The Official Bianchi Celeste thread
02-27-15, 01:28 PM
#151
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This thread is giving me bad ideas. I have a gentleman's phone number in my phone that always has a celeste frame or two on hand.
02-27-15, 02:37 PM
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02-28-15, 11:30 AM
#153
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02-28-15, 02:24 PM
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03-03-15, 06:47 AM
#156
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It is a great looking Bianchi but I am not sure it is really that smart. 
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
03-03-15, 09:16 AM
#157
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Its mother had it tested. 
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My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
07-04-15, 09:01 AM
#159
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OK - so I have some facts to contribute to the Formula 2 discussion.
It is clearly better than Cromor. I have 3 CDIs (F2) in different sizes and a Quattro (Cromor). They are all stripped down except for the headset, which is the same on all four frames (Ofmega). I also borrowed a digital scale off a friend.
The CDIs are 49, 51.5 and 58 (c-c, my measurements). They way 6 lbs 4 ounces, 6 lbs 7 ounces, and 6 lbs 14 ounces, respectively.
The Quattro is 50.5 c-c. It weights 6 lbs 12 ounces.
So the Quattro (50.5) is just two ounces lighter than the 58 cm CDI. It's closest-sized bike, the 51.5 cm CDI (which is larger), is 5 ounces lighter than it.
So Formula 2 is definitely lighter than Cromor.
It is clearly better than Cromor. I have 3 CDIs (F2) in different sizes and a Quattro (Cromor). They are all stripped down except for the headset, which is the same on all four frames (Ofmega). I also borrowed a digital scale off a friend.
The CDIs are 49, 51.5 and 58 (c-c, my measurements). They way 6 lbs 4 ounces, 6 lbs 7 ounces, and 6 lbs 14 ounces, respectively.
The Quattro is 50.5 c-c. It weights 6 lbs 12 ounces.
So the Quattro (50.5) is just two ounces lighter than the 58 cm CDI. It's closest-sized bike, the 51.5 cm CDI (which is larger), is 5 ounces lighter than it.
So Formula 2 is definitely lighter than Cromor.
Last edited by armstrong101; 07-04-15 at 09:06 AM.
07-04-15, 09:06 AM
#160
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It is too bad the actual "Formula" is lost to cycling legend, like what really happened to Bottechia, it would be nice to know.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
07-07-15, 05:23 PM
#161
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I have been searching for a Celeste bike for a while now and just picked this up.
I'm not sure what to do with it yet. It has a "Celeste like" color and the frame decals are definitely Celeste. I would like any information I can get from the Bianchi people here. Help me decide if this bike is worth the effort.
This is what I know:
It has the complete Shimano 600 group.
(with indexed seven speed shifting)
Ambrosio 19 wheels.
Cinelli "Criterium" drop bar and stem.
The frame is a pantographed Columbus Formula 2.
It has plenty of chips but no dents. and it says "limited" on the top tube towards the headset The bike needs a lot of cleanup and polish but it's in very good mechanical working order. even the wheels are perfectly true and round! So far I just put some cables, housings, swapped out the ratty seat, and put new bar tape and will ride it until I decide. Maybe a full resto and painted in Celeste is in the future?
Thoughts?
I'm not sure what to do with it yet. It has a "Celeste like" color and the frame decals are definitely Celeste. I would like any information I can get from the Bianchi people here. Help me decide if this bike is worth the effort.
This is what I know:
It has the complete Shimano 600 group.
(with indexed seven speed shifting)
Ambrosio 19 wheels.
Cinelli "Criterium" drop bar and stem.
The frame is a pantographed Columbus Formula 2.
It has plenty of chips but no dents. and it says "limited" on the top tube towards the headset The bike needs a lot of cleanup and polish but it's in very good mechanical working order. even the wheels are perfectly true and round! So far I just put some cables, housings, swapped out the ratty seat, and put new bar tape and will ride it until I decide. Maybe a full resto and painted in Celeste is in the future?
Thoughts?
07-07-15, 07:08 PM
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Nice bike!
"Limited" is the model of the bike. Midway up, higher than Campione D'Italia. The 600 group wouldn't have been spec'd on a bottom-level bike. Formula 2 is pretty light, better than Cromor. (see my post right above)
"Limited" is the model of the bike. Midway up, higher than Campione D'Italia. The 600 group wouldn't have been spec'd on a bottom-level bike. Formula 2 is pretty light, better than Cromor. (see my post right above)
07-07-15, 08:20 PM
#163
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You should'nt have much in the way of trouble with those Ambrosio's. They are tough, love my sets. Having an 89 CDI with Cromor, I cannot say I have any complaints with the weight.
