So there I was mindig my own business and browsing Marketplace and what do I see a decent looking better quality Bianchi for what? Whait where is that? Really? A good looking Campanutella equipped steel, lugged even, around my size, in my town Bianchi for only $250? HHHMmmmmm. I tried to ignore it because there is something else in the works but it kept nagging me. Soooo I messaged them and off I went after work yesterday to check her out. There is an issue with the RD and much to my relief the hander wasn't bent. I offered $150 and they accepted it and Samantha came home with me.

So Everyone meet Samantha Reno a 1997 Bianchi San Remo, get it, with a Dedacciai tubing in the legendary SuperSet 2 design and mostly Mirage with a triple cranks and Tektro cantilevers.



She's apparently been kicking around in storage the last few years and needs lots of TLC but I think I can make her beautiful again. She is supposed to be a real deal touring bike according to the '97 catalog so she's riding on 36h Campanutella wheels, rack brazeons and even a third set of bottle brazeons under the DT.

You can see more gritty details here, https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/32928324 unfortunately I need to get the Proto back together, and probably the other "secret" project before I can really start on Samantha

I had of those in 55cm, if it had been 58-60cm I might have never bought another bike. Just a great bike.

Hello Could a [MENTION=333598]Moderator[/MENTION] make a change to the title for me? I ment for it to say "Everyone meet Samantha Reno" and please add *Bianchi Content*

Thanks a bunch

52telecaster if she doesn't work out you can be first in line.

That is going to make a fine ride. I look forward to seeing it all cleaned up and done with what you are going to do.

Such a great frameset. It was also my first experience with brifters and man did they work well.

I'm ambivalent to them. It would be nice if they work but DT or BarCons will be fine for me. I need to get the RD sorted first, after I get my Bianchi Proto back together.

Thank You

Those are the cool barrel style Tektro cantis. Nice find.

That's going to clean up beautifully and the front fork is svelte/sexy OMG.

If I could have only one bicycle, it would be a road touring bike similar to that, with clearance for wide tires and perhaps mudguards, powerful brakes, lots of gears, and rear rack accommodations.

To be honest, they were the only brifters I ever liked. Later I tried some Shimano 10 speed which convinced me that suntour friction barcons were what I wanted forever but the 8 speed campy worked beautifully. Currently I run barcons or sturmey archer three speed switches but I have to say the campy mirage stuff was really good in my experience.

+1 on this. This is the swiss army knife style of bikes. I picked up a lugged Trek 750 hybrid (same geometry as the 520s) just for this reason. Now I just need to build it, . I had a Bianchi touring similar to the OP's and I thought it was a very fine, all around bike.

Nice deal!

Is it possible that merely connecting the stiff cable housing and tightening the B-tension will restore the proper angle of the rear derailer?

Or maybe the B-screw is bent off center?

Here's hopin' that the spring ain't broken!

I see a big smile on the face of the proprietor of the trashpanda workshop

For some reason this thread reminded me of this song. "Not Reno, darling, Rio! Rio de Jannero!"


Very attractive frame, BTW. Nice find!

I wasn’t aware that in 1997 nice lugged frames such as this were still available. I kinda thought they were all tig welded by then, but I am pleased with this new knowledge.

Just like kittens you got to be careful bringing a new bike into the family. Fortunately things didn't get too out of hand and I''ll survive after a long soak in some hydrogen peroxide. I'll let them rest before seperating them



sd5782 I think '97 was the last gasp for lugs, maybe '98

squirtdad Yes I do! I've been wanting a '80 model San Remo or the Portifino but this just as good.

dddd This little thingie is for some reason off the RD. I tried to replace it but it's ovalized or something and the bolt won't slide through it.



52telecaster It's the shape. The early shipmano ones were too round or something, I had a pair of the early 105 SC ones and never like the feel. The ergos are just more comfortable to hold onto

I couldn't read the label on your link photo and haven't gone out to look at my bike but I am pretty certain you have the same Mirage RD I've got. Mine's shifted with top of DT mounted Superbe and is the smoothest shifting RD I've ever had and as positive as the best of the SunTours. For a (once) 52-42-28, (now) 50-38-24 triple by 9-speed to 28 teeth, a keeper. Stays on that best bike 'til it dies.

