Bianchi Celeste Super Leggera Restoration - Pic Heavy
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Bianchi Celeste Super Leggera Restoration - Pic Heavy
I'm restoring what I think is a Bianchi Super Leggera. It had tri-bars and had obviously been employed as such (there was sand in the handlebars ). I'm putting a 3TTT bar/pantographed stem combo on it.
The model stickers are no longer visible. The BB reads "Campagnolo - Athena" and I'm assuming all the components (other than stem and seat post are Athena. The hubs are original, but the rims are mismatched and unoriginal. I'm guessing that this is an '88-'89 model. The serial number is "3270" and the BB also has "L9" stamped into it. I don't know anything about Bianchi dating. This is my first Bianchi restoration.
One of the RD jockey wheels was cracked so I replaced them both with NOS, red Bullseye wheels. I've removed all components and thoroughly cleaned the frame. I used #0000 steel wool on some of the rusty spots that I intend to cover with touch-up paint. I've cleaned and repacked the headset. Now I need to remove the brake pads from the original holders and replace them. The brake hoods cleaned up well. All of the steel hardware was given the OA treatment. The crank is now back together. I'll need to get a Campy BB tool to deal with that.
I need some help with a few other issues:
The model stickers are no longer visible. The BB reads "Campagnolo - Athena" and I'm assuming all the components (other than stem and seat post are Athena. The hubs are original, but the rims are mismatched and unoriginal. I'm guessing that this is an '88-'89 model. The serial number is "3270" and the BB also has "L9" stamped into it. I don't know anything about Bianchi dating. This is my first Bianchi restoration.
One of the RD jockey wheels was cracked so I replaced them both with NOS, red Bullseye wheels. I've removed all components and thoroughly cleaned the frame. I used #0000 steel wool on some of the rusty spots that I intend to cover with touch-up paint. I've cleaned and repacked the headset. Now I need to remove the brake pads from the original holders and replace them. The brake hoods cleaned up well. All of the steel hardware was given the OA treatment. The crank is now back together. I'll need to get a Campy BB tool to deal with that.
I need some help with a few other issues:
- What rims did this come equipped with originally?
- What pedals did this come equipped with originally?
- Is there a source for Celeste vinyl or other material with which to recover the saddle?
- Has anyone used this Celeste touch-up paint? Would you recommend it or another?
Last edited by ColonelJLloyd; 11-08-10 at 10:48 AM.
#3
FBoD Member at Large
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Woodbury, MN
Posts: 6,094
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
The Col. has asked me about saddle recovering...if anyone does know if a source for a good celeste substitute please let either of us know. I've been perusing some online upholstery suppliers and can come close but nothing has tweaked me...of course, that can be color issue son monitors and with pics too.
#4
Restore, ride, repeat...
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Chicago
Posts: 403
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
very nice! How did you clean the rusty bits on the brakes? OA?
Edit: Sorry, I got carried away with the pictures and the nice results and forgot to finish reading. Disregard question.
Edit: Sorry, I got carried away with the pictures and the nice results and forgot to finish reading. Disregard question.
Last edited by elguicho; 11-08-10 at 10:50 AM.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks! Yes and no. The parts that were removable without disassembling the calipers completely were treated with OA. The conical shaped nuts in the last photo in post #2 were cleaned with a brash brush, #0000 steel wool and 600 grit sandpaper.
#6
Banned.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Snohomish, WA.
Posts: 2,866
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 469 Post(s)
Liked 2,443 Times
in
646 Posts
Great bike to have for a project...
As far as getting celeste material, how about finding a used celeste saddle and robbing the hide off of it(as long as there is enough material)?
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/2039644694.html
As far as getting celeste material, how about finding a used celeste saddle and robbing the hide off of it(as long as there is enough material)?
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/2039644694.html
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
^ Mike, that's a good idea, but I'd rather just select the closest vinyl match and live with it. It doesn't seem that the material is very expensive. As close as we can get in this case will be good enough.
I ride a 63cm frame (this is a 55x55), but I am looking forward to a spirited test ride when I get it up and running.
I ride a 63cm frame (this is a 55x55), but I am looking forward to a spirited test ride when I get it up and running.
#8
FBoD Member at Large
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Woodbury, MN
Posts: 6,094
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
I do pretty much the same except I do the full Monty. With Shimano and DC calipers I just disassemble them completely...OA the steel (springs, chome nuts, steel nuts, bolts, etc), clean and/or polish the rest depending on the presence of anodizing or not. I even go so far as to clean and smooth the washers (plastic and metal) and such...in the case of most DC calipers, I polish the brass washers and everything then apply a THIN film of grease. It's amazing how smooth even cheap DC calipers get when treated in such a way. The nice part about it is you can tighten the locknuts a little harder because they're so smooth which makes them work much more precisely.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
^ I've disassembled Dia Compe and Weinmann sidepulls and centerpulls, but the only parts that were rusted and not easily removable on these calipers were the conical shaped nuts. I've never restored a bike with these calipers before and my better judgment said, "Dude, don't take those apart. This could get ugly". This time I decided to listen.
#10
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,858
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2930 Post(s)
Liked 2,923 Times
in
1,491 Posts
great job, can't wait to see th finished product. I believe what you have there is a '89 Giro de Italia. the top three bike in '89 all used the SLX frameset, the Giro had Athena, the Leggera Chorus, and IIRC the Mondiale was Croce d Anue.
aslong as you don't scratch the nuts taking apart these brakes is not much harder than anyothers.
personaly if I were going through he hassle of recovering a saddle for that Bianchi I would find blue bartape, and cable housing then, leather to closely match for the saddle. I think it makes the decals 'pop' a bit more than using all celeste
aslong as you don't scratch the nuts taking apart these brakes is not much harder than anyothers.
personaly if I were going through he hassle of recovering a saddle for that Bianchi I would find blue bartape, and cable housing then, leather to closely match for the saddle. I think it makes the decals 'pop' a bit more than using all celeste
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Do you have a catalog scan of the '89 Giro?
That's a good point. I like your idea, however, I disagree about using blue housing. I think white housing will look best as the hoods are white. I'll consult the owner about using blue for the saddle and bar wrap as I agree it will look great.
#12
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,858
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2930 Post(s)
Liked 2,923 Times
in
1,491 Posts
I'll try and get you a scan if you PM over the wekend to remind me. the Giro was third model down and I think the same bikes were still offerd in '90 but I want to double check
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#13
neits
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Posts: 1,590
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
+1 on blue housing and tape, the folks from the Gold Coast ride can tell you how good it looks...
I do have black hoods/black Turbo saddle however
I do have black hoods/black Turbo saddle however
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
funkflex
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
7
02-07-15 03:15 PM
doose
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
10
05-22-11 03:27 PM