Greetings all. New here and unfortunately unable to post pictures of the frame in question. However I need some guidance on a Bianchi Megatube which is bare in finish. All the ones I've come across are celeste in color. I'm curious to know if the unpainted titanium finish was also available from Bianchi. I'm told the frame was purchased from another bike collector in this state and has not been altered.
Thanks in advance

Hello and welcome to the forums. What country are you and the bike in? According the '97 and '98 Bianchi U.S.A. catalog there were two similar but different frames. The Ti MegaTube had the aero foil or 'coffin' chaped DT that increased in size as it neared the BB shell and was offered in Celeste. Then there was a Ti Aero tube that featured a similar aero foil shaped DT but it was the same size top to bottom and was offeren in brushed Ti finish.

I am guessing you have the latter. I am sure it was an honest case of mistaken identity as it would take a real Bianchophile to know the difference. I had to double check because I knew there were frames offered in natural finish but I just wasn't sure just what was what. Hope this helps.

Very interesting! This had me puzzled and then I got your email and after looking at the pics I was totally at a loss. After rereading your email I see the frame is coming from Russia. I kept thinking it was a mountain bike because of the cantilever studs, but the DT bosses discounted that. I can't find a Ti cyclocross bike in the US catalogs so this must be a European or even a Russian model Cyclocross frame. Did I see this listed somewhere recently? It seems vaguely familiar? I can't wait to see pics of it built up.

Thank you for all the great info. Hopefully it'll arrive in the next few weeks from Russia. Currently it cleared their customs and is in route. Once received I'll get more detailed pictures and maybe that will help get some more info.

As for now, the collection of parts for the build begins!

Colnago and others sourced a Russian ti builder to make frames for them in the '90s, this could be one of them. Colnago Ti Oval Masters were from that company, I don't recall the name but I had one, it rode a bit stiff but it was nice enough. I bumped into another rider who had the exact same frame but with Norco decals on it.

Thanks for the info. I reached out to the seller in Russia with some questions. He mentioned it could be a cyclecross frame but the cantilever lugs are what's getting me. He stated it could be a custom frame built by Bianchi, which I wasnt aware they do. I'm at a loss

I have a few more pics I can upload soon

So your saying the Rooskies reverse engineered Bianchi's Ti coffin shaped DT and built their own bikes then branded them Colnago, Bianchi and others?

No, he's saying that that Bianchi and Colnago contracted a Russian frame builder to manufacturer titanium frames them. Consequently, they would be legitimate Bianchi and Colnago frames.

So I emailed a seldom used contact at Bianchi U.S.A., and I suspected what happens in Italy is very murky from our point of view.

" "Yes, they probably did make that in Italy. When the factory was making their own Ti frames, they went on to make them for most every use. The US only brought in the road version, but no idea where the other versions went. Some were very low productions or special "custom" ones too, that never made it into catalogs. It may have even been when the Bianchi team had Russian riders...not sure on that one though.
Sorry no real clarifications, but it may have made it into an Italian catalog back then, but not ours." "

Thank you for that great info. As suspected this was designed for the rider in mind hence the presence of the cantilever lugs. Unfortunately for me my intentions of using it as a Campy setup road bike have since went out the the window. I guess it'll go right back up on eBay when I receive it

I wouldn't give up that easily. You can go all Campy other than the brakes. You must have known that going in since the canti studs are clearly visible?

I didn't pay attention to that major detail. Prior to purchasing all of my research showed the Megatube as a road bike so without hesitation I saw this as a opportunity to take my chorus groupset and slap it on a frame and be good.

I could always do the above mentioned. I'll see once the frame arrives

The OP can still go full Campagnolo, as they made cantilevers for those early 1990s collections that they marketed as ATB groups.

Unfortunately it has not. Tracking hasn't changed status since 1/13

Bummer. Where is coming from Siberia?

Moscow per the tracking

It cleared their customs and still being held in US customs?? Do you have exact info on what the tracking says...this is kind of interesting..

Released from Russia
13 January 2019, 22:38 102902, Моscow

That's what the tracking shows

Hey did this ever arrive? What's up with it?

I found a similar frame sans fork with canti set up bizarre
i may just buy it to get a sweet cross style bike guy wants $300.
nj

this is bike finished....amazing.

love it. crazy fast..stiff. not a comfy ti frame.

Non drive side pic?


Nice build I would love to get a hold of one of those