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The rear wheel for the Bianchi is done! There’s a small flat spot on the rim that was impossible to remove so it’s as close as I could get it. Like the front wheel, I left the assymetric lacing but flipped the rim to read from the drive side.
All the ferrules on the rim were a bit rusty but I was able to get them looking 95% better. The braking surfaces on the rim look new, showing just how little use this bike saw. I have just a few small parts to find before the actual build can start. Getting there! https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eb1972d44.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...645345150.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...94170aeee.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a9a7b1184.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9efe2a0e8.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b0a89e6d8.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8b5140b29.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b696f40be.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...68c4702d0.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bcd8649f5.jpeg |
You have more patience than most people do. Or some other quality.
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I received a set of pedals from jdawginsc and have cleaned and polished the right pedal at this point. They were the only parts still missing before I could build the bike (coming soon). They have a bit more wear than the rest of the bike, but they’ll do. Here are a few before and after photos and the requisite exploded view. Thanks again, jdawginsc!
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...618bb2b46.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aaa5e35f9.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...540c6542f.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1bd38d6a1.jpeg |
Originally Posted by Brad L
(Post 23704175)
I received a set of pedals from jdawginsc and have cleaned and polished the right pedal at this point. They were the only parts still missing before I could build the bike (coming soon). They have a bit more wear than the rest of the bike, but they’ll do. Here are a few before and after photos and the requisite exploded view. Thanks again, jdawginsc!
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...618bb2b46.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aaa5e35f9.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...540c6542f.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1bd38d6a1.jpeg |
Originally Posted by jdawginsc
(Post 23704240)
Glad! It is a good cause! Love the exploded view. Those took a polish well. Did you use a dremel in the tight spots?
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Well, that’s not good. Once I removed the cap on the left pedal I found water had gotten inside and caused quite a bit of rust. All bearing surfaces are heavily pitted. I contacted jdawginsc and he graciously offered a full refund, but I found an NOS set of pedal bodies and will use many of the parts from these pedals to build out the NOS ones. We agreed on a partial refund. I also found an inexpensive set with bad bodies but good spindles that I can also use. Getting there.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...52883fae0.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8d292a9ce.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9cbb4dc43.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...43fff4122.jpeg |
Yep. My fault. I had bought these from a member and was eventually going to overhaul them, but Brad’s need for them exceeded mine so I thought I’d help out, and just sent them along for what I paid.
I should have taken them apart. Oops. Thankfully all is working out well! |
The Chorus pedal saga continues. I received the rough set of pedals first and found the internals were in excellent condition despite the exterior being broken and bent. A few days later I received the NOS bodies, still with protective grease on the bearing surfaces. That grease had dried and was very difficult to remove, but left pristine bearing surfaces.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...10fe94daf.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e2cdc8c6a.jpeg As if it was karma, I purchased this little gem a few days ago that holds the cone as you tighten the nut. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c476eccab.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9241986ed.jpeg Even though they really didn’t need it, I still polished and waxed the bodies to make them really shine! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...45a989071.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b7951a0e5.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...57eaad655.jpeg I’d previously bought a set of NOS clips from sloar and I found an NOS set of Campagnolo straps from the same person I bought the tool from. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a5e04d731.jpeg The pedals are now complete and ready to install. These are about as new as you can find. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...93493bbb1.jpeg |
It’s finally time for the build! I’ll see if I can get the Synchros II shifters working properly.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...44640af91.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b561af589.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...24c6b44b8.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f80adf29c.jpeg |
WOW great job. I love that original Chorus group.
