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New to me +1 celeste

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Old 12-24-25 | 09:51 PM
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Bikes: 1960s Raleigh sport, 1991 paramount, 1988 Maruishi, 1982 olympic12, 1975 Nishiki Olympic custom, 1995 bianchi celeste, 1986 tvt carbon alum lugged, 1985ish Eddie Merckx frame only, 1985 batavus NOS Bernard hinault edition, 1972 Carlton frame only

New to me +1 celeste

Found this early 90s for a deal. The early veloce 8 spd group actually works better than anticipated. The superset 2 frame is underrated imo or maybe it’s not. You can see the difference in the look on each side. All the decals are torn, chunks missing etc so off they come.
Lugged frame is calling, “I need a quill stem and lugged fork please” no problem it’s on the list.
Merry Christmas to me and all of you out there

[img alt="Some older vintage bianchi decals will look so much better.
"]https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_8331_499abd139f5fbc823975aeadce31b0f3917e6051.jpeg[/img]
Some older vintage bianchi decals will look so much better.
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Old 12-24-25 | 09:57 PM
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Bikes: 1960s Raleigh sport, 1991 paramount, 1988 Maruishi, 1982 olympic12, 1975 Nishiki Olympic custom, 1995 bianchi celeste, 1986 tvt carbon alum lugged, 1985ish Eddie Merckx frame only, 1985 batavus NOS Bernard hinault edition, 1972 Carlton frame only

[img alt="Some earlier vintage decals will improve the overall look.
It’s slightly on the heavy side but rides well. I threw the not so comfortable bianchi seat on it that I had laying around. "]https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_8331_c137f9bcfd9459b2749e0451d5b389db7681ec7b.jpeg[/img]

Some earlier vintage decals will improve the overall look. It’s slightly on the heavy side but rides well. I threw the not so comfortable bianchi seat on it that I had laying around.
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Old 12-24-25 | 10:19 PM
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Find a celeste lugged fork, or a chrome Tange?

You can buy silver Campy double pivot calipers for pretty cheap, too. The rest of the Veloce group looks pretty nice.
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Old 12-24-25 | 11:41 PM
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Bikes: 1960s Raleigh sport, 1991 paramount, 1988 Maruishi, 1982 olympic12, 1975 Nishiki Olympic custom, 1995 bianchi celeste, 1986 tvt carbon alum lugged, 1985ish Eddie Merckx frame only, 1985 batavus NOS Bernard hinault edition, 1972 Carlton frame only

Yes! I forgot I have silver dual pivot for it as well
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Old 12-24-25 | 11:43 PM
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Bikes: 1960s Raleigh sport, 1991 paramount, 1988 Maruishi, 1982 olympic12, 1975 Nishiki Olympic custom, 1995 bianchi celeste, 1986 tvt carbon alum lugged, 1985ish Eddie Merckx frame only, 1985 batavus NOS Bernard hinault edition, 1972 Carlton frame only

Here is the non drive side didn’t attach before
Here is the non drive side didn’t attach before
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Old 12-25-25 | 10:54 AM
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I like anything in Celeste.
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Old 12-25-25 | 12:05 PM
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Bikes: 1960s Raleigh sport, 1991 paramount, 1988 Maruishi, 1982 olympic12, 1975 Nishiki Olympic custom, 1995 bianchi celeste, 1986 tvt carbon alum lugged, 1985ish Eddie Merckx frame only, 1985 batavus NOS Bernard hinault edition, 1972 Carlton frame only

The decals had the thinnest coat of clear I’ve ever seen. Just lifted a corner and it works itself off pretty easy. Left glue behind but that was easy enough with a plastic scraper and goof off. A little paint correction and polish and it will really come around. Can’t wait to rid the bike of that fork and stem yuck
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Old 12-26-25 | 06:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Velosophy
The decals had the thinnest coat of clear I’ve ever seen. Just lifted a corner and it works itself off pretty easy. Left glue behind but that was easy enough with a plastic scraper and goof off. A little paint correction and polish and it will really come around. Can’t wait to rid the bike of that fork and stem yuck
What group is on that? Something doesn't add up. Whilst Bianchi started using unicrowns on their road bikes in '90ish looking through my catalogs seems to indicate threadless steerers weren't in vouge until the early 2000s but by then 9spd or more would have been in use. What tubing is the frame made of