Nice score with your limited.
Nice score with your limited.
07-08-15, 06:15 AM
#164
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I agree that is an '87 Limited and it would be a shame to get rid of that beautiful Metallic Celeste paint. I don't know if it is the background or the lighting but yours looks much more Celstey in the pics than my 87 Mondaile ever did.
A good overhaul and good coat of wax on the frame are certainly in order. I agree those Ambrosio rims are pretty good. The Cenilli bar/stem are replaced likely for sizing or rider preference.
Here is my Mondaile, see how it look more white than Celeste.
A good overhaul and good coat of wax on the frame are certainly in order. I agree those Ambrosio rims are pretty good. The Cenilli bar/stem are replaced likely for sizing or rider preference.
Here is my Mondaile, see how it look more white than Celeste.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Last edited by Bianchigirll; 07-08-15 at 06:21 AM.
07-08-15, 07:51 AM
#165
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OK - so I have some facts to contribute to the Formula 2 discussion.
It is clearly better than Cromor. I have 3 CDIs (F2) in different sizes and a Quattro (Cromor). They are all stripped down except for the headset, which is the same on all four frames (Ofmega). I also borrowed a digital scale off a friend.
The CDIs are 49, 51.5 and 58 (c-c, my measurements). They way 6 lbs 4 ounces, 6 lbs 7 ounces, and 6 lbs 14 ounces, respectively.
The Quattro is 50.5 c-c. It weights 6 lbs 12 ounces.
So the Quattro (50.5) is just two ounces lighter than the 58 cm CDI. It's closest-sized bike, the 51.5 cm CDI (which is larger), is 5 ounces lighter than it.
So Formula 2 is definitely lighter than Cromor.
It is clearly better than Cromor. I have 3 CDIs (F2) in different sizes and a Quattro (Cromor). They are all stripped down except for the headset, which is the same on all four frames (Ofmega). I also borrowed a digital scale off a friend.
The CDIs are 49, 51.5 and 58 (c-c, my measurements). They way 6 lbs 4 ounces, 6 lbs 7 ounces, and 6 lbs 14 ounces, respectively.
The Quattro is 50.5 c-c. It weights 6 lbs 12 ounces.
So the Quattro (50.5) is just two ounces lighter than the 58 cm CDI. It's closest-sized bike, the 51.5 cm CDI (which is larger), is 5 ounces lighter than it.
So Formula 2 is definitely lighter than Cromor.
07-08-15, 08:06 AM
#166
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Just want to say ... I don't have a Celeste Bianchi ... but I've always wanted one. 
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Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
07-08-15, 09:13 AM
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Unfortunately no. I've never owned a Formula 1 bike.
07-08-15, 10:44 AM
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It is interesting to see the weights of your formula 2 frames and I've read that a comparison of formula 1 with formula 2 of bare frame would be necessary to see which were the lighter frames. Formula 1 is from what T-Mar told me is Columbus Matrix tubing
07-08-15, 11:09 AM
#169
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Not vintage...but it is celeste. 
This model was only sold for a couple of years ('96/97) and was only available as a frameset. It's Reparto Corse built, the tubing is Zero Uno and it's fully lugged.
This model was only sold for a couple of years ('96/97) and was only available as a frameset. It's Reparto Corse built, the tubing is Zero Uno and it's fully lugged.
Likes For Choke:
Nice bike!
07-08-15, 11:40 AM
#171
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Your reference to Bottechia... I read that it (and Legnano) used to be very high on the prestige ranking. It doesn't seem people primarily into 80s bikes look at either of these brands nowadays. Is this what you are referring to - their lost in prestige?
Unfortunately no. I've never owned a Formula 1 bike.
Unfortunately no. I've never owned a Formula 1 bike.
One of yclings great mysteries https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottavio_Bottecchia
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Last edited by Bianchigirll; 07-08-15 at 11:44 AM.
07-08-15, 11:46 AM
#172
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__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
07-08-15, 11:46 AM
#173
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That is beautiful even if it isn't vintage it is certainly a classic already .
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Last edited by Bianchigirll; 07-08-15 at 11:50 AM.
07-08-15, 02:56 PM
#174
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07-08-15, 03:08 PM
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A reparto corse, I had a few years back. I never really got along with this frame. I suspect the fork wasn't original. Have been on the lookout for another Celeste model.