Nice bike! Strikes me as being in the vein of some of the best of the Japanese sport bikes. A sweet ride ready to go anywhere. (The Ti Cycles the Mirage sits on is inspired by those bikes.) It looks like you have much more tire clearance than I've got. I asked for clearance for just 28c and fenders and I have to cut long ovals in the rear fender at the seat tube (I like my rear wheels as far forward as I can get them; otherwise they bounce on fast downhill corners because I tend to pull my weight forward). So off road your bike would rule but on pavement, buddies. Steel and ti buddies. Bound by their elegant steel forks.

Btw I think mine was a 98 and it was lugged. So I'm guessing that was the last year.

Meanwhile at Casa Zarina the Trash Panda Werks Special Projects crew is busy getting the Proto waxed and sorted for reassembly

There was a lot of red tape and fanagalling but we finally received the special Reparto Corse wax that is blessed by the Pope only on 17 July in honor of Edoardo Bianchi


While waiting for the wax to dry we took some candid pics of the "heavy" work area and tools. How many Campagnolo items can you spot? Be careful! Believe or not there is a Park Chain Checker and Star nut setting tool hidden in there too.



Lots of special Reparto Corse wax gooped all over the frame and lots of stuff hanging out. I should have a garage sale the weekend of the Auburn Show.

The Trash Panda Werks crews made a lot of progress yesterday. We got pretty much all the wax off, found a few errant spots this morning. We came in early and had a little snack and some covfefe while we made a game plan for today. I'm waiting on some little thingies and not sure if I want to finish the brakes or wait. I'm also torn on the RD. I bought a new to me nice looking 1st Gen Chorus last year I really want to put on... but the shifting was so smooth with that GPX last summer.


I'll have to get the album for this project updated. I stoopidly made an effort to find this cute little Mexican bakery/store a few weeks ago and I think it was a big mistake.

I think the pastry looks like a highly stylized brain. No idea why it strikes me that way.

Samantha Reno is getting some attention today. Music by Laufey

Not sure why I’ve dragging my feet in this Vickie has been for almost a month now but poor Samantha hasn’t been touched yet. I thinksome of the problems are I don't like dealing with cantilever brakes, despite now having 4 bikes equipped with them. There are several unknowns that might either be expensive or really change the look of the bikes in the end.

1) The rear derailer needs fixed (see earlier comments) and I've tried and can't do it. It needs stronger hands and a good vice. If I have to replace it I'm not sure if I can find a long cage 8speed in good shape. I have a black long cage Mirage arouns but I believe it to be nine speed and not sure if it's compatible with the 8spd brifters/cassette.

2) the brifters are another thing I don't ofeten deal with and therefore I think make me put this project off. But it's got to be done.

3) Vision. Ususally, as I am sure most of you do, I have a clear idea what a project will look like when I done. THis one is eluding me partly because of the above issues. Initially it was overhaul and clean then rebuild with Celeste cables, tape, cages (maybe) and brown inexpensive leather saddle. Now I'm not sure. If the brifters, pacifically the right, are junk do I go with a Dt shifter or barend? Or even something radical like a pair of Deore thumbies on the top of the bar? A pair of Suntour Power Ratchet shifters on the stem would even be different.

4) if the brifters go then I need brake levers.... Campagnolo one? or the Tektro made for Cantilevers and V brakes?



Pretty sure this stem is going. but not certai what I'm replacing it with. Robvolz sent me a Hybrid type stem but I'm not sure if I want to use it or a quill adapter and threadless stem so I can play with the handlebar position.



I had forgotten to take tools along but thankfully the seatpost came right out.

Very scratched brifter may explain the bent bars. I hope these work.

Things are progressing. I've gotten all the cables and chain off now it's time to tackle the cranks, if the BB is smooth I'm leaving it in, it's one of those sealed units with the weird notched flange cups. then it will be time to tackle the headset and see what's going in there.



Not sure why there are no adjusters in the dropouts, and I forgot to check before taking a brake to see if they are broken or just missing.


RATZ! Sorry for the lousy pic, I need to try and get this fixed but. The aforementioned RD. If you will recall the little thing that holds the upper tension spring in place came off somehow. I have all the parts it's just a matter if getting it back together.

The HS is really stiff, hope it isn’t buggered up


I may have to change the graphics on here but not sure what to do. Most of the graphics seem have some sort of scratches or gunk in/on them. I could probably find most of what need on line but it might be better to bride my sister to help me make some new custom ones over the winter.

Great bike and great find!

The question of restoring or replacing the decals is one we all run into. On Samantha, she wears the patina well, you could go either way.

Wide tire, barrel adjust canit's - a great bike.