straypig

Hi gang,

I've been fortunate enough to find this Bianchi Rekord 745 at the local waste reception center :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/25651158@N03/3838976039/

In order to restore the bike, I'd like to find catalogs/descriptions for the years where this model was in production (~1975 ? anyone has an idea about how to date the bike precisely ?)

There's not much to be done, clean/lube, find a new wheelset (rear wheel is fried, front wheel missing), new "cocottes de freins" (plastic part where you put your hands, on the brake levers), new bartape, et voilà !

Thanks much,


Fred

Bianchigirll 

Hello strypig welcome to the forum. nice Bianchi. that looks like it will be a fine sunday morning bike. unfortunatly my collection of catalogs stop at '82. depending how original you want to stay wheels should not be hard to find. I have seen a few nice sets of tubular wheels for low prices lately. I assume you mean brake hoods? they may be difficult. what brand levers universal?

OH look! https://cgi.ebay.com/UNIVERSAL-VINTAG...d=p3286.c0.m14

straypig

Thanks for the hints Bianchigirll.

I just borrowed a wheelset from another road bike to see how I felt on this Bianchi and while I like the frame, I find the shifter to be less than good. It's a Campagnolo Velox. Since I was a kid I had only Shimanos and was told that Campagnolo was much better so it was a bit deceiving.

I changed my plans : I'll take the Miche Pistard track wheelset that I have on my fixie, and turn the Bianchi into a fixed gear bike.

Like you said : "a fine sunday morning bike".

SP

Bianchigirll 

NO! not a fixed gear! just do not cut stuff of the frame and save the old parts.

I do not know how old you are but I will assume you have always had index type shifting systems yes? the argument over Campi V shimano shifting will go on as long as the mets v yankees LOL. however you may be comparing a 77 vega to a 95 malibu. the Velox was a lower end group and also as you havce noticed friction shifting, and take a bit of getting used to.

before turning this into a fixed gear *shudder* clean and lube everything and give it another try. also if you just can't stand the friction I would do a mild upgrade by looking for some 6/7 speed components. I have seen a few nice NOS suntour lately that would eb great on that.

Gary Fountain

Bianchigirll is pretty wise. Your Bianchi Rekord is quite a find. Turning it into a fixedgear is your call but thak Bianchigirll's advice and don't cut stuff off the frame and do keep the parts, don't throw them away.

Bianchigirll 

*blushing*

straypig

OK, you probably saved this Bianchi's life...

It's all clean now, and it might inherit this wheelset :
https://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/whe...n_catid_10.jsp

Heresy ?

John E

I am looking for someone with a 1980 and/or a 1981 catalog, to double-check my identification of my Bianchi. The derailleur says "patent 80," but the serial number starts with 1M., so I am conflicted. The fairly unusual metallic brown paint may be a clue.

straypig

https://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Bianchi-81a/
https://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Bianchi-81b/
https://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Bianchi-81c/

Otis

I think "81a" is actually 1980. The others could be '81-'82.

OP, when the Wool Jersey site is back up search "Bianchi" as there is a '78 catalog posted that shows all the specs for the Rekord 745 and 748. I downloaded only the Specialissima pages or I would post it for you.

The 745 frame would be nice with period Nuovo Record parts, as it's not a bad mid-level frame. I'd actually rather see it built as a retro fixed gear than shod with that modern Campy wheelset. That's just wrong.

straypig

Hi,

I don't know the "Wool Jersey site". Newbie, newbie... any pointer to it ?
Thanks much,

SP

Otis

It's a photo hosting site set up for vintage bike collectors. But it crashed last month and is being rebuilt. Hopefully it will be back within the month or so.

Should be wooljersey.com when so.

straypig

They went for a whoopy US $51.01... a bit too much for me, I'm afraid.

There's no branding on the brake levers (https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/...5257a416.jpg); can someone tell what is the make ? Universal ?


Thanks,

SP

straypig

The brake levers' picture is here (wrong link in the previous post) :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/2565115...n/photostream/

straypig

OK, I undressed this Bianchi a bit :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/2565115...n/photostream/

Love it. Best upright bike I ever owned. Might buy a road wheelset and a Campagnolo Nuovo Record for it some day. But at the same time, I wanted a Pista *with* brakes, so I guess I'm close.

Cheers,

Fred

randyjawa 

Your brake levers are Universals and the calipers are Universal Model 68 I believe. More detailed pictures would be a great help. I might add that Universal hoods come available on Ebay quite often. I just bought a set for $40.00. The last three sets I bought a few years ago cost $10.00 a set. You can even get some pretty nice white ones.

retrofit

Hi straypig & fellow CVers,
I have a copy of the '78 Bianchi catalog from WJ; you can download a PDF of the catalog from my site here (direct download, zipped file, link expires in 30 days)

stan

straypig

Thanks for the infos randyjawa. Here is a better picture of the brake levers :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/2565115...n/photostream/

SP

straypig

Thanks Stan for this precious document.

SP

Gabor

Any chance you could re-upload the catalogue?

I've just found an old Bianchi on the net which is posted to be from '77. It's much like a Rekord 748 according to an '81 catalogue, just would be nice to check it in an older one. Also it would be interesting to see if something was changed during the production years.

Thank you!

retrofit

Done.

Here is the new direct download link: Bianchi Catalog 1978

(original from Wool Jersey)

stan

Gabor

Thanks a lot!

victorvg84

im trying to know the model of mine, check this link, im restauring that and i used the rekord 745 decals, but i dont know..https://www.construyetufixedgearbike.blogspot.com/ thanks!!!

Andrija

Hi

Do you by any chance still have this file/catalog?

Thx

Andrija

Hi

Any chance you can upload the 1978 catalog again? Thx!