Is Bianchi cool?

[fiamme red]

Originally Posted by FlashUNC

Also Bianchi will always and forever be Fausto Coppi. And Coppi was very, very cool.

Don't forget Gimondi.

[Powerful Pete]

Well, Fausto Coppi. And then Gimondi... and then Argentin. Just to name a few.

Yes. Bianchi is most certainly cool.

[Vientomas]

Bianchi is way cool!

[nickl]

Originally Posted by jemdet

Bianchis were cool up to the Mercatone era. Jumbo-Visma has made the new ones cool. Everything in-between was kind of... yuck. The city bikes and pistas, yeesh.

You couldn’t be more wrong. Bianchi is one of the few large manufacturers that provided a consistent steam of great bikes over the years, including those designed in the U.S. The Sky Yeager era was especially innovative.

https://cyclingtips.com/2017/05/meet...f-other-bikes/

[grateful]

Ok, Bianchi is cool.

Now that I have that out of the way can we as a group continue to elaborate on all things Bianchi (time periods to look for, models to consider, etc.).

I have a lot of free time on my hands and am interested in learning as much about the marque as possible. I need a distraction and chasing (possibly purchasing) a historic, lugged metal Italian steed so that I can build it with my immaculate, shiny Chorus 10 group seems like a well needed distraction.

I am not limiting my search to bikes painted in Celeste but I needed to start somewhere. Please feel free to add comments on all of the big Italian marques De Rosa, Tommasini, Serotta, etc.).

Thanks

[DCilliams]

Originally Posted by grateful

Ok, Bianchi is cool.

Now that I have that out of the way can we as a group continue to elaborate on all things Bianchi (time periods to look for, models to consider, etc.).

I have a lot of free time on my hands and am interested in learning as much about the marque as possible. I need a distraction and chasing (possibly purchasing) a historic, lugged metal Italian steed so that I can build it with my immaculate, shiny Chorus 10 group seems like a well needed distraction.

I am not limiting my search to bikes painted in Celeste but I needed to start somewhere. Please feel free to add comments on all of the big Italian marques De Rosa, Tommasini, Serotta, etc.).

Thanks

You should dip into Bianchi varieties of X3s and X4s. I think they're the coolest Bianchi made. Here's my X3:

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...hlight=bianchi

[DCilliams]

Originally Posted by fiamme red

Don't forget Gimondi.

I really really want that car.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Originally Posted by grateful

Ok, Bianchi is cool.

Now that I have that out of the way can we as a group continue to elaborate on all things Bianchi (time periods to look for, models to consider, etc.).

I have a lot of free time on my hands and am interested in learning as much about the marque as possible. I need a distraction and chasing (possibly purchasing) a historic, lugged metal Italian steed so that I can build it with my immaculate, shiny Chorus 10 group seems like a well needed distraction.

I am not limiting my search to bikes painted in Celeste but I needed to start somewhere. Please feel free to add comments on all of the big Italian marques De Rosa, Tommasini, Serotta, etc.).

Thanks

Serotta is American BTW.

I wholeheartedly support your pursuit of an Italian steel racer. I have a soft spot for these too - own around a dozen of them. I don’t know Bianchi as well as other marques but have owned a couple. The one you posted, looks like the sticker is Columbus SL, which was top end steel until around 1985. Starting then, you’ll still see SL on top end bikes, but also SLX. Reynolds 531 and 753 are used on top end bikes, but not seen much on Italian bikes. The parts on your example look low end, Campagnolo 980 RD that I can see. It sounds like you want to put a modern groupset so, unless already done, you’ll want to spread the rear triangle from 126 to 130 mm.

My knowledge of Bianchi is so so, but I have owned a couple. Specialissima was the term used for the bikes built in the high end part of the factory. X3 and X4, as noted, are well regarded frames . Later, Bianchi went to “Reparto Corse” to designate their top end frames, but didn’t have a model actually called this until the 90’s, I believe.

My ‘83 Specialissima- notice the chrome fork crown and seat stay caps. Columbus SL



My ‘89 Giro, Columbus SLX. This time frame, Bianchi wasn’t doing chrome accents other than chainstay, which is why I sold it and got the blingier’83. My friend who bought it painted it metallic purple

[rccardr]

"My ‘89 Giro, Columbus SLX. This time frame, Bianchi wasn’t doing chrome accents other than chainstay, which is why I sold it and got the blingier’83. My friend who bought it painted it metallic purple "

Actually House of Kolor Hot Pink pearl....obviously Kool:

[grateful]

Winner, just wanted to add Serotta to my list to see I anyone was actually paying attention.

Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs

Serotta is American BTW.

I wholeheartedly support your pursuit of an Italian steel racer. I have a soft spot for these too - own around a dozen of them. I don’t know Bianchi as well as other marques but have owned a couple. The one you posted, looks like the sticker is Columbus SL, which was top end steel until around 1985. Starting then, you’ll still see SL on top end bikes, but also SLX. Reynolds 531 and 753 are used on top end bikes, but not seen much on Italian bikes. The parts on your example look low end, Campagnolo 980 RD that I can see. It sounds like you want to put a modern groupset so, unless already done, you’ll want to spread the rear triangle from 126 to 130 mm.

My knowledge of Bianchi is so so, but I have owned a couple. Specialissima was the term used for the bikes built in the high end part of the factory. X3 and X4, as noted, are well regarded frames . Later, Bianchi went to “Reparto Corse” to designate their top end frames, but didn’t have a model actually called this until the 90’s, I believe.

My ‘83 Specialissima- notice the chrome fork crown and seat stay caps. Columbus SL



My ‘89 Giro, Columbus SLX. This time frame, Bianchi wasn’t doing chrome accents other than chainstay, which is why I sold it and got the blingier’83. My friend who bought it painted it metallic purple

[veggieburger]

My first road bike was also a Bianchi. Black with a bit of color on the Tange downtube. I like the brand, I love the pedigree, but I never fell in love with that toothpaste green like some of my buddies.

[redir]

Yes indeed! Very cool bike! I remember being soooo jealous of a high school friend who had one of those back in the 80's.

[redir]

By the way is it,

Chel -est kind of like C in cellist

Or

Sell - est

Or

?

[fiamme red]

Originally Posted by redir

By the way is it,

Chel -est kind of like C in cellist

Or

Sell - est

Or

?

The "c" followed by an "e" is pronounced like "ch" in "chess."

The final "e" is pronounced: chel-es'-tay (accent on second syllable).

[pbarry]

I’ve got a garage queen 55cm almost identical to the one in the first post. Bought for Eroica CA, but I cancelled the trip well before the recent crisis. Will be listing here over the weekend at a fair price.