sfleck

I was wondering if anyone could help me indentify this bike. I got into road biking last summer and a friend set me up with this bike for cheap so I could try it out. I'm hooked, and will be upgrading my ride, but thought I'd try to find out more about this bike in case I want to hang on to it. Everybody at the bike shop was drooling over it, but nobody really knew much about it.

Frame is chrome under the celeste paint, with the chrom exposed on the fork, seat and chainstays. Bottom bracket, headset, crank and well, pretty much everything is campy. I had to have the bike shop build me a new rear wheel, as the original mavic rim was an old tubular that I didn't want to deal with. I also know that the rear derailler was and upgrade from the original.

Tubing says made in Italy, Columbus sticker is in Italian, but says "especiale". On the bottom bracket there is a stamped "77" and a "57" Not sure if thats the Serial# or not, but I can't really find anything else.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

cudak888 

You have a very nice friend.

-Kurt

Bianchigirll 

nice bike

sfleck

The crankset is Campi. Inside was stamped "170 Strada"

The tubing sticker is pretty beat up, but it looks like it reads "Acclaim Especiale" The chrome is high polish, even under the green, you can see some spots where the paint has chips. It does also look like something that came from the factory like that, and was not sanded off after. Wouldn't surprise me if it was bought as a frameset, from what I've heard this guy was pretty good back in the day. Here are some more pics, although you'll have to forgive my photography skills.

Think the brakes are super records? But not sure, and the shift levers have no markings at all on them, so I'm thinking maybe those were replacements too? It is set up for crits right now, with a super-six rear setup, but I believe it was originally a 5.

Ragooch

It's a mid/later 80's top end frame. Tubing is most likely SLX or a mix with a heavier seat-tube. The shift levers are Simplex "retro friction" which were marketed by a few companies and not branded when sold by Modolo, etc. They were the choice of most racers before indexed shifting really caught on.

That's an excellent bike, take good care of it.

Bianchigirll 

again nice bike

TheManSuit

Wow. I'm terribly jealous at the moment.

Picchio Special

There are Bianchi's and there are Bianchi's. That there's a Bianchi.

Spectacular!

bassogap

Unless you're actually involved in open competition, I can't think of a single reason to buy a new bicycle.....If your bike fits you,it should be a wonderful ride...worth putting money into it to get perfect...perhaps as far as a professional repaint...

You have a really,really nice bike!

Ragooch

I've seen similar time period SLX framed Bianchi's that were not Centenario's, X-4's, or even Reparto level bikes for that matter. I had one bought new as a frameset that had the "Bianchi" or Gipiemme drop-outs and non-engraved seat-stay caps.

One thing I've learned about Bianchi's, using "only" or "never" to qualify the details is not a good idea. They had many variations for many countries, and going by catalog pictures and specs is a waste of time.

bikerosity57

You can't "upgrade" that bike, or from that bike. It's pretty much as high as you could get when it was made. Modern bikes may be lighter, and yata yata yata, but THAT is as good as bikes get.

wrk101

+10 You are there. Top of the line. Congrats!

mkeller234

+1, couldn't have said it better

bikerosity57

Makes my Campione del Mondo look like a starter bike. I have always wanted that bike right there, and it's my size. I'm quite jealous, but in a good way:-)

khatfull

There's a reason everyone at the bike shop was drooling...that should tell you what you need to do right there.

noglider 

It would have been a six speed or maybe even seven speed originally, not a five speed.

Anyway, yeah, probably a $2000 bike back in 1984 or 1985. Approximately. Utterly impeccable.

Roll-Monroe-Co

Ha! This is what I was thinking. <irony>We'd like to watch you try to upgrade it.</irony> Presumably, you could modernize and get somewhat better performance, but this is a case where "vintage" is apt. That bike is a gem. You're already there, dude.

Also, if you would pass on the name of your friend who gave you the bike, I'd like to have him over to dinner and get to know him. Tell him I make a mean lasagna.

Welcome to the club!

emarg0ed

/jealous

EjustE

From what I can tell from here:

I am 100% sure that the RD is first generation Corsa Record (aka C-Record; thanks for the close up) and the crank and brakes also look to be 1st gen C-Record also. This will pin it down to '84-'86 (the number in the circle on the crankarm will help with the date and the decals would probably make it more of an 85ish+) As far as the tubing goes, if there is a "Bianchi especiale" instead of an SLX sticker, it is most likely Columbus SL/SP mix (at that size.) Probably came with 6sp, based on the era

+1 Great bike. Enjoy it!

gioscinelli 

A really nice steel machine. Love the engraved fork crown, had a Bianchi Limited with the same fork engraving. I would recommend changing the wheels, from tubulars' to clinchers(keep it Campy, the best), easier for fixing flats on the road, but heavier. The shift levers are Simplex Retro-Friction, great for shifting, has a slight return mechanism to properly seat the chain on the selected freewheel cog. As for repainting, will diminish the original value, best to find a tube of touchup paint from your LBS or go to Bianchi's website to purchase. Steel is Real, can't be beat for overall performance and comfort, but not for competition.

Cheers,

gioscinelli(Mike)


Currently:

Gios Torino Professional Columbus SL Tubing, Campagnolo Record C equipped.
Cinelli Super Corsa Columbus SLX Campagnolo Record Carbon equipped.
Orbea Onix Carbon Fiber with Shimano Ultegra and Shimano wheels.
Peugeot Mixte All French
Bianchi Cross country bike (hybrid of city and mountain bike) Made in Japan

bikerosity57

I keep coming back, I love it.

Maddox

The world needs more friends like yours.

sfleck

Wow, I knew it was a nice bike, but I guess I really had no idea how nice. Glad I asked!

It does ride incredibly well. Nice and smooth, shifts well, the only think that I really wish I could change would be the gearing. Was told it was geared for Criterium Races, so it makes it a bit of a bear on big climbs, because it just doesn't have the gearing. I guess it has forced me to get in shape though...

I'll definitely be holding on to it, and probably be a long term project fixing it up. Upon closer inspection, the hubs do not appear to be campy, but I'm sure they were swapped out, as when the bike was given to me, it had one clincher with an old mavic rim (still on there) and a tubular on the rear wheel, which I got rid of and had the LBS lace up a new wheel on the old hub for me. Considering I bought it for $100, which included a set of brand new, in the box Shimano pedals, I'd say I owe my buddy more than a couple beers!

Any thoughts as to what hubs I should look into replacing these with?

Oh, and the number in the circle after the "170 Strada" on the crank is 4.

GrayJay

The cranks and brakes look nothing like c-record parts. Seems much more like it probably came with a full super record grouppo and only the rear derailler got changed out (to C-record) at some later point.

Old campy shift levers are so laughably poor performing that upgrading to simplex shifters was practically mandatory for anyone that ever had wanted to race the bike. I once tried racing a vintage campy build-up bike in a modern race for kicks, the shifters would spontaneously slip and change gears (wrong direction) whenever I needed to climb standing. They are better suited for use as a cool keychain ornament.

khatfull

This is a family forum or I'd be tempted to tell you what you really owe him. And you'd need the beers....

That might go down as catch of the year?