Celeste Bianchi Vintage?
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Celeste Bianchi Vintage?
Took a shot in the dark on this - Always loved Celeste Bianchis.
Can see the Chrome fork crown, celeste frame pump and Campy Groupo.
Trying to gather information on this bike. Year Model etc
I pick up this evening and will get up close and personal with this. CAN'T WAIT!!!!
Can see the Chrome fork crown, celeste frame pump and Campy Groupo.
Trying to gather information on this bike. Year Model etc
I pick up this evening and will get up close and personal with this. CAN'T WAIT!!!!
Last edited by duranduran; 06-21-17 at 08:31 AM.
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Welcome to the forums. Is that the only pic you can get? Where are you and the bike? At fist glance it seems the frame and components don't match.
The frame appears to be a '87 Mondiale but the catalog doesn't show a chromed fork crown. The color is slightly off the '87 was Metallic Celeste which looks whiter but this looks more like Mint Celeste. I am having trouble with this pic discerning if the World Championship decal is rectangular or round, round would be '88, but then the decals are off.
The components appear to be later maybe Athena ('99-2002ish) or maybe Stratos when that style of brake filtered down, I just can't tell from the pics.
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“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"
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The Columbus decal is the pre-1988 version of SL, though you sometimes saw these carried over into 1988, depending on stock and stock rotation practices. The components are hard to identify from a non-drive side photo but based on the brake calipers, appear to be Camapgnolo Athena. This group was introduced in 1988. Assuming everything is OEM, it should be 1988. However, the Bianchi decal style is incorrect for a 1988, USA market model. It may be a foreign market model which complicates identification for most members, who are familiar with USA models.
Alternately it may have been rebuilt. It has been frankenbiked to at last some extent, as those are not Campagnolo brake levers. The combination of dual bottle bosses, pump peg, front derailleur hanger and Campagnolo dropouts would put this circa 1986 for a USA market model. The USA models went to Gipiemme dropouts for 1987 and continued into 1988.
Alternately it may have been rebuilt. It has been frankenbiked to at last some extent, as those are not Campagnolo brake levers. The combination of dual bottle bosses, pump peg, front derailleur hanger and Campagnolo dropouts would put this circa 1986 for a USA market model. The USA models went to Gipiemme dropouts for 1987 and continued into 1988.
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Thank you T-Mar and Bianchigirll!!
I am in Colorado. Will take detailed pics and hopefully get serial number. Anything else I should post?
I am in Colorado. Will take detailed pics and hopefully get serial number. Anything else I should post?
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The wheels are mismatched. The front has a newer tire, I'm guessing it's the wheel that has been replaced. Inspect closely for head-on crash damage.
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May not be US bike
The Columbus decal is the pre-1988 version of SL, though you sometimes saw these carried over into 1988, depending on stock and stock rotation practices. The components are hard to identify from a non-drive side photo but based on the brake calipers, appear to be Camapgnolo Athena. This group was introduced in 1988. Assuming everything is OEM, it should be 1988. However, the Bianchi decal style is incorrect for a 1988, USA market model. It may be a foreign market model which complicates identification for most members, who are familiar with USA models.
Alternately it may have been rebuilt. It has been frankenbiked to at last some extent, as those are not Campagnolo brake levers. The combination of dual bottle bosses, pump peg, front derailleur hanger and Campagnolo dropouts would put this circa 1986 for a USA market model. The USA models went to Gipiemme dropouts for 1987 and continued into 1988.
Alternately it may have been rebuilt. It has been frankenbiked to at last some extent, as those are not Campagnolo brake levers. The combination of dual bottle bosses, pump peg, front derailleur hanger and Campagnolo dropouts would put this circa 1986 for a USA market model. The USA models went to Gipiemme dropouts for 1987 and continued into 1988.
Found owners information and emergency contacts in seat pack. Owner was a Lt. Colonel in the Army and his contact card was written in Dutch French and German
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Ah, so that could definitely mean non-US model.
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Have bike. More pics
Welcome to the forums. Is that the only pic you can get? Where are you and the bike? At fist glance it seems the frame and components don't match.
The frame appears to be a '87 Mondiale but the catalog doesn't show a chromed fork crown. The color is slightly off the '87 was Metallic Celeste which looks whiter but this looks more like Mint Celeste. I am having trouble with this pic discerning if the World Championship decal is rectangular or round, round would be '88, but then the decals are off.
The components appear to be later maybe Athena ('99-2002ish) or maybe Stratos when that style of brake filtered down, I just can't tell from the pics.
The frame appears to be a '87 Mondiale but the catalog doesn't show a chromed fork crown. The color is slightly off the '87 was Metallic Celeste which looks whiter but this looks more like Mint Celeste. I am having trouble with this pic discerning if the World Championship decal is rectangular or round, round would be '88, but then the decals are off.
The components appear to be later maybe Athena ('99-2002ish) or maybe Stratos when that style of brake filtered down, I just can't tell from the pics.
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It is a 1988 model based on both the serial number and CdM decal. However, based on the Bianchi graphics and presence of Campagnolo dropouts, it is not a USA or Canadian model. The group is 1988-1991 Campagnolo Athena, while the date code on the crank is for 1989. While frames are often built and stockpiled pending receipt of components orders, this frame pre-dates the components by at least eight months. While this length time does not totally eliminate the possibility of the components being OEM, it has me leaning towards the bicycle having been rebuilt or built from a frameset. Given that it is a foreign model and the higher probability of the components being non-OEM, I cannot help with a model identification. Perhaps, some other members having knowledge of foreign market models can provide more information.
