Bianchi Brakes

[jmod]

I purchased a Bianchi road bike used in 2011 and I've have no problems with it whatsoever. I would like to ID it eventually but I'm curious as to what the problem with my brakes is. They are a campy victory set but I'm not sure if this is the original set
that came with the bike as the brake pads are aligned as high as they can but they are still overlapping the wheel a bit. The brakes work of course but I'm curious as to why they don't line up.

Also I am a bit new to vintage bikes so how can I keep these campy brakes from rusting? Thanks so much.

[RBurrelli]

Hard to tell from picuture. Do they actually touch the tire when you squeeze the brakes? If they do then you can back them down a little since you are at the top of your adjustment already.

They appear to line up on the rim pretty well.

Can't respond as to if they are aftermarket or original.

[nfmisso]

The pads look too big (top to bottom) for the rims.

Preventing corrosion. Most of the brake is aluminum - and it already has an oxide layer on the surface. The steel parts (magnetic) can be wiped down with a light oil.

[DaveM]

Could be just the picture, but it looks to me like you have one pad that hits right and one that hangs over the edge of the rim a fair bit. That could be a sign the wheel isn't centered in the forks. It's not unheard of to have brakes where you have to put the pad all the way to the top. But I suspect these are not the original brake calipers. Or (just throwing things out there), bike was made for 700 wheels and they've been replaced by 27"?

A little pad overhang is probably ok. But you have to keep a close eye on it that there no chance for the pad to slip in and hit the spokes (that would be "bad"). I would even cut away the part of the pad that isn't hitting the rim squarely. It's not giving you any braking power and the risk of hitting the spokes is serious.

[jmod]

Awesome tips guys thanks. Yeah I cut the brake pads with a razor blade to smooth them out. I've just had two mechanics say either the capilers are not original or the wheels are the wrong size but I ID's the wheels as Mavic E2s: http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=A86D6A97-3EB3-4664-928F-585C53D7C134&Enum=107&AbsPos=33

Which did come in 3 sizes so perhaps they are 27s

I did ID the brakes as Victory:
http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=d433336a-9ab3-44a9-9ae2-977a82136d4e

Is there a system to properly ID the bike yet? I see they've been trying to figure it out via the serial number but nothing official. Just wondering.

[nfmisso]

(01-09-2013, 03:18 AM)jmod Wrote:  .....

Which did come in 3 sizes so perhaps they are 27s
.......

what size are the tires presently on the wheels?

[jmod]

(01-09-2013, 08:59 PM)nfmisso Wrote:  

(01-09-2013, 03:18 AM)jmod Wrote:  .....

Which did come in 3 sizes so perhaps they are 27s
.......

what size are the tires presently on the wheels?

They're Gator Hardshells, I know they're 700s but not sure if its x23 or x25
it brakes ok, and it seems more likely they'd change tires out instead of the brakes
especially if bianchis didnt ship with mavics

[nfmisso]

(01-10-2013, 02:37 AM)jmod Wrote:  .....l
They're Gator Hardshells, I know they're 700s but not sure if its x23 or x25
....

How do you know for sure? What is on the side walls?

[DaveM]

(01-09-2013, 03:18 AM)jmod Wrote:  it brakes ok, and it seems more likely they'd change tires out instead of the brakes
especially if bianchis didnt ship with mavics

The other viable tire size is 27" which is bigger, so I don't know that you could change the wheels. If you keep an eye on them, you should be able to get away with the current brakes, but you'd probably get better performance from brakes suited to the bike (depending on what brakes you get of course.)

Are you trying to restore the bike to original components or just improve function? Modern dual pivot brakes work a lot better than what would have been original on this bike.

[jmod]

(01-10-2013, 02:56 PM)DaveM Wrote:  

(01-09-2013, 03:18 AM)jmod Wrote:  it brakes ok, and it seems more likely they'd change tires out instead of the brakes
especially if bianchis didnt ship with mavics

The other viable tire size is 27" which is bigger, so I don't know that you could change the wheels. If you keep an eye on them, you should be able to get away with the current brakes, but you'd probably get better performance from brakes suited to the bike (depending on what brakes you get of course.)

Are you trying to restore the bike to original components or just improve function? Modern dual pivot brakes work a lot better than what would have been original on this bike.

I know they're 700s because thats the size they were when I bought them and I don't think they make them in any other size.

I'm just curious as to what exactly is or is not in spec, the tires for the brakes. Like I said I bought it used and it works great, but that the overlapping brake pads had me curious. What's the best way to ID an old bianchi like this so I can see what the proper tire size is?

[GeorgeET]

You can contact Bianchi. Scroll down for contact info.

http://www.ehow.com/about_6716529_bianchi-bicycle-identification.html

[Bill]

New brake pads for starters. I would say the wheel set may even not be the originals. There are different type of brake pads and I am thinking the arm that comes off the brake pad may not help things any either.

[Bill]

Still leaning that the pads aren't correct.

[jmod]

(01-11-2013, 10:56 AM)Bill Wrote:  Still leaning that the pads aren't correct.

So I had it seen at a reputed LBS and he guesses these calipers are Cobaltos although they don't line up to images I've seen online exactly, although it would explain the reach as well as the rationale to having them installed after market as he tells me they were only sold that way. Naturally the 'stone' has fallen out so they're not exactly cobaltos.

I'm replacing the front brake with a short-reach campy caliper and hopefully that will work better. It's a bit of a mutt at this point anyway.