Originally Posted by
Fixied
question: why is switching from a "conversion" to a "track bike" an improvement? Just wondering, would like to know more about this!
Well if you're even remotely handy with tools, you won't have the looming fear of your rear wheel randomly "falling out" of the dropouts...
Looks like you've also got a 3/32" drivetrain (stock on almost all bianchi pistas iirc)... that's important to take note of if you plan on upgrading any of that at all.
In short, You should read this bit by St. Sheldon Brown...
http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html (if you haven't already)
you're also probably right on the year... made before 2010 at least.. just depends on when they made that color... definitely not a 2012.