Bianchi... Mariah? Identification help requested
03-20-21, 09:15 AM
#1
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Bianchi... Mariah? Identification help requested
I picked this bike up yesterday evening.
It was on facebook marketplace quite cheap. Clearly a nice frame with few original parts. The Command shifters are what sold me on it. I can't find any information on the model though.
XC Pro hubs laced to very worn Araya VX-400 rims. Lovely cantilevers with very nice cable yokes with integrated quick release. I have no idea what the brake levers are, but the hoods are in fantastic shape. Fork blade decals say "Gerber". Someone has cut off the eyelets on the front and rear dropouts
Double-butted Prestige tubing with a ding in the seat tube. I've never seen on of these Suntour top-pull front mechs before. The Deore cranks and Shimano cartridge bottom bracket must be replacements.
... And the bottom bracket shell is cracked. It's disappointing, but I was planning to pick a lot of parts off the frame anyway. Does anyone know anything about this bike? Is it a Volpe with personalized decals? Some strange Canadian-market cyclocross model? I didn't find any Volpes with the gray/white/neon fade paint in a brief search. Thanks for your help!
It was on facebook marketplace quite cheap. Clearly a nice frame with few original parts. The Command shifters are what sold me on it. I can't find any information on the model though.
XC Pro hubs laced to very worn Araya VX-400 rims. Lovely cantilevers with very nice cable yokes with integrated quick release. I have no idea what the brake levers are, but the hoods are in fantastic shape. Fork blade decals say "Gerber". Someone has cut off the eyelets on the front and rear dropouts
Double-butted Prestige tubing with a ding in the seat tube. I've never seen on of these Suntour top-pull front mechs before. The Deore cranks and Shimano cartridge bottom bracket must be replacements.
... And the bottom bracket shell is cracked. It's disappointing, but I was planning to pick a lot of parts off the frame anyway. Does anyone know anything about this bike? Is it a Volpe with personalized decals? Some strange Canadian-market cyclocross model? I didn't find any Volpes with the gray/white/neon fade paint in a brief search. Thanks for your help!
03-20-21, 11:38 AM
#2
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I had one of these pass through my shop. The frame was too big. I sold it and kept all the parts. This was a top end Bianchi cross bike back in the day. Mariah is not the name of the model.
I picked up a Pinarello cross. I'm tempted to use the parts from this model Bianchi on that bike . . .
I picked up a Pinarello cross. I'm tempted to use the parts from this model Bianchi on that bike . . .
Last edited by bikemig; 03-20-21 at 11:41 AM.
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03-20-21, 11:40 AM
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It's a 1990-1991 model in Bianchi's Cross-Terrain series. Based on the colour scheme. Prestige tubeset, mainly SunTour XC-Pro components and drop bars, it should be the Equinox model. At the time it was several steps above the Volpe and was 2nd in the Cross-Terrain series, being just below the Project-7, which was basically the same bicycle but with a flat bar (and which could arguably lay claim to being the original 29er ATB). Original MSRP was $1250 (curiously the same in Canada and the USA). The serial number should provide the exact build date.
Last edited by T-Mar; 03-20-21 at 11:45 AM.
03-20-21, 12:50 PM
#4
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Originally Posted by T-Mar
It's a 1990-1991 model in Bianchi's Cross-Terrain series. Based on the colour scheme. Prestige tubeset, mainly SunTour XC-Pro components and drop bars, it should be the Equinox model. At the time it was several steps above the Volpe and was 2nd in the Cross-Terrain series, being just below the Project-7, which was basically the same bicycle but with a flat bar (and which could arguably lay claim to being the original 29er ATB). Original MSRP was $1250 (curiously the same in Canada and the USA). The serial number should provide the exact build date.
03-22-21, 10:28 AM
#5
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Thread Starter
After taking a closer look, I don't think the bottom bracket shell is cracked.
I took the frame to the bike shop I work at, and one of the other mechanics suggested probing the crack with a sharp point. Seems to be just a paint scratch. Also no visible crack or evidence of rust inside the BB shell. The "crack" would be just past the threads in the bottom picture.
I'm honestly disappointed, I really wanted to get rid of this frame
I need another bike project like I need a hole in the head, and I would want to get new eyelets brazed on and the frame repainted if I were to do anything with this. I guess it will go under the bed with the other "long term projects"...
I took the frame to the bike shop I work at, and one of the other mechanics suggested probing the crack with a sharp point. Seems to be just a paint scratch. Also no visible crack or evidence of rust inside the BB shell. The "crack" would be just past the threads in the bottom picture.
I'm honestly disappointed, I really wanted to get rid of this frame
I need another bike project like I need a hole in the head, and I would want to get new eyelets brazed on and the frame repainted if I were to do anything with this. I guess it will go under the bed with the other "long term projects"...
