lperdido

Hi everyone, I am a long time lurker and first time poster. I have been riding competitive-recreationally since 1989. Yep, Greg Lemond got me going. I went from Steel (Benotto) to Aluminum (3 Canondales) back to steel (Ciocc, Colnago), back to Aluminum (Bianchi EV2,3 and 4) then Scandium (Merckx Team SC) and finally a foray into Carbon (Colnago EPS). I recently bought an old Raleigh Olympian that I restored and converted to a fixie. I can honestly say that I can't remember having so much fun on the bike as I did on that old Raleigh. I decided to return to my roots and I got my dream bike manufacturer... Bianchi Steel. I found this 2000 or so Campione in a 53 and I am over the moon excited to build it up. Here is my build.

Reynolds Ouzo Pro 1 inch fork (will paint celeste)
Chis King Blue no thread
Deda 100 Stem
Deda Newton Bar
Deda Super Zero 27.2 post
Selle Italia SLR flow kit carbonio
Campy Record 10 speed group
Campy 10 speed alloy crank
Campy Chorus Monoplaner brakes
Zipp 303 front, Zipp 404 rear with Conti Competition.

As you can see it is a modern classic build... here are pics.



My monoplaner brakes are missing the bullet bolt on the front brake, so if anyone has any idea how I can get one please let me know.

My goal is to get this puppy down to 16 pounds which should be very doable. Any thoughts or opinions or pics of similar builds are more than welcome.

Gary Fountain

You've had quite an array of nice bikes and this one should build up to be just as nice. It is a pretty modern frame and components so I can well imagine the 16lb mark will be reached.

I suppose Greg Lemond was responsible for many new bike riders. A true US cycling hero. Who couldn't be inspired by him?

bradtx

lperdido, Welcome to the forum. Keep us posted during the build.

I think the small frame size will help you achieve your weight goal. I have two in progress Cannondale builds, which are the only two bikes I've ever weighed pre completion. My '99 60 cm CAAD3's frame set plus BB weighs ~4.5 lbs. and I'll be very surprised if it's sub 21 lbs. when built with cages and pedals, 23 lbs. if I install the aero bars.

Brad

aidanpringle

I like the wheel choice, it's going to be a nice bike. Lots of of pictures please

lperdido

Thank you all. I am sourcing my small bits this weekend, so the fun will begin.

WNG

Welcome! You'll find a good number of us here have journeyed through the same formative years for cycling, similar heros and inspirations, and love and appreciation for vintage bikes.
Greg Lemond was No. 1 in my book back in the day.

I share your passion for Bianchi steel as that was my childhood dream bike. One day I'll find my celeste Columbus-tubed Bianchi. Looking forward to your results!

lperdido

That sounds like an impressive weight for such a large frame. Back when I built my Colnago Conic SLX we never weighed the frameset. But after building it up with Mavic components, American Classic seatpost and Sampson's crank it came in right at 18 lbs. My Merckx Team SC weighed 14-15 lbs with tubis on it and that build was with similar components to what I will hang on the Bianchi. I figure the Merckx weighing around 3.something lbs. and the Bianchi weighs 4 lbs exactly. Yep, 16 is doable.

lperdido

Yes, I find it odd that after all these years of riding, building and admiring, this is my first celeste Bianchi. Over the past year, I have missed out on three good ones on Ebay, but this one was perfect timing.

bradtx

I could be optimistic about the final weight. My '97 58 cm CAAD3 weighed 18.5 lbs., but it had D-A with lighter clinchers and possibly a lighter carbon fork than the '99's. This one is an Ultegra triple build so possibly over a pound heavier than the D-A just within the group. I'll find out when all of the parts are found and installed, but they always seem to weigh heavier than expected!

Brad

lperdido

Its been a bit slow, but I am starting my build with a few changes. I lucked out on an Easton ec90 superlite that came with red Chris King headset. Lighter than the Reynolds I was going to go with. 250 grams with plug and before I trim it down. I got a "new to me" Chorus monoplaner brakeset that are in outstanding shape. Only item missing so far are my derailleurs, which I will have by Friday.

