Whaddya think???.transform '84 tourer into '05 racer?

[CarlosContreros]

Hey!
I'm thinking of buying an '84 Bianchi touring bike with the idea of
installing '04 Ultegra and a racing carbon fork(I guess the F-1 since it
won't be going on my MXL!!..the board spoke!..I listened!) with the hope of making this a "performance bike".

In it's favor....it has an 8 BB drop(26.0 bb height), it's very nicely lugged
and in great shape....and it is large for a Bianchi(63 c-c) and it
has a long head-tube for a good riding position(7cm lower than saddle).
The bad...it has a very..very curved fork(big-time rake)that makes it's
wheelbase a very "un-racy" 106. cm!
I'm thinking that with the racing fork and maybe by placing the rear-axle skewers a bit forward in the rear-dropout tha I can reduce that wheelbase
to around 102.5-103.
And...the head-tube angle is a bit relaxed(73)..the slowing might be a tad
sluggish which is OK because I'm really just a "fitness-rider"...but I love
sprinting and I want to go fast!!
any opinions??
Don't you ever wonder??.....buy a $100. 20 year-old lugged steel bike
and see if you can turn it into a bike that is close to some of these
high-dollar rigs??

[cs124]

... you put a set of Cosmic Carbones on it and rock up to a local group ride/training race.

That would be hilarious.

[CarlosContreros]

Actually cs!
I'm thinking some "old school" spinergy's.................
I'll be styling when I pull up in the Manly Beach/ Harbord
area of Sydney! :D
I'm glad to see your neck of the woods still have some good ole crazy
bike messengers!
Mannnnnnn....to be back in Balgowlah!! :banana:

[Ray]

Hey!
I'm thinking of buying an '84 Bianchi touring bike with the idea of
installing '04 Ultegra and a racing carbon fork(I guess the F-1 since it
won't be going on my MXL!!..the board spoke!..I listened!) with the hope of making this a "performance bike".

In it's favor....it has an 8 BB drop(26.0 bb height), it's very nicely lugged
and in great shape....and it is large for a Bianchi(63 c-c) and it
has a long head-tube for a good riding position(7cm lower than saddle).
The bad...it has a very..very curved fork(big-time rake)that makes it's
wheelbase a very "un-racy" 106. cm!
I'm thinking that with the racing fork and maybe by placing the rear-axle skewers a bit forward in the rear-dropout tha I can reduce that wheelbase
to around 102.5-103.
And...the head-tube angle is a bit relaxed(73)..the slowing might be a tad
sluggish which is OK because I'm really just a "fitness-rider"...but I love
sprinting and I want to go fast!!
any opinions??
Don't you ever wonder??.....buy a $100. 20 year-old lugged steel bike
and see if you can turn it into a bike that is close to some of these
high-dollar rigs??
Naah. If it was designed to be a touring bike, it's gonna feel like a touring bike. Nothing against touring bikes - I love 'em, but they ALWAYS feel sluggish to me. Even light wheels and tires only make them feel slightly less sluggish, but mellow and stable is still the defining characteristic. Nothing wrong with 20 year old lugged steel bikes, but don't get a touring bike if you want it to feel like a racer. Plenty of good old racing bikes floating around btw, I picked up a mid-80's Bianchi Limited (more of a racing geo) for less than $100 that's a blast in almost any configuration.

-Ray

[cs124]

Actually cs!
I'm thinking some "old school" spinergy's.................


That is a delightful image! I love it. :cool:

You're going to be spending some time in Manly? You are one lucky hombre. Manly is a beautiful area full of beautiful people. Not too good for riding, but oh, the eye candy...

[CarlosContreros]

Hey cs!
I've spent many a day at Manly Beach....my daughter lives in Harbord
with her Mum....I haven't been in a couple of years but I hope to go
next year!!
I love watching the "business-types" spend their lunch-hour watching
the topless honey's lie on the beach!! ;)
I've been all over the world....and 'stralia is a great country!
take it easy!

[Kevan]

into old-school Spinergy's.

Not so sure a stationwagon will ever win a Le Mans.