I'm thinking about buying an older bianchi frame, and I was wondering if the IRO version 2 build kit (https://www.irocycle.com/id66.html) would be compatible with the bike. I know nothing about this kind of thing, so I'd rather not go wrong with the frame right at the beginning. Some of the measurements are a little strange, so I'm still unsure about the bike. I'm a tall rider (6'4") and it looks like the the bike will be tall for me, maybe even a little on the large side, but the top tube is about 5cm shorter than more modern bikes. If I got a long stem on the bike, I assume that it would fit fine. We're only talking a couple of centimeters right!?

Frame/fork geometry & other important numbers
Scroll down for pictures!
Seat tube length 62cm center to center
63cm center to top
Top tube length 55cm
Seat Tube Angle 73 degrees
Head Tube Angle 72 degrees
Standover Height 34 1/2"
Head tube length 20cm
Chainstay length 42-43.5cm (horizontal dropouts)
Bottom Bracket Drop 7.5 cm
Bottom Bracket Height 10.5" (measured with 700x25 tires)
Rear dropout spacing 126mm (Standard 5/6/7 speed road spacing)
Wheelbase 100-101.5cm (see chainstay length)
Front Center 59cm (center of BB to front axle)
Seatpost diameter 26.8mm
Fork steerer size English (standard) 1"
23.5cm long, appx 4cm threaded
Fork length 38.2cm
Fork offset 46mm (estimated)
Trail 61mm (estimated)
Front Derailleur diameter 28.6mm - 1 1/8"
Brake Reach 57mm front, 54mm rear
(***requires long reach brake calipers!)
Tire clearance With 27mm wide tire:
Front: 12mm top; 16.5mm side
Rear: 17mm top; 25mm side
(plenty or room for fenders!)
Bottom bracket shell sizing 1.37"x24tpi English threading, 68mm shell width
Frame weight 5lb 10oz (2550g)
Fork weight 1lb 15.2oz (885g)

Beautiful frame to convert, might be a tad big, but I'd go for it!

55 TT notwithstanding - 62 frame should fit fine. Looks cool - chrome is good.

You can always tweak seat position and stem size.

Go for it .... it is a beauty!!

It looks like a great frame, especially if you are more legs than torso. But, as far as compatability with the IRO kit, I see a couple conflicts:

1. The IRO kit v.2 comes with a threadless stem and a threadless headset. That fork/headset is threaded.
2. The IRO kit v.2 also comes with a 27.2 seatpost. You've got a 26.8. Go to the parts bin at the LBS.

Given those differences, I think you'd be better off getting the build kit v.1 and a set of bars from IRO, and the rest from your LBS or whatever. Otherwise, that frame is awesome. I love the Chromed drops.

Thank you, you have been most helpful.

I think I will get the bike, and take your suggestion about the build kit.

you sure about that 55cm TT?

that makes no sense.

Holy shizzle...look at that fork rake!

It's what the seller is saying it is. Apparently he used a 140mm stem to make up for the shortness.

I don't know that this would make that much of a difference, but could it be that this is the "actual" measurement as opposed to the 'effective' measurement of the TT?. But then again, I don't think that would make much of a difference.