bumpalong

Anyone know roughly when Bianchi made the 'Alloro' model, what tubing was used on it, and where it stood within their lineup? Was this a touring model? Mine has a 'Made in Italy' sticker on it, but nothing identifying the tubing. It is celeste, with flat topped pantographed fork crown, Ofmega headset, Modolo Sport brakes, and - until they got sucked into the chain and destroyed during a test ride - Campy Nuovo Sport derrailleurs.

old and new

seems like ann '82 give or take. The Nuovo Sport has me confused. Ofmega headsets were used in the early '80s on mid-range models. Modolo was used then too. Alloros came and went, most I've seen are early '80s, a confusing time period for the Co. Photos and/or more details are in order.
The bike would fit in the lower-mid range in Bianchi's order. There's more to it, pertaining to the tubing but I'd rather not just list a bunch o' stuff.
Bianchi used whatever they wanted, called it Tre Tubi, more on that later.

Bianchigirll 

I agree on the Nouvo Sport being confusing too. but this is a European market bike however. I see two Alloros listed in my catalogs for '84 and '85, both were equipped with Modolo brakes and Campi Gran Sport here in the US OH they were either Celeste or anthricite.

bikamper

I had one of these in the mid 80s. Loved it. IIRC, the tubing was Columbus but Columbus what, I don't know. Mine had the Ofmega headset and pedals, Modolo Speedy brakes, Ambrosio hard anodized rims, Gipiemme cranks and hubs, Campy NR shifty bits and post, 3TTT stem, and ITM bars. I'm gonna say that it had a Selle Turbo saddle but that was changed to a Brooks Pro 2 minutes after I got it home.

This was my daylight bike when I was doing 24hr TTs and my main ride when trying to keep up with Lon Haldeman and rest of the 'Go Really Fast' group on Wednesday evenings in NE Illinois. I was such a glutton for punishment back then that I was running Conti 19mm tires at 150psi.

I sold it after getting out of ultramarthon racing. Looking back, I should have kept it.

bumpalong

Thanks for the info - and an apology on the description. The bike was equipped with Campy Gran Sport derrailleurs and not Nuovo Sport, as rightly suspected. I also called Bianchi USA for information (who despite what I have heard were very helpful), and their info supported that mentioned above. The Alloro was sold in the US in 1984 and 1985, and (if I understood correctly) not since. It was a Colombus 'tre-tubi' model, and equipped almost exactly at bikamper describes (only not Campy NR, but rather Gran Sport). As to the saddle mine came with a handsome suede Bianchi branded saddle, though I'm not sure whether it was stock to the bike. It is in the shop at the moment for a frozen seat post, and to get some derraileurs and swap out the wheels for some campy hubs with ambrosio rims. I'll post pictures once it makes it home.

bumpalong

Bianchigirll - you mention seeing the Alloro in the 84 and 85 catalogues. Could you tell me what it is said about the bike in those catalogues, and where it is positioned in those years model ranges? Also, are those catalogues available anywhere online that you know of? Thanks.

Bianchigirll 

from the '84 catalog. "The European components complementing the Alloro give racers the competitive edge. the Columbus TreTubi rame is completed Campagnolo Gran Sport derailluers, Ofmega Comp. crankset and hubs and Modolo brakes. a unique cycle for the accomplished rider. Celeste or Anthracite.

out of 16 road bikes (including tourers and randonneurs) the Alloro falls 9th from the bottom. the '85 was the same. in '85 there was also a Nouvo Alloro with a Bianchi Special by Columbus in superset design. (DT/ST being a heavier guage tubing to make the frame stiffer in the BB area) with a few other components changes.

I happen to have a collecton of older catalogs. I think the info is posted online somewhere perhaps if Tmar weighin he can point you in the right direction.

also I am not sure just when Bianchi USA became a seperate company from Bianchi Vespa but after that time most of the "American" bikes were different from european offerings.

bumpalong

Great stuff Bianchigirll. Much appreciated.

No news on the stuck seat post - they will be getting to it tomorrow. The anticipation is killing me...

Dhorn33

I have one of these that is an 84 model I believe. I have posted it on here a few times - but since buying the bike over the summer at a garage sale for $20 I have swapped most of the original parts with newer stuff to make riding it a little nicer for me. I have the original stuff all in storage so I can easily put it back to original condition - including the Bianchi suede seat and celeste frame pump. I have put around 1000 miles on it and several hours on the trainer and it is a great bike.

Here is one of the threads I had:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...mount-Series-7

tarwheel 

I used to own a Bianchi Alloro, and I think it was a 1998 model. I bought it used, so I'm not sure the exact date. Mine was made with aluminum tubing with a carbon fork, but I have seen other Alloros that were steel. I probably would have kept mine if were steel, but my aluminum version was a little too "buzzy" for my preferences.

bumpalong

Dhorn33 - read your thread - quite the odyssey. But you made the right decision in the end :-). Good news on the valuation estimates too.

Personally I'll be riding her old school for a while before deciding on a next step. My only dilemma is the Ofmega hubs, which sound a little crunchy to me. I'll probably give her the wheelset off another bike I plan to uprgrade (Nuovo Record hubs w/ Ambrosio rims), just so that the wheels don't color my judgement. Beyond that I want to get acquainted to her as is. All asuming I can get that seat post unstuck...

Dhorn33

I rode the bike less than 5 miles with the original parts on it so I guess I jumped the gun a little maybe? Anyway - at the time I had that Paramount and I really LOVE the STI shifters so going to the downtubes was a bit of a novelty for a little while - but after riding a few bikes with them I decided that taking my hands off the bars to shift was not something that I wanted to do regulary. The wheels on mine seemed to have smooth bearings- but part of what I swapped right away was the wheels to a set that came on a Bridgestone I picked up - and shortly after that I picked up a set of Bontrager Race Lite wheels from a friend and that is mostly what I rode. They were more than a pound lighter so it was a nice addition for me. The longest ride I did was a 53 miler - and the bike was comfortable and smooth and I really love the way it looks too. Something about that celeste color is just cool to me - it's different from all the Specialized, Trek and Cannondales that I see most people riding around here. I even went on my first group ride and a few of the riders were more than suprised to learn that my bike was 25 years old. With the updated components and wheels it fits right in I guess? Anyway - I am sure you will enjoy your Alloro, I know I do.

bumpalong

I don't think you jumped the gun, but no fault if so. Variety and experimentation are some of the spices of life. I'm no purist though - more of a live and live kind of guy.

Plus I really like those Bontrager race lite wheels. I put a pair on a 73 Raleigh Gran Sport single speed conversion I did, and love how sharp and quick they make that bike feel.

And finally, great news! The seat post on the Alloro has been released! God bless Harris Cyclery. So now I can move on with the build up. Will post pics once it is done.