Not sure I agree with the vintage decal idea.
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Old 12-26-25 | 09:20 AM
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Bikes: 1960s Raleigh sport, 1991 paramount, 1988 Maruishi, 1982 olympic12, 1975 Nishiki Olympic custom, 1995 bianchi celeste, 1986 tvt carbon alum lugged, 1985ish Eddie Merckx frame only, 1985 batavus NOS Bernard hinault edition, 1972 Carlton frame only

I haven’t dug into exact year. It is 8 spd though.
I already bought different decals for it. I was just not a fan of the black with silver surround it looks too contemporary for me. Many folks on here seem to be purists of originality. To me if the bike doesn’t have much value in the market for its originality I prefer my bikes to have the look I want. Gives me a project I actually enjoy. I have many projects with work I don’t particularly enjoy.
As Bianchi goes I really like the red decals over Celeste so that is what it will be.
Bianchigirl, it is superset 2 made with dedeccai. It is also tre tubi. If I got my hands on a very original bianchi race bike or any other manufacturer from say the 1970 or 80s I would not make any changes. But this 90s machine really is a sweet spot imo it’s has standard proportions, lugged steel, normal old school head tube, but with os downtube ovalised only at the bottom bracket. It’s a win win win
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Old 12-26-25 | 10:54 AM
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I agree with you wholeheartedly about the decals. The older red decals are simply gorgeous on the Celeste, while the modern ones are dull.

I don't have a Bianchi now but I do have a Mercian with the right color combination!


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Old 12-26-25 | 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Bianchigirll
What group is on that? Something doesn't add up. Whilst Bianchi started using unicrowns on their road bikes in '90ish looking through my catalogs seems to indicate threadless steerers weren't in vouge until the early 2000s but by then 9spd or more would have been in use. What tubing is the frame made of

Not sure I agree with the vintage decal idea.
That isn't a threadless steerer. That's a threaded headset with a quill adapter and two different sized spacers thrown in.
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Old 12-26-25 | 12:31 PM
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Bikes: 1960s Raleigh sport, 1991 paramount, 1988 Maruishi, 1982 olympic12, 1975 Nishiki Olympic custom, 1995 bianchi celeste, 1986 tvt carbon alum lugged, 1985ish Eddie Merckx frame only, 1985 batavus NOS Bernard hinault edition, 1972 Carlton frame only

Yes two owners back I think did the threadless conversion. Makes life easy once I find a chrome fork for it
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Old 12-26-25 | 12:40 PM
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Bikes: 1960s Raleigh sport, 1991 paramount, 1988 Maruishi, 1982 olympic12, 1975 Nishiki Olympic custom, 1995 bianchi celeste, 1986 tvt carbon alum lugged, 1985ish Eddie Merckx frame only, 1985 batavus NOS Bernard hinault edition, 1972 Carlton frame only

The Mercian above looks great. Thanks for posting!
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Old 12-26-25 | 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Velosophy
Yes two owners back I think did the threadless conversion. Makes life easy once I find a chrome fork for it
I wouldn't call sticking a quill adapter in a "threadless conversion". It is just a quill stem in two halves.

You could do a use a threadless fork, but you'll need a new threadless headset to do so. I think this bike will look better with a classic quill stem.
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Old 12-26-25 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Velosophy
The Mercian above looks great. Thanks for posting!
Thank you! It's a lovely bike but rather beat up. Thread here at Velo Vintage a GoGo: https://www.velovintageagogo.com/t24...ercian-olympic
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Old 12-27-25 | 09:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Kontact
That isn't a threadless steerer. That's a threaded headset with a quill adapter and two different sized spacers thrown in.
Originally Posted by Kontact
I wouldn't call sticking a quill adapter in a "threadless conversion". It is just a quill stem in two halves.

You could do a use a threadless fork, but you'll need a new threadless headset to do so. I think this bike will look better with a classic quill stem.
Yeah I think the wording caught me off and when the OP started talking about an older crowned fork I just thought it was threadless HS.

I have a few quill conversions as it's easy to change the stem of I want, or even bars without unwrapping them.
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Old 12-27-25 | 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Bianchigirll
Yeah I think the wording caught me off and when the OP started talking about an older crowned fork I just thought it was threadless HS.

I have a few quill conversions as it's easy to change the stem of I want, or even bars without unwrapping them.
It was decently well disguised.

I know my fit numbers well enough to figure out what stem is going to work so I don't have to go through a trial period and re-tape bars for quill stem swaps. But if you are figuring things out an adapter and threadless stem are certainly easier to deal with.

