Jerry Moos wrote:
>
> There was also a 24K gold plated Colnago. I really doubt any of these bikes were
> ridden much, though they may have been capable of being ridden. You don't buy
> such a bike to have years of satisfying solo rides. You buy them to impress your
> friends. Of course I have to admit to wanting a chrome Paramount for much the
> same reason, though it would be ridden regularly.
I know of one guy that bought two 1985 Bianchi Centenario bikes (100 year anniversary! not a lousy 50 ;) and rode the hell out of one of them... didn't even bother cleaning it for the most part. The other was for display.
Also met another guy that picked one up at the factory on a couple of months vacation in Italy and used it pretty hard... bent the rear rim (Centenario labeled-Galli, very soft) very quickly on the Milan trolley tracks.
These bikes were completly black chrome over Columbus SLX with Campagnolo C-Record pantographed "Bianchi centenario 1985" on all the parts, celeste colored leather covered bars, saddle, frame pump handles, and bottle(!). Beautiful large flange C-Record hubs with panto'd "B". Also had a silver head badge that was 24k gold dipped with serial number, Vittoria celeste colored side wall marked "Vittoria Bianchi centenario 1985" sew-ups, and Super Record brakes with pantographed serial numbers in the calipers, black rubber hoods when Campagnolo only offered white hoods and of course celeste brake housing. No deltas as originally spec'd because they had been recalled! And... it came with Centenario jersey, bike bag and plastic warranty card.
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, California
http://www.velo-retro.com (Timeline, reprints and T-shirts)