... and yes, I still plan to have the fork painted Celeste. During the winter I will repaint the whole bike. For now, this is how it is going to roll.

bradtx

lperdido, Are you going to replace the Easton decals after the repaint?

Brad

Dixie Kiwi

Great bike and exciting project build. I have just finished a Bianchi (celeste!) Columbus TSX UL build. TSX is lighter than SLX but sure more recent steels are lighter still- but steel is heavy. My guess is my frame is ~1994-96. I bought a 2005 Fuji Professional carbon (super lightweight!) just to shift the complete 10-spd Record CT gruppo and Nucleon wheels to the Bianchi. Got the Deda Zero 100 stem and bars too and lightweight Fizik saddle. Complete build came in at exactly 19-lbs, incl cages and lights. For me, keeping the build steel was primary to minimising weight and I cannot see much room to reduce. The stock Columbus fork (re chromed at the local hot-rodders) was 1.59lbs (frame and fork are 6.33lbs), so going carbon would shave some weight there but I preferred to keep the original steel fork. Good luck achieving 16lbs- let me know your secret!!

Bianchigirll 

Steel Bianchis? seriously besides maybe Ben and Jerries is there anything better?

As for the 'bullet' or conical shaped nuts on your brakes finding them running loose may be difficult. Years ago I scored a set of Cobalto nuts for a pair of my Monoplanors but then let the originals behind at the shop I was working in. It won't look as nice but a acorn or cap nut from True Value will make them servicebale. (Oh which model brake? the original Chorus and some of the early Athena had a jamnut and the cap nut). If you can find them a set of nuts from a Victory or Triomphe will look a bit better.

lperdido

Bradtx, I am going to have it painted to match the original fork with Bianchi decals. Most of my cockpit components are deda so I want to keep it as clean as possible. My only concern is that the Easton fork is so much more bulky than the steel fork, so I don't know if that will overwhelm the frame aesthetically.

lperdido

Sounds like our original frame and fork weigh about the same. My frame was right at 4 lbs and the fork a bit over 2 lbs. My Easton fork weighed 250 grams! So that is a bit over half a pound, saving me 1.5 lbs. I mounted a Deda blackstick seatpost and de-labled part of it. I also went with a very light carbon saddle at 100 grams. As it sits right now without chain, cables, derailleurs and the wrong wheelset its at 14.9 lbs.
looks like I will be just over 16 lbs... so I am pumped.

lperdido

Hi BianchiGirl, I have the original Chorus with the jam nut and then the bullet bolt cap. I did just score another set on ebay, so I am using those. In any event, I am still going to scurry around till I find one somewhere. Thanks for the tip. I do like Ben and Jerrys Heathbar crunch, but I love my Bianchi so much better.

lperdido

Do you have pics of your bike that you can post. I would love to see it.

Dixie Kiwi

Here ya go, Iperdido

shoota 

I just gotta say its refreshing to see a newbie come on board and create a respectable thread. I'm looking forward to seeing the final product!

lperdido

Very nice! Is that a 57? That is a very clean build, I hope you enjoy that as often as possible.

lperdido

Thank you Shoota, but I have been reading these posts for some time now and I am only aided by the stuff I have learned... I love your avatar.

shoota 

Then you haven't been in the 41 lol!

lperdido

In the 41??? Please enlighten.

shoota 

41 = the Road Cycling subforum

Interesting place

Dixie Kiwi

Yes, a 57. Finished about a month ago but took several months to find all the right kit. Been doing 40km bunch rides 3-4x a week on her and getting some nice comments. I intend to start a seperate thread documenting the build with in-process photos when I have a bit of spare time (off the bike!). Like yourself, LeMond-era of cycling was when I got inspired and got my first Bianchi. Suppose I am trying to recapture that youth via this build!