why does my bianchi track bike seem to have a fixed cup on each side:

Bike is (I assume) italian threaded. Non drive cup reads "campgnolo veloce" and "right lock" w/ a clockwise arrow. When I got the bike a year or so ago the BB was nice and smooth and free spinning, and it still is. I'm just curious, is it like this because it is an italian BB or is it something someone hacked together to get it working?

Why do I think you will find a cartridge BB inside? as to the cups, Hmmm. My guess a creative solution at the time.

That must be it - as long as the threads are still good and clean I'm fine with it as is!

It is Campy cartridge BB and you will need a special campy BB tool to remove it.

https://www.parktool.com/products/det...=25&item=BBT-4

From that angle, I cannot tell that they are both fixed cups. I saw a bike recently where the fixed cup and lockring both had those notches. Very surprising, but it wasn't a big deal.

I just assumed the designer preferred the symmetry over wrench flats.

I may have the right campy tool. But I probably won't service it until it needs it, or next winter, which ever comes first. It just had me curious, I had not seen a set up like that before.

My '97 CdI had a similar Veloce (maybe Mirage) BB, it was a cartridge, and English threaded, despite the "Made in Italy" sticker

well my BB shell is a hair over 69mm, and the NDS cup reads "70mm", so I guess it's italian.

Yup - standard Veloce cartridge bb:



You need a Park BBT-4 (or equivalent) to remove it:

cool! mystery solved.

BTW, a tool for an Italian threaded veloce BB will not work with a BSC threaded one! I found out the hard way.

You can make a tool for these by tracing the face of the cup on to a suitable piece of aluminum bar. Pick 4 opposing cut-outs and drill holes for a 1/4 or 5/16 allen head bolt (can't remember what size off the top of my head). You can tap the holes if it's a thick piece of stock or just run the bolts through and nut them if thin. The heads of the 4 bolts should fit snugly around the cut-outs in the cup. Drill a large hole in the center for the axle to fit through. Viola, cheap and takes little time to make.

The Park tool only costs about $12. Doesn't seem worth the time to make your own.

It does if you have to remove a bottom bracket and you live in an area where you would have to order the tool online, pay shipping and wait a week to get it. It took me about 15 minutes to make, and cost less than a buck. Of course some folks make more than $12 for 15 minutes of their time, but sadly I'm not one of them.

Yeah, I get the expediency thing, and if you're not near a shop then buying the tool involves ordering and shipping.

I guess my take was that around here, just about every shop has this tool in stock. Were I to go your route I'd still have to go to the hardware store and buy the aluminum bar stock and bolts, so if I'm going to have to take a ride and spend money, it's easier and quicker to just buy the tool.

BTW - here it is mail order for $11.86 delivered - no tax, no shipping, and about 5-6 days for delivery:

https://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=NP08334

Really! Why not? Is the nut different size?

where is the rest of the bike?

if they have 2 different tools that's another reason I hate this style of BB! I used a cheaper brand of tool (maybe a Cyclo?) that didn't have the little prongs that help to stabilize the tool on the cups...they make a big difference! It's so easy for the tool to rock a little on the cups and there's so little there to get purchase on, plus the alloy is soft...you get the drift: it's super easy to round them off and wind up with a stuck and ruined BB (don't ask!). Added to this: Bianchi seems to have bought nearly the entire output of these BB when they were new, and they used them at the time they switched over to BSC BB shells, and decided to stop greasing the threads of the units when installing...disaster!
You'll be advised to also avoid the other brands of BB that uses this style cup which includes Thun, F.A.G., SKF and Kinnex...here's a tool design I haven't tried so can't comment on its effectiveness
https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productD...productID=9134
does it work on Campy BB? don't know and don't wanna find out.

I have VAR cup pliers and they seem to do an okay job of removing this style of cup. IIRC, some of the later cups were made of plastic, and that complicates removal.

BTW, there isn't much in there to service...

sorry! It's not 100% C&V, wheels and saddle are modern:

That's a real nice looking ride norsk! You going to be riding at Louisburg next weekend?

Thanks, I must admit this timeframe of Campagnolo in the lower tier groups is not in sharp focus for me.

Is it that soon? Well if I do, it won't be on the bianchi - it's hilly up there!

nice looking Pista

+100,000







-Kurt