T-Mar

That actually looks like the Danish bicycle VIN code. It would represent the 22nd bicycle of 2015. The BK designator is for Danish manufacturer Kildemoes who is now part of CycleEurope , who also owns Bianchi.

tronnyjenkins 

That is odd about the tubulars and rims being different. Sweet ride.

Wildwood

Ohhh, 10 indexed - stupid me.

I love it.




Disregard below comments:
They should just pick another word for the name.
But that's OK too, just blatantly tapping into a marketing trend that seems to be growing.
Joint venture/concept with the L'Eroica org?
Maybe more will follow - Bikes Direct L'Eroica

Oldairhead 

No, 10 speed friction.

Wildwood

I'd be interested in the first ride report.

It is a gorgeous bike.

John E

???
Outer rings in the high 40s, particularly 49, were very popular, and the default (only?) size of the inner ring on a Campag. triple was 36. Lots of bikes came with combinations like 50-36, so 48-36 seems highly appropriate for either an authentic classic or a faithful reproduction.

DiabloScott

You know - I think I'd be OK with an index/friction toggle switch there... ride index on regular rides and switch to friction for Heroic rides.

Salamandrine 

Something like 48/36 was pretty typical for the randonneur bikes of the 1950s. However, 52/42 or something very close to it was standard from mid 60s to at least 1987, though towards the end 53/39 was favored (still common). There were always some people using half step gearing also.

I'm not sure on typical gearing for racing bikes prior to the mid 60s, but I'd guess it was similar -- perhaps with a larger small chainring? (45T)

Oldairhead 

The hubs are ENE Ciclo by Dia Compe along with the bars, stem, post, brakes and crank-set and shifters. They are all etched with Bianchi lettering though.

Oldairhead 

Okay, I finally got it done, with a few changes. I put on Compass 32c tires instead of the 23's that came on it. I used Brooks bar tape instead of the white cotton which was supplied. I also moved the bars to have the tops level flat and the brake levers moved up a bit to suit my preferred hand position. And, I changed out the black cable housings for red, used red toe straps and added a VO bottle cage. I still have not ridden it yet, perhaps this weekend!

SloButWide 

Wow, it looks fantastic. I think I have (another) grail bike. Perhaps in 20 years, when it's vintage!

GovernorSilver

Very nice mods to an already beautiful bike!

I didn't even notice Bianchi USA added it to the All-Road section of their website until somebody was asking for recommendations for inexpensive gravel grinders. I directed him to the Volpe Classic/Volpe Disc then I noticed that pretty new model (Eroica) on the page.

The "certified for Eroica events" in the description in turn led me to discover L'Eroica and L'Eroica California. Now I'm interested in doing such a ride at some point in life and will be checking in on this forum on occasion, because I don't have a pre-1988 road bike (or certified vintage-style modern bike) at the moment.

Drillium Dude 

I want to know, too. Were these developed exclusively for 10-speed friction shifting? Inquiring minds want to know

Nice choice on the leather covering for the bars and particularly the red housing/toe straps. Bianchi should've nailed that themselves - those added red highlights really work. Too bad about the goof on their part regarding the wheel swap, but I guess the important thing is in your case you got exactly what you needed!

Enjoy that bike

DD

CliffordK

Beautiful bike.

I kind of a love-hate relationship with old junk and mismatched parts.

Sometimes it would be nice to just start new, even if it is "retro".

RobbieTunes

According to Bicycling magazine, the FD/RD were developed specifically for this bike. They included it in their latest issue of 29 "gotta have" bikes. The best part of the writeup on this one was the very end, when the author (Editor of the magazine) said, in a nutshell, it reminds you of why you ride bikes in the first place.

Drillium Dude 

Thanks, Robbie. What year/month was that issue? I may have to check this "29 Gotta Have Bikes" thing. Was it a series; one bike per issue?

DD

Lascauxcaveman 

Really, really like the look of that bike!

But what's going on with that drive side chainstay? Does it have a clear plastic appliqué on it to protect it from a bouncing chain? Funny shadow? Reflection?

R3tired

That is a really nice bike.

RobbieTunes

It came about a week ago, because I take it to my 5 am diner on Saturdays, read it, eat, and give it to my friend behind counter. As with all bike magazines, most of the staff doesn't have a clue about the bike, but the editor seemed to like it just fine. Nice pics, too. All 29 bikes in the same issue, little or no other content. The only bike I'd have in that issue, given the pricing, is the L'Eroica. The others are just bikes. I'd take it straight to High Point NC to Ken Toda to photograph. Then I'd ride the heck out of it.

Oldairhead, that is one beautiful bike, and I 100% agree with your changes. Bianchi should have set it up that way, as far as the wrap and housing, clip straps. Perhaps a brown Challenge bag is in order?

Oldairhead 

I used the provided chain-stay protector because it is a pretty thick clear plastic. I usually use clear packing tape so if this one starts to annoy me I will rip it off.

You guys have really sharp eyes. Nothing gets by this crowd!

Drillium Dude 

Ah, so it's out now. Good to know. I rarely pick up Bicycling or any other cycling rag these days, but I may have to make an exception here. I wonder if anything in my stable is considered "29-worthy"

DD

RobbieTunes

Let's just say Bicycling, like many bike magazines, is about its advertisers. Every bike is "stiff yet compliant" and "perhaps the only bike you need," and "good enough for club rides and weekend racing." i.e. if it's not new, most magazines don't really address them; sometimes in side articles. One magazine had a feature each month on a vintage bike, and a "column" by a steel fan, but I forget which one it was.

If I could only buy 1 magazine (I usually don't buy any, got Bicycling for $11 for a year), it would be Peloton. Best art and photography in the bike magazine world.

Oldairhead 

Campy Silver Vintage: I believe that they just pulled out some old tooling and made a limited run of these things. Maybe it was an old Veloce unit brought back to life.

Almost any derailleur will work with friction levers. It doesn't matter if it is linear or non-linear in its travel. All that matters is that the lever has enough cable pull to get through the full range.

A while back I used some down-tube frictions levers with an early 10 speed Campy Record RD. It shifted fine, but it took the entire travel of the lever (stop to stop) to hit all 10 gears. I think that this Gran Compe shift lever pulls a little more cable than older DT levers.

Henry III

I tried 10 spd friction and didn't like having to nearly spin the lever almost all the way around. Maybe they adjusted the cable pull ratio for the RD? I would of toss on some Record shift levers to go along with the rest of the Campag mechs and maybe some Super Record brake levers too.

Nice looking bike nevertheless and have fun with it!

rccardr 

Very nice job on the build, looking forward to seeing it and you at Eroica CA in five weeks!