers in your favorite gear?

wildpanda86

So how much should I expect to spend to get this thing converted?
1) I know that I need new wheelset because the rear is bent too badly out of shape.
2) gonna need a single speed freewheel hub
3) I'll try and get away with using my old exage cranks... but needs a new chain ring as the old ones are biopace & new chain
4) needs a new handle bar stem because the old one is way too short for me

wildpanda86

thanks... looks similar to mine, except yours seems to have a metallic shine to it. looks good!!!

what did you have to change to convert it?

g-funk

here's my celeste Bianchi single speed. every time I ride it people offer me way too much money for it. but I live in Northern California, and it's Italian. but frankly, any green bianchi will drive people nuts and as long as you create a bike that you love to ride who cares? And yes there is only a brake on the rear wheel

This is probably my favorite old bike.

wildpanda86

Got quoted for restoration and conversion of the bike to a singlespeed... included almost everything except repainting the frame... price seems a little too steep for me. Especially since before this I was thinking of buying a newer singlespeed bike. However the conversion included new wheelset, completely new drivetrain, sprocket, chainring, and BB, bar stem, and a couple of other cosmetics.

I think I am just gonna get this bike tuned and ride it the way it is... put a ton of miles on it... if I like how it rides... maybe I'll spend the extra and get the frame repainted, new decals, and switch it to singlespeed.

The Exage seems to shift pretty smoothly, and the bike has very little miles on it as it just sat in someone's garage for years with very little surface rust which is noticeable when you look up close... so with a few cosmetic touches, and adjustment it may just have lots of life yet.

But it still needs new wheelset as the rear one is bent too badly to straighten... any suggestions? Deep V's, any other economical choice... built with the original hubs?

and it needs a new handle bar stem as the old one is tooo short for me... and a more comfortable road seat.

maybe I could even just space out the old rear hub & just run a single gear out back, then change out the biopace rings to a single ring up front... basically reusing parts to save money.

g-funk

good idea

mvillan

the conversion to fixed gear was slightly over $300 to do. A new wheel set goes for $150 and much much more. This one was $200 + tires and tubes ($50)+bike shop labor+odds and ends (cog, lock ring, chain, brake line, etc)

if you can make due with your wheelset.. keep it geared and give it a good tune up. If you want a fixed gear, you can get wheelsets as cheap as $150 shipped but then you need to spend about another $100 for tires and tubes and etc.

a cheap way to convert to fixed gear since you did mention you do need a rear wheel and assuming that you its a 27inch wheel

goto to Harriscyclery.com and buy their

WE274 27 inch Weinmann RM19 Rim, Formula Sealed Cartridge Flip flop hub $74.95
(this is cheaper than relacing your rear wheel with a new hub, even if it were usable)

this rest of the stuff you can get online or at you LBS

A lockring -Dura-Ace lockring $7.95 for example

A cog - about $20

and tires and tubes (front and rear) which can range from $30 to $50, depending on what you want


run the chain on the inner chain ring and your chain line should be pretty straight. If you want you can get shorter chainring bolt and either run the larger chainring or smaller chainring on the inside. ($7 for bolts) just make sure to get a good ratio 52x 19 or 39x14 are good ratios for around town but you may want to change this for your specific needs

things that you might want to get new but don't necessarily have to get, especially if they are in good condition: chain, brake pads, brake cables, seat, bar tape and anything else in need of servicing


so, for about $150, maybe less, maybe more.. you can have a decent running fixed gear to mess around on and get you around town. your tire choices will be limited this way as opposed to getting 700c wheels but if you don't want to spend too much, its a decent deal with not too much of an investment

g-funk

or you can spend 20.00 on a freewheel 5.00 on bmx chainring bolts and 10.00 on a BMX chain and coast!! I put a BB spacer on the hub behind the freewheel, my chainline is sweet, the 1/8" chain doesn't hurt either.

mvillan

too bad he needs a new rear wheel

g-funk

that's right, the flip flop might be the way to go.

tricky 

You do gain the benefit of less maintenance and lower weight with a freewheeling single speed setup. It's the same idea as a single speed mountain bike.