And once you have them figured out, put in a nice looking quill next time you replace your bar tape.
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Old 12-27-25 | 06:11 PM
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Bikes: 1960s Raleigh sport, 1991 paramount, 1988 Maruishi, 1982 olympic12, 1975 Nishiki Olympic custom, 1995 bianchi celeste, 1986 tvt carbon alum lugged, 1985ish Eddie Merckx frame only, 1985 batavus NOS Bernard hinault edition, 1972 Carlton frame only

As I didn’t clearly state it absolutely will have lugged fork and a quill stem. I’m still looking for the fork
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Old 01-04-26 | 12:56 AM
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Bikes: 1960s Raleigh sport, 1991 paramount, 1988 Maruishi, 1982 olympic12, 1975 Nishiki Olympic custom, 1995 bianchi celeste, 1986 tvt carbon alum lugged, 1985ish Eddie Merckx frame only, 1985 batavus NOS Bernard hinault edition, 1972 Carlton frame only

Found a fork. Removed chrome from steerer needs cut and threaded.
Found a fork. Removed chrome from steerer needs cut and threaded.
Can still make out old decal lines on downtube
Can still make out old decal lines on downtube
Still some wet sanding etc to get ready for new decals. Definitely some yellowing of the clear after 30ish years.
Still some wet sanding etc to get ready for new decals. Definitely some yellowing of the clear after 30ish years.
Always more work than originally anticipated
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Old 01-04-26 | 01:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Velosophy
Found a fork. Removed chrome from steerer needs cut and threaded.
Found a fork. Removed chrome from steerer needs cut and threaded.

Still some wet sanding etc to get ready for new decals. Definitely some yellowing of the clear after 30ish years.
Always more work than originally anticipated
Sometimes it is easier to extend the current threads, then cut.
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Old 01-04-26 | 08:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Velosophy
Found a fork. Removed chrome from steerer needs cut and threaded.
Found a fork. Removed chrome from steerer needs cut and threaded.
Can still make out old decal lines on downtube
Can still make out old decal lines on downtube
Still some wet sanding etc to get ready for new decals. Definitely some yellowing of the clear after 30ish years.
Still some wet sanding etc to get ready for new decals. Definitely some yellowing of the clear after 30ish years.
Always more work than originally anticipated
Removed the chrome from what? Which fork did you get? Is the rake similar? How much needs cut from the steerer?
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Old 01-04-26 | 02:15 PM
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FWIW I have a full-chrome Torpado fork with GPM forged ends, very good condition, 160mm threaded steerer.
It's not Bianchi but it IS Italian and would make you (or somebody else here) a deal on it.

I just have too many forks!
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Old 01-04-26 | 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Bianchigirll
Removed the chrome from what? Which fork did you get? Is the rake similar? How much needs cut from the steerer?
He removed the chrome from part of the steerer so he can cut the threads.
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Old 01-05-26 | 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Kontact
He removed the chrome from part of the steerer so he can cut the threads.
right and that's the first step, IF you can find somebody with the thread die who can be trusted to extend the existing threads AND knows how.
I've had no luck finding a local shop willing to use their die, (apparently some tools are now only for show, or the last qualified mechanic has left their building) plus more than one shop did it but with such horrific results I wish I hadn't found them.

Next step is to have one of those Park SG-1 saw guides (or the more $$ SG-6 or 7 models) and a nice sharp hacksaw blade.
Easy-peasy, but might have to also extend the slot for washer tab
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Old 01-05-26 | 11:58 PM
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Originally Posted by unworthy1
right and that's the first step, IF you can find somebody with the thread die who can be trusted to extend the existing threads AND knows how.
I've had no luck finding a local shop willing to use their die, (apparently some tools are now only for show, or the last qualified mechanic has left their building) plus more than one shop did it but with such horrific results I wish I hadn't found them.

Next step is to have one of those Park SG-1 saw guides (or the more $$ SG-6 or 7 models) and a nice sharp hacksaw blade.
Easy-peasy, but might have to also extend the slot for washer tab
Funny, I have threaded so many forks, including at the local coop just recently. It is strange that someone managed to screw that up for you. It is neither difficult nor requires a particular skillset.

Long before Park steerer cutters, we used an old steel headset part to cut against. Not only was the cut square, but threading the part back off cleaned up the thread ends.



It is quite possible that I just spent all my bike mechanic shop time among highly skilled and well equipped people, but it really amazes me sometimes how little luck folks have getting a standard bike mechanic job done.
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