In a message dated 3/11/2004 4:16:23 PM PST, jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net writes:
The toe clips are Italian-made ALE. Rivendell sells ALE stainless steel toe
clips. It may be that the Campy derailleurs are model 980, which was the
entry level below Triomphe at the start of the C-Record era. These
derailleurs were functionally as good as Campy NR, but not nearly as nicely
finished.. The Bianchi model may be named for the derailleurs, just as the
Motobecane Grand Record featured Campy Record (actually Nuovo Record)
derailleurs, and the Raleigh Competition GS a Campy Nuovo Grand Sport
gruppo. Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> Folks:
> Last year I picked up a Bianchi 12-speed, and I am wondering if
> anyone can help to date it (my apologies if it turns out to be "off-topic"
> by reason of vintage). The lady who sold it to me said her son had
> purchased it 10 or 12 years earlier, but (knowing little of Bianchis) I
> would have thought the bike older than that. It is lugged steel (no tubing
> label) in "Celeste" with decals marked Piaggio Bianchi and "980" - I suppose
> that is a model number - and with a debossed "B"s in dark blue in the fork
> crown, and a "B" in a circle in dark blue at the top of each of the seat
> stays. It has Campagnolo friction shifters and derailleurs (I have no idea
> how to ID the model), Weinmann 500 side pull brakes, Mavic "Module E" 27x1
> 1/4" rims with Clement Gentleman tires, Ofmega hubs, Ofmega chain wheels,
> Ofmega headset, 3ttt stem and handlebars, Italia Sprint suede saddle,
> Bianchi label cranks, Ofmega pedals with toe clips that appear to have
> something like a Campy logo on them (a circle with wings and "ALE" in the
> middle). There is also a "Made in Italy" decal near the bottom of theseat
> tube. I do not know whether all the components are original, but the bike
> certainly doesn't look as though it was outdoors much, and may not have seen
> a lot of use outside a basement.
> Thank you for any guidance you may be able to provide.
> -christopher crocoll
> Reston, VA
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Christofer-
Jerry is on the right track, but lemme tune up his response a little. The
bike you describe is either a '80 or '81 "980". Sometimes this model was even
called "Rekord", or Record 980, [don't ask me why]. Most likely it is either
Columbus Aelle or Tretubi. the parts all sound original. ALE made stock toeclips
for Bianchi, Colnago and Bottechia and sometimes stamped with the bike makers
moniker. In any case, as Jerry indicated above, they are nice quality clips,
while less expensive than, work and last just as good as Campys steel version
toeclips.
This particluar model Bianchi was considered middle of their line-up of that
era. Unfortunately, it was never of race quality for its day. With regular
use, those particular components will wear rather fast, but given the bikes
geomtry, it should handle just fine. If its your size, call it a keeper. cheers
Dave Anderson
Cut Bank MT