Bikejock -

The forum has quite a lively thread discussing Bianchi serial numbers in case you would like to investigate yours with an eye to learning more about the bicycle.

One theory put forward is that the first character is the last digit of the year the bicycle was manufactured. This would apply to only Italian made Bianchi bicycles but does not seem to hold up universally. Since your number is nine the only plausible year working from this theory is 1979. But a 1979 Bianchi would have come with a Piaggio transfer. It is always possible that your bicycle once has such a transfer and it has been lost or removed. All we know is that it is not present now.

http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ification.html

Hope you realise that your machine wears tubular tyres. There are some forum threads discussing what are the current best values in these. Do not know if they cover your size.

PaintItCeleste -

Thank for sharing the photo of your Bianchi.

The o.p's machine is constructed with a true three-piece head consisting of Agrati "AM" series upper head lug nr. 000.8044 and Agrati "AM" series lower head lug nr. 000.8043. If you look at the enlargements of the two photos of the bicycle's head she provided you will see that edges of the head tube sockets on the lugs are quite sharp and well defined. On bulge-formed heads these apparent edges roll softly into the apparent head tube.

Your machine is manufactured with Agrati bulge-formed head "AM" series nr. 201.8046. If you are curious about the bulge-formed process there is some information here:

Explanation for Bulge-Forming Process

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSorHHGAQFs

Both your cycle and that of the original poster were likely manufactured in Bianchi's Chiorda facility.