Vintage Bianchi

[BikeCrazyAgain]

(02-22-2010, 07:12 PM)cyclerUK Wrote:  That's a really great bike.
The frame tubing is "Magni" and is a Japanese tube equivalent to 531. Looking at all the little details you can appreciate how well it's built.
Because it is built with "lugs" then that would limit how small the bike could be made.
Considering it's getting on for 20+ years old, it would satisfy todays version of an Audax bike. ("Audax" and "Sportif" are latest fashion here in the UK.)
I notice it has a triple chainset so should be a bit easier to get up the climbs.
Leave the bike as it is until you have to replace whatever.
Modern stuff such as combined brake/shifters are great for quick shifting gears but that is not what this bike was designed for.
Its role in life is for long comfortable rides over many miles. It also has mudguard eyes so fenders could be fitted for those wet road days.
Talking of water, I see it has a fluted seatpost. I would swap that for a "normal" post as the flutes let rain into the seat tube which leads down to the bottom bracket. (especially with having to have the seat so low)
The bottom bracket will possibly still be the unsealed type so will not like water in there.
The flutes were just a "fashion" and added really nothing to lightness etc.
Concerning the tires- If they have been in the dark all the time then they may still be good?
I would pump them up to a high pressure and see if there are any bulges or rotted sections.
Any concerns then bin them and get new rubber.

Thanks for your comments, and for the suggestion about the seat post. I live in Oregon, which means that it rains now and then so before I take it out on a rainy day, I'll get that post swapped out. I don't plan to "update" anything on the bike; it suits me well as is. I always enjoyed taking it on long rides into the countryside when I lived in eastern Washington, which is (as you noted) exactly what it's built for and how I want to ride it.

As for the tires, they are the originals and yes, they've been in storage along with the bike, never left out in the sun, etc. I aired them up partially a couple of months ago, and they're still holding air, much to my surprise. I haven't pumped them up to full pressure, but they look great. I don't even see any cracks in them. The tubes are original, too, which worries me a little more than the tires.

Patty

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(02-23-2010, 03:05 PM)KC-Steve Wrote:  Hi Patty,

That is an awesome bike! If I ever run across one for sale I'll compare it to yours.

Steve

Thanks, Steve. I've seen an ad or two for them, but this model wasn't sold in the US for more than a couple of years, and I don't imagine that there are too many left.

Patty