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Any guess to Value
It is a 1988 model based on both the serial number and CdM decal. However, based on the Bianchi graphics and presence of Campagnolo dropouts, it is not a USA or Canadian model. The group is 1988-1991 Campagnolo Athena, while the date code on the crank is for 1989. While frames are often built and stockpiled pending receipt of components orders, this frame pre-dates the components by at least eight months. While this length time does not totally eliminate the possibility of the components being OEM, it has me leaning towards the bicycle having been rebuilt or built from a frameset. Given that it is a foreign model and the higher probability of the components being non-OEM, I cannot help with a model identification. Perhaps, some other members having knowledge of foreign market models can provide more information.
I purchased this without any of this knowledge and without knowing size. Can you estimate any value? If it is a rebuild would value only be in frame?
Thanks again for any help.
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In 1988, Bianchi USA offered this Campagnolo group on a Columbus SLX frame, which is one step up from SL. So yes, there is good value as a complete bicycle, as the pairing is era correct and not inappropriate in terms of level. There might be some slightly discounted offers because it is not a catalogued, USA model. However, it does have some advantages over the USA models in that it has Campagnolo dropouts and both chain stays are chromed. I'll defer to others on value.
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I still think it is a Stratos or some other later painted group, the color just doesn't look right for oxidized Athena. Plus that big black looking bolt head on the cable clamp and cheap nut. Plus the black dust caps.
The color of that frame plus that beautiful fork crown and style of BB shell make me think it is a slightly older frame. In some of the pics the frame looks very white like the Metalic Celest frame I had for a while.
Didn't the SLX framed Giro with Athena come out in '89?
The color of that frame plus that beautiful fork crown and style of BB shell make me think it is a slightly older frame. In some of the pics the frame looks very white like the Metalic Celest frame I had for a while.
Didn't the SLX framed Giro with Athena come out in '89?
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“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
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I still think it is a Stratos or some other later painted group, the color just doesn't look right for oxidized Athena. Plus that big black looking bolt head on the cable clamp and cheap nut. Plus the black dust caps.
The color of that frame plus that beautiful fork crown and style of BB shell make me think it is a slightly older frame. In some of the pics the frame looks very white like the Metalic Celest frame I had for a while.
Didn't the SLX framed Giro with Athena come out in '89?
The color of that frame plus that beautiful fork crown and style of BB shell make me think it is a slightly older frame. In some of the pics the frame looks very white like the Metalic Celest frame I had for a while.
Didn't the SLX framed Giro with Athena come out in '89?
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Campagnolo Xenon?
I still think it is a Stratos or some other later painted group, the color just doesn't look right for oxidized Athena. Plus that big black looking bolt head on the cable clamp and cheap nut. Plus the black dust caps.
The color of that frame plus that beautiful fork crown and style of BB shell make me think it is a slightly older frame. In some of the pics the frame looks very white like the Metalic Celest frame I had for a while.
Didn't the SLX framed Giro with Athena come out in '89?
The color of that frame plus that beautiful fork crown and style of BB shell make me think it is a slightly older frame. In some of the pics the frame looks very white like the Metalic Celest frame I had for a while.
Didn't the SLX framed Giro with Athena come out in '89?
Found this picture of a Vintage Xenon brake caliper - this looks like the finish of calipers/chainset - is there a cataloged Bianchi with a Xenon Group?
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The dull gray on the crank looks like Veloce to me, but I've never seen a Xenon in person. That's a nice bike.
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
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Any Guestimates on Value??
The more I learn about this bike - I think I have come to 2 conclusions - 1) restore this myself and ride it or 2) sell it to someone who can do a much better job restoring the bike to the beauty it deserves.
I think I purchased this at a good price so there is no motive to gouge someone. (learned brake levers and front wheel for sure have been replaced)
Any guess as to it's value as-is?
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I would put value of frame and fork at about $400-450. There are some nice parts on there, like the saddle and rear wheel, but mismatched parts detract from value and I would think maybe $550- $600 for the whole thing. It wouldn't take much to turn into a nice rider if it fits you.
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
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Sell? or Ride
I would put value of frame and fork at about $400-450. There are some nice parts on there, like the saddle and rear wheel, but mismatched parts detract from value and I would think maybe $550- $600 for the whole thing. It wouldn't take much to turn into a nice rider if it fits you.
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Well I still think the frame is slightly older than '88/89, unless they were still using those really nice chromed fork crowns and BB shells on the EU frames.
sadly we will never know for sure what model, if any, it ever was. One thing is for sure it is likely to be a great rider. I'd give it a good overhaul, some decent tires and see how it rides before doing anything else with it.
sadly we will never know for sure what model, if any, it ever was. One thing is for sure it is likely to be a great rider. I'd give it a good overhaul, some decent tires and see how it rides before doing anything else with it.
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“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
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Well I still think the frame is slightly older than '88/89, unless they were still using those really nice chromed fork crowns and BB shells on the EU frames.
sadly we will never know for sure what model, if any, it ever was. One thing is for sure it is likely to be a great rider. I'd give it a good overhaul, some decent tires and see how it rides before doing anything else with it.
sadly we will never know for sure what model, if any, it ever was. One thing is for sure it is likely to be a great rider. I'd give it a good overhaul, some decent tires and see how it rides before doing anything else with it.
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I wouldn't ride it too much without replacing the grease in the bearings, you wouldn't want to ruin anything.
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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
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According to my literature there were no Xenon equipped models catalogued by Bianchi USA. Europe could be a different matter.
Last edited by T-Mar; 06-23-17 at 04:56 AM.
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I still think it is an '85/86 era frame with much later kit but who really knows.
The OP however seems to have already listed this on CL at $600 with v title cleanup and even using the auction houses pics.
The OP however seems to have already listed this on CL at $600 with v title cleanup and even using the auction houses pics.
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“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
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