Mr. Embrey

A couple weeks ago I scored a real sweet Bianchi Alfana (55-56cm)from my lbs for $50. Awesome bike, exactly what I've been looking for. It was a bit too big for me so I was going to sell it. Then a couple days ago I picked up a nice looking Centurion Accordo in my size (52cm). It's a pretty basic entry level bike, but the frame seems to be well built.

Well, the Bianchi was outfitted with a full RSX group, and the Centurion had all that crap I try to live without (turkey levers, stem friction shifters, steel drop bars, etc). So while I was bored yesterday, I stripped the Bianchi of all comonents, and hung them on the Centurion. Giving up on the Bianchi was a very tough decision, but I think the swap was a good thing. I combined a bike I couldn't ride, with a bike I otherwise wouldn't ride, to get a bike I will likely ride often.

About the Centurion, can anyone offer some info on the Tange Infinity tubing? Is it low/mid quality? Would it be the whole frame, or just the main tubes? I know the forks are high ten, but overall it feels pretty light.

Here are some pics of the Centurion after the swap.


Centurion Accordo by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Centurion Accordo by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Centurion Accordo by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Centurion Accordo by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Centurion Accordo by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Centurion Accordo by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Centurion Accordo by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr



Here's the Bianchi. Btw, anyone know what just the Bianchi frame would be worth?


Bianchi Alfana by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Bianchi Alfana -DT by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Bianchi Alfana 55cm frame by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr

kpug505

I don't know if I'd go so far as to call the Centurion entry level...I'd say a solid mid-range. Your swap looks great and I think you'll really like the result! I think the Tange tubing is a mid-range tubing. If my memory serves correctly it's a seamed CrMo. It's decent and far from gas pipe...

Mr. Embrey

Yes, the frame seems to be of mid level quality, but the components/features indicated maybe a step above the bottom.

cycleheimer

Dude, your dad own that LBS? $50 for a Bianchi with brifters? Score of the year! E-BAY the frame .... it's a DB Chro-Mo Bianchi made it Italy!

Mr. Embrey

Not my dad, just a nice Mormon. What price should the frame fetch?

Bianchigirll 

it is hard to say what that frame might sell for. it is mid '90s or so and while it is a great frame it is not Celeste not Columbus tubed. also the 'fixie' potential is liited because of the vert drops.

also you only paid $50 for the whole bike. you took good component group on it and took off that off. I would pass you good fortune on and list it on Ebay with a start of $1 and a reserve of $75 plus shipping of $80 (yes $80, I packed and shipped a frame last summer and it was 80 coast to coast) who knows you may have to relist it seveal times to get $60 and it may sell the first time around for $200.

Mr. Embrey

Wow! $80 to ship it, damn. Thanks for the info. On ebay I'd just start it at $.99 and let it go, but there is a local guy that is interested and I'm not sure what to ask for it. I'm not trying to hit one out of the park here, I'd just like to end up with a compairable frame in my size. All of the bikes I own are pretty much the same quality as the Centurion. I'm not saying that in a bad way, I cant even tell the diff. when I'm riding. It's just that this Bianchi is super light, I have a big set of stairs I have to lug my bike up every time I want to go ride.

CrankyFranky

Hey, you did great on the swap, the price was really a give-away, the Bianchi is not top-end, and even though it is "super light" it doesn't fit you. So you can't convert this bare frame into a 753 or more modern oversized diameter frame... So pass on your luck, sell it for $50, and smile as you ride your spiffy centurion because you did the right thing.

Bianchigirll 

actually standing at the FedEx counter my coment was a bit stronger. I sent a whole bike from So Jersey to St Paul Minn. and it was $45ish. I sent a Ti frame from Dover De to ...I think Spokane Wa and it was $78.

Mr. Embrey

It was cheaper to ship a whole bike, wierd. Is FedEx the best/cheapest route for shipping a bike?

MikesChevelle

Dang I could really use a $50 donor bike to do an STI swap on my Schwinn Premis

MikesChevelle

Yes it is...................I recently shipped a Trek 416 from STL to CHI and it was $120 for UPS and $44 for FedEx

Mr. Embrey

Good to know.

cehowardGS

That was a great swap, and the fiinished product looks dam good!

I also have a bike laying around that I purchased and it is too small, and it also has an RSX group with brifters on it. I just recently aquired a 86 Prelude, but didn't think I wanted to put the RSX group on that. Going to wait and try to snag something a tad better...But, the RSX Group on this 99 Lemond is crying for a decent 58 to 62 frame to go on...

thirdgenbird

robbie sent a frame to me for something like $23 shipping...

Doohickie 

Accordo was the entry range offering from Centurion.

tomio

I like it. I almost did the same thing with almost the exact same bike 6 months ago, but decided against it. I now regret my decision.

Mr. Embrey

Do you know who he used?

thirdgenbird

i cant remember, but i need to find out as well.

jshelly

If you put the frame on flea bay please let me know - it's my size

fiataccompli

Fedex Ground is the way to go for bikes. The problem isn't the weight, it's the size. You get into what shipping co's call "dimensional weight" pricing...in other words, you pay a rate as if it weighs a certain amt just because of the size. Not a huge deal, cause their rates are good. I've shipped some bikes lately but I have years (many) of experience shipping rather large & rather heavy car parts all over the country and I can say without reservation that the current Fedex Ground rates are excellent.

About the bike: Good job - it looks great & no doubt you got a good deal on the Bianchi. Consider me jealous 'cause it is about my size I think. I did the same with a pair of Bianchis recently...sold off the frame of the Columbus celeste bike on Ebay & moved the components (no brifters, but fine w/ me) over to a much lesser Bianchi i picked up at a garage sale for $20. I think I went from a 58 or 59cm to 55cm on that deal. The one thing that occurs to me looking at the pics is there seems to not be a huge difference in the frame sizes...but maybe that's an illusion like the bent fork thing? Or maybe that's at the tipping point for you where 59cm seems to be at the tipping point for me...or maybe I'm just a fool who thinks that a 4-6 cm range of frame sizes all fit me alright!

Mr. Embrey

I'm putting it up later tonight.

Thanks. At first glance I thought this was my size. I think it looks smaller because the head tube is shorter than a typical 55-56cm frame. There is a larger gap between the fork crown area and the head tube . It makes the gap between the front wheel and the down tube larger.

tugrul

The Accordo I had (same paint, but with down tube cable stop braze-ons), came with 27" wheels, which explains the shorter head tube and large down tube gap.

Mr. Embrey

I was refering to the Bianchi, but my Centurion had the 27" wheels and the cable stop braze-ons. I grabbed them with a set of pliers and pulled them off. I like the look, and the ability to add a cable adjuster.

Mr. Embrey

It's on. $.99 no reserve! $40 shipping. I figure if I'm off a bit on shipping I'll just cover the diff. I'll get a bike box from my buddys shop to ship it.