megarot

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/bik/1819879466.html

The frame size is 22", celeste color, bar tape is celeste color too, 12 speed in nice original condition. It also comes with a bottle cage and clips on pedals.

This bike is beautiful.. I've read great things about Bianchi bikes. I'm an experienced bike rider but not experienced on a road bike in particular.

If this bike fits me - would this be a good deal?

Maddox

Yes, that is probably a great bike if it fits you. I own an 1983 Bianchi Alloro but still don't know much about the specific equipment on the range of models in the Bianchi line.

The Vittoria in the photo is an 80's model as that's what the decals give away. It looks to have either a Campy or Ofmega crankset, both of which good (Campy is better but either will do). You need to check the frame materials (on a decal on either the downtube or seattube). My Alloro has similar 80's decals and is made of Columbus steel - yours could be Columbus but it could also be Tange or some other Japanese steel too. Check the wheels also to see if the tires are sew-up/tubular. If so, you may want to swap out to clinchers as tubular tires are very unique and labor-intensive, and patching a tubular is a whole experience in itself.

I'll defer to the expertise of Bianchigirll, who frequents this forum - she's the real person who'd know more about the model.

megarot

Maddox, while I totally appreciate the feedback, I'm not as technically experienced as you seem to be.
Regarding the steel, I assume you're suggesting that I should go for Columbus - instead of the Japanese made steel?
Regarding the tires, I'm just not as familiar with the difference in them to know but I'll try to Google it and get an idea of what you mean between the difference of tubular and clinch.

Anybody else with feedback - its all appreciated!!

Maddox

No, I'm sorry - that's not what I meant to indicate.

Here's what I know of the brand, open to editing from other users:

Bianchi is one of the older Italian bike houses, and they produced all of their bikes in Italy for many years. Columbus is a desireable type of steel tubing that was commonly used in construction of road and race bikes, especially Italian-made bikes. Beginning sometime in the 80's Bianchi began a production line out of Japan while still producing some models out of Italy. I think the Japanese-made Bianchis are usually made of Tange tubing (could be wrong there), and the quality of the Tange tubing on the Japanese-made Bianchis is still very high. I don't mean to indicate that Tange-tubed or Japanese-constructed bikes are bad bikes. I don't know if your bike is constructed in Italy or Japan (though I assume Italy) and the only way to tell would be to see the decals up close.

Tubular tires are rarer, more finicky, and more race-specific than the more ubiquitous clinchers. With tubular tires, the tube is internal and the tires are literally glued to the rims, while clinchers enclose a separate tube and "clinch" on to the rim to lock in place. Yours are probably clinchers - just check so you know before you buy.

Virtually 95% of all bikes sold nowadays have Clincher rims, and probably 90% of bikes being ridden are on clinchers. Tubulars have their place, but they're just more complicated. Read this - it will explain it far better than I can explain it.

EjustE

This bike is about $100-150 overpriced.

It does have a Columbus frame (and I suspect it is the Bianchi special/formula). It is an 1985-7 mid of the road Bianchi bike. The components look like either Campy Victory or Triomphe (cannot tell much from those pictures). Nothing special with those components and are not really valued by collectors. So mid of the road, Italian made bike with Italian components... about $200-250. Maybe pushing $300 in excellent ready to ride condition... "All original" means original tires and tape and probably cables. That's another $100 to take care. Add a good look and servicing of the BB and hubs by an LBS and it really adds up. Edit: Donuts to dollars, it has clincher tires...

clubman 

Peugeot mixte bikes and crappy fixed conversions are getting $200 and more just abut everywhere these days. That makes this Bianchi solid value at the asking price.

Bianchigirll 

I don't want to get into an arguement over the value. this is however as "E" pointed out a is either a '85 or '86 the only difference is the frame and rims. the '85 would have a 'Special' frame and the '86 is a 'Formula 1' frame also '85 has Mavic G40 rimsthe '86 would have Mavis MA-40s.

either bike would be full Victory (which despite the bashing it gets today was the number 2 group for a year or two as Campi switch from NR and SR to Corse Recorda nd Vic and Tri groups then on to the "Chorus" family. the parts are solid well functioning just in the opinion of some not astheticly pleasing or a huge jump in performance from NR/SR.

