That's a great find. Bianchi USA was run by a bunch of spectacularly imaginative people in those days (and probably still is), led (I believe) by Sky Yeager. I've still got my Bianchi lapel button from a mid-'80s trade show. Audaciously, they didn't bother with a Bianchi slogan; it's just painted celeste.

Yeah, Sky was responsible for the Pista and all its variants. She recently worked with Shinola to produce their Waterford-made bikes... There's just something special about celeste.

I recommend the Nitto M12. It would bolt directly to your cantilever posts and fork crown. It's way stronger and more secure than the Sunlite Goldtec rack linked earlier (which only mounts to the posts, not to the crown).

The M12 is available online for $80 shipped. It's nowhere near as cheap as the Sunlite, but it would definitely out-perform and out-last it. Plus, the M12's chrome finish looks great on vintage bikes.

@Caliwild, you're welcome! The finer QC on these vary. There is a stubborn rattling in mine that is coming from an extra piece of aluminum bouncing around in the rack tubes, but as you mentioned, for the price, worth a shot.

I have the Sunlite rack and it does attach to the fork crown. I know the pic doesn't show it, but unless they changed the design recently it has 3 attachment points.

That's good to know. It seems more capable now.

OK, after talking to the boys at my LBS, I decided to go with the Nitto M12 rack. They suggested a Wald 137 basket, which will go right on top of the Nitto M12. It seems to be a very practical way to haul stuff around. Now, I need to find a bag that fits in there. This one is very nice but spendy: Sugarloaf Basket Bag ? Swift Industries


Got a little too excited and got some Paul skewers and Moon Units too. They said my brakes were fine but that the pads were shot (well, they are almost 30 years old). So, I also purchased some Koolstop salmon pads. Oh, and definitely needed a bell so picked up one of these: Crane Suzu Mini Headset Spacer Bell - Neo Black


Will post pics once everything is on there... Thanks for all the advice!

Sounds like you're set!

Rivendell and Treetop both make "shopper" style bags that fit the medium Wald basket.

But they're ~$70 each (handmade of waxed canvas, so there ya go).

Personally, I'd just use whatever bag or backpack I already have, and use a bungee net to hold it down.

Maybe it is a language problem but cyclocross bikes were around very, very much earlier. Do you mean cross type bike - or cyclocross type bike (as per the title of the thread)?

Cyclocross as a competition class has been around since the early 1900 and as a typical type of bike as we (in Europe) know it at least since the 1960ies.

Here is a Merckx cyclocross, ex pro bike, of the mid 80ies:





I would better write that this is not to make your bike lesser - it is super nice - but it is not an "early" cyclocross bike.

styggno1, CX was popular in Europe far earlier than it became popular in N. America. On this subject anyway, our old is y'all's fairly recent.

Brad

Thanks for the suggestions! Those two look nice but almost too tall/big. One of my friends suggested a military supply bag. They apparently come in a size that fits right into the wald 137... Oh, and let me just say the Paul skewers are pieces of art...

No worries... I just meant that it was an early attempt by Bianchi. I could be wrong, but I don't think Bianchi made an attempt at a cyclocross bike before this one...

Caliwild, The Equinox may predate the Volpe, I can't find anything definitive.

Brad

Update... Here is the new pic with the Nitto rack, Wald basket, Crane bell and Paul components. Also put a light mount on the rack so I can throw on a Cateye Volt light...