Originally Posted by rekmeyata

I own a 88 712 which I got in a garage sale many years ago I use now as a commuter bike, its a black and blue color. Mine came with 105 (SIS derailleurs) group with a Bio Pace crankset, but my rear cluster is a 6 speed not a 7 speed cluster, my 87 Team came with a 7 speed cluster, so I don't think the 7 speed cluster was stock. Both of my rims are the Wolber Alpina which is the same as your front. The Superbe Pro hub I have a 1984 version of that hub on another bike and it's the best hubs I have in my fleet, silky smooth even after over 160k miles.

Interesting conversion but not a bike well suited for touring, even though they came with eyelets on the fork and rear stays those were designed for fenders not touring bags. The rear rim is nothing expensive by any means nor is it a touring rim either but they were durable and heavier than most Ambrosio rims, and was probably a used rim off a Miele because only those bikes used those wheels with that name on it as far as I know but the rim was built by Ambrosio. So I'm thinking something happened to the original rim either it got bent or worn out and the guy found a used rim. So my thought is the bike wasn't used for touring but possibly by an older guy with borderline knees and/or lived in a mountainous area and needed the triple gearing, probably had the bike since it was new and then as the years went on he needed gearing help. If you ever wanted to convert it back the Bio Pace crankset, 105 SIS stuff is cheap to find even NOS or NIB.

If you find the tires difficult to take on or off next time you get tires get folding tires instead. Those rims were notorious for being a pain to get wire beaded tires on and off which is what they came with.

The 712 is a fantastic bike, it was probably the best bike you could get back in the day for the money because the frame was very stiff for a steel frame which at the time no other company could make them that stiff, but that splined tubing came at a price of a slight weight penalty. Anyway if the bike fits you good then make it work for you and ride the heck out of it.