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Originally Posted by Brad L
(Post 23711478)
The Chorus pedal saga continues. I received the rough set of pedals first and found the internals were in excellent condition despite the exterior being broken and bent. A few days later I received the NOS bodies, still with protective grease on the bearing surfaces. That grease had dried and was very difficult to remove, but left pristine bearing surfaces.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...10fe94daf.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e2cdc8c6a.jpeg As if it was karma, I purchased this little gem a few days ago that holds the cone as you tighten the nut. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c476eccab.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9241986ed.jpeg Even though they really didn’t need it, I still polished and waxed the bodies to make them really shine! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...45a989071.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b7951a0e5.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...57eaad655.jpeg I’d previously bought a set of NOS clips from sloar and I found an NOS set of Campagnolo straps from the same person I bought the tool from. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a5e04d731.jpeg The pedals are now complete and ready to install. These are about as new as you can find. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...93493bbb1.jpeg |
After finishing the last component, the pedals, it was time to start the build. I always start with the bottom bracket since it’s easier if there’s nothing else in the way. I then move on to the headset, the crankset, both derailleurs, and the shifters.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3ad36f57e.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1eb694e69.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3d55945d4.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fe01b38e6.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fb28b870b.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2108fb616.jpeg |
The original cable housing was pearl white and the condition was too poor to reuse. Try as I might, there is no pearl white housing available. I opted to use regular white housing instead. One issue I found was the shift housing at the rear derailleur is 4.5mm od and not the normal 5mm. The ferrules for this housing fit the cable stops perfectly but don’t fit the new 5mm housing. To resolve this, and still look close to original, I trimmed the plastic covering back the depth of the ferrules.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...52b0a8ee9.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aa477c90f.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f91da6af6.jpeg |
Then it was time for cables. I first installed the shifter cables. The front derailleur cable was easy, but I left the rear derailleur cable uncut until I could focus on adjusting the Syncro II shifters correctly. I installed the stem/handlebar assembly at the ridiculous height I need thanks to the neck surgery a year ago. The brakes cable were a bit fiddly getting the little aero insert into the levers, but it went fairly quickly.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bb110ba07.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...07c3a5bfa.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...91ed2e004.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b7870a557.jpeg |
The last bits to do were wrapping the bars (I used Fizik tape because the color was closest. Not a fan of the tape, though), install the Chorus shorty seatpost (thanks, jdawginsc !), the Bianchi saddle (thanks, Thalia949 !), and finally the pedals (thanks again, jdawginsc !).
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...97b75162b.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d46044586.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...833fa86e2.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...44ddac15e.jpeg |
I took it out for a short shakedown ride and everything seems to be working properly. The Syncro II index shifters seem to be working well enough. I’m taking it out to a group ride tomorrow with the plastic bikes.
Here she is in the sun. Thanks, everyone, for following along. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0cd341ce3.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b92bb2368.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6c10b8b6c.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...40410fa71.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f82038378.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...966acc5bd.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a1e021968.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d37dda6b5.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aa0a6492d.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b25668b59.jpeg |
Congrats on getting the Bianchi completed - such a thoughtful and high quality restoration! Thanks for sharing the journey with us.
Enjoy riding it - it will likely be the envy of your plastic bike friends! |
Originally Posted by Brad L
(Post 23689692)
The rear wheel for the Bianchi is done! There’s a small flat spot on the rim that was impossible to remove so it’s as close as I could get it. Like the front wheel, I left the assymetric lacing but flipped the rim to read from the drive side.
All the ferrules on the rim were a bit rusty but I was able to get them looking 95% better. The braking surfaces on the rim look new, showing just how little use this bike saw. I have just a few small parts to find before the actual build can start. Getting there! https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b696f40be.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bcd8649f5.jpeg |
Originally Posted by PDXtattooer66
(Post 23715259)
WOW. Great job!!
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I took the Bianchi out for its first play date with the plastic bikes. Everything worked very well, even the Syncro II index shifting.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fefff7e3d.jpeg |
And on your 1,000th activity, too!
The bike is spectacularly clean. I trust you will let it get dirty. Well, I suppose you must have done so in those 44 miles. |
Originally Posted by noglider
(Post 23715965)
And on your 1,000th activity, too!
The bike is spectacularly clean. I trust you will let it get dirty. Well, I suppose you must have done so in those 44 miles. |
Originally Posted by Brad L
(Post 23716089)
The bars are merely 1" higher than the Merckx but it felt so much more comfortable and stable. It'll be my primary ride until my custom Hans Schneider frame is ready sometime in the late summer. It'll be steel but running Campagnolo SR 11-speed.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d1d32f7f7b.png :thumb: Full SR was not in the cards. :D |
Nothing quite like an immaculate new old racing bicycle. Looks fantastic, great job. My c. 1997 Bianchi TSX has given me plenty of miles of enjoyment. It took me 25 years to stumble across a Bianchi RC in my size in NZ, they were few and far between back then, but I’d wanted one since seeing a pair of Soecialissimas hanging in a friends garage in the Bay Area in the early 1990s.
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Originally Posted by merziac
(Post 23716099)
Great minds again? :innocent:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d1d32f7f7b.png :thumb: Full SR was not in the cards. :D |
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