Bianchi Columbus frame wether the custom tubed Columbus like this or a regular Columbus tube (still in a superset configuration) routinely sell for between $200 and 300+ (albeit one did sell suprisingly low yesterday. likely due to the Torquise color and I was not bidding on it LOL)

I think if you are looking for nice classic style Bianchi for your personal use, and this fits, it is worth trying to see if you can get it for $300. if you are looking for something to stripdown and modernize, I would look for a better value.

as a side note I am sure most of you know I built a Triomphe bike in the early spring and I must say despite the bashing Triomphe and Victory take here it is a fabulous bike and shifts very well with the retrofriction shifters and hyperglide cassette.

OP I did not realize you were in Ca. and not close to the listing. since you may have to pay to have it boxed $50ish(?) and shipping $40+ you need to consider that in your offer

megarot

Actually I'm in Chicago - the city, I just haven't changed my location on the bike forums.
I really would like to have this bike for my own personal use. I'm not a bike builder and I dont think that will turn into a hobby for me any time soon.
Right now I'm riding a newer Trek hybrid but I'm doing a lot more riding. I still like my Trek but I feel like I want to 'graduate' from a hybrid to a road bike.

unterhausen

moving to appraisals

Bianchigirll 

well if this bike was near me and fit I would huslte over with $300 as my set price and bat my eyelashes at him for few minutes and try and talk him down

desconhecido 

As long as we're talking about late 80s Bianchis with lesser components, here's one that's mostly Triomphe, Nuova Alluro (don't blame me, I didn't name it) probably 1988:



Mostly stock:



although it does have an Athena derailleur and indexed 1997 Record dt shifters. I won't bore anybody with the details of how that happened, but I'm not unhappy about it.:




The wheels that are on it are some I built for another project using Nuovo Typo hubs from the 70s. The Triomphe hubs and Ambrosia rims are here waiting to be re-installed, though, I do like the shiny polished aluminum of the Sun M13 rims. Just wanted to feel how the high flange hubs felt -- very good.

Even though the bike is a tad heavy and the components may not be of the finish of Chorus or Record, the thing is a joy to ride -- it effortlessly sucks up the miles. Yes, the OP is looking at a 20 to 25 yo bicycle that may need some maintenance and repair, but I don't think there are many bikes around available for that money that are that well built or that perform better. $300 to $350 for a bike of that quality, in my opinion, is not excessive.

EjustE

I am not bashing Victory or Triomphe As a matter of fact, I would rather have either of them or even GS, than anything Suntour other than Superbe pro and the first generation Cyclone. Just saying that they "are not well regarded in general" and that drops down the price of the bike.

Another consideration for the OP: This is a friction shifting bike. If you are riding a hybrid, most likely it is an index shifting bike. There is some learning curve with friction (and shifting on the DT, instead of the bar) and takes some time to master it

desconhecido 

This is very true and if someone needs indexed shifting, it might pay to look elsewhere. To convert this bike to indexed shifting one could:

Shimano 13-28 or 14-28 7-speed freewheel. ($15 to $20)
90s era Athena indexed rear derailleur ($30 to $50)
Record 8-speed brake lever shifter combos (about $100 in excellent condition)
Cables and sundries

That's $150 to $175 (+ or -) which is a lot to put into upgrading a $300 bike.

edit: actually, I believe that any Campagnolo derailleur originally destined for 7 or 8 speed systems, and any of the early nine-speeds (before 2000 or 2001 when they changed the shift ratio) would shift properly on either 7-speed or Campagnolo 8-speed cassettes/freewheels as 7-speed spacing and Campy 8-speed spacing are the same. The difference between 8 and early 9-speed shifting was all in the shifters, as I understand it.

EjustE

Please do tell where I can find those for $100 only in excellent condition with intact hoods $100+ is the going price for the Veloce Ergos, which might be a good alternative as well...

desconhecido 

I've bought two sets on Ebay over the last couple years. One set needs new hoods which are about another $25 to $30 or so. I'm not looking up prices as I go along, so, my estimates could be off.

Another alternative to the shifter brake lever units would be indexed DT shifters. That's what's on the Bianchi that I posted pictures of. I was tracking those on Ebay a couple months back and they seemed to be going at high prices -- if memory serves, $50 to $80 or so, but recall for sure only that they seemed to go at a price higher than I was willing to pay. If someone wanted to convert to Shimano 600 7-speed, I think it could be done for considerably less, but I'm guessing.

