Does anyone know for sure when Bianchi went from routing cable guides over the bottom bracket to the contemporary below the bracket style? Sometime in the mid-eighties (86?), but was it different for Japanese/Italian manufacturing? Looking for an exact year if possible. Cheers.

something like that might be very hard to pin down. given Bianchis (like everyone)habit of using the same frame for different models, Like the Formula and Formula 2 Columbus, the same run of frames could be used for years. it is possible say major switch was done in '85 for Italian buiilt bikes but there was a large quanity of sa 61cm frames from '84 those would be used until exhausted. so it would be possible to have a '85 CdI with the cables under the BB in a 55cm but on top with a 61cm. I'll see if I can tell in the catalog pics later when I get home.

My guesstimate is 1978-1979. This is based upon 1) examining the 1978 catalog, as well as picts of 1976 and earlier Bianchis that have participatied in Eroica, which show the chainstay cable guide on top of the chainstay, and 2) picts of a 1979 and my own 1980 super leggera/super corsa frame that have under the BB cable routing.

OTOH, as BianchiGirll suggests, this may differ depending upon the specific models.

stan