EjustE

It would be less, esp if someone is using RSX STI shifters or DT shifters. 7 sp 600 shifters are high, and the 600 STIs are going off the roof. RSX is not inexpensive either but it is a similar compromise as using Veloce instead of Record 8sp ergos. a set of 600 derailleurs are about $30-40 and the 7 sp DT shifters about $25-30. 7sp STIs are $150+ and you would have to add the additional expense of SLR or superSLR (dual pivot brakes) $30-50 to the equation. So it's pretty close. An 8sp Ergo Campy shifting setup will give you much better shifting, Shimano will give you good shifting and exceptional braking.

wrk101

+1 STIs are starting to take off on ebay. Not sure why. The seven speed stuff makes for a really nice update of a DT shifter bike.

megarot

Well much to my dismay I was geared up to go see the bike in person... and it got sold that same day.
I was really looking forward to purchasing a Bianchi..

Now I'm sorta stuck. Wondering if I'll just buy a junker road bike for the time being and keep my hybrid (2008 Trek 7.3).. I started out on my quest for a road bike partially because I wanted to have a road bike and partially because I figured it would be nice to have one bike with a girly step thru when I wanna take a cruz through the city with a skirt on or allow friends to borrow it and ride with me.

But now I've got a bug in me to buy a nicer road bike and get rid of my hybrid.

wrk101

Two rules to finding deals:

1. Look aggressively.

2. Pounce when one you want shows up (which means get in your car immediately and drive). And be willing to drive some distance. The good deals will not last long enough for a "what is it worth?" posting.

In a market as large as Chicago, good deals are going to come up frequently.

EjustE

You already have a road bike Good hybrids are very versitile. Even if you get a drop bar road bike, you should probably hang on to the hybrid (Stick around here long enough, and you will understand the N+1 concept Sounds like you got the bug already). The hybrid will take you places the road bike cannot, and they make great commuter and city street bikes and foul weather bikes.

+1 to what Bill said: Look agressively and pounce. Also, hang around garage sales and if you can, esp. on Friday early mornings, just when they start...

miamijim

Thats one of the worst analogizes anyne could/van make. Just because brand X sells for price it doesnt mean brabd Y should sell for more. All y'all need to put the Celeste pipe down and look at this bike for what it is. Its a bianchi made of house branded tubing with Victory/triomphe components. That equats to nothing special built uop with nothing special. Thats like buying Fiat and convincing yourself its the same as Ferrari.



Any resonably skilled mechanic can convert the bike in question to indexing for $60 or less.

(BTW...I know the Bianchi isnt available. I'm just commenting)

desconhecido 

It's not a bad comparison. You've got gas pipe Peugeots with bottom of the line Simplex components selling for $200 or so. Here you have a decently made bike with Columbus chrome-moly tubing and decent, though not top-of -the-line, components. It's not SLX, but it's not a crap bike, and the Peugeot mixtes are crap bikes. Not that there's anything wrong with a crap bike.

As for converting this thing to indexed you've got a freewheel, a chain, a rear derailleur, some sort of shifters, and an hour's labor. Maybe if you go crap-level Shimano and Sun Race DT shifters you can do it, so long as your mechanic doesn't have a green card.

roccobike

After obtaining my too small, Taiwanese, Celeste Bianchi, I started looking for one that is my size that's a good price. That was two years ago. I'm still looking.
The problem is that bike is Celeste. The price was high, but folks that are looking for one just get tired and pay the price after a while. I'm not surprised its sold.

Chicago Al 

Chicago is a hot bike market, and with the beautiful weather we've been having lately especially so. I met a fellow C&Ver last night, a guy who does some fixing up/flipping, and he had just sold three bikes. In a market like this, Bianchi is a name that absolutely brings a premium.

And it should.

After all, it's Italian!


ps: Welcome to C&V, megarot. (cousin to megatron?) See you around. We have C&V rides occasionally, you should join us! Don't worry about missing the Bianchi. I missed one last December that I regretted...then a month later got a (probably) better bike for less money. Keep watching CL, read here and learn, be patient, and be ready to pounce!

miamijim

My track record speaks for itself.