[CR]Re:Mystery Bianchi

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PX-10LE)

Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:28:36 -0700
From: "ROBERT FREITAS" <freitas1@pacbell.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re:Mystery Bianchi

I can shed some light on it though nothing definative. Guy Apple pointed out a similar bike at the expostion prior to last years L'EROICA..What caught his eye was the black decals and trim. Its part of what I concider the "missing link" period between 1970 and 1976 when Bianchi was not imported into the US in any real numbers.. Bianchi transitioned away from the signature headset(on Reparto Corsa built bikes) sometime after 1972 as component stock was exhausted. The fork crown is the early type (anyone know if the closed side crown like this one was made concurrent to the open side?) so I would place it earlier 70s. Later forks had 2 raised ridges on either side of the flat crown. The Caveat is that older components left behind from previous production did appear on later bikes as they were discovered(or uncovered) Bianchi continued to use the old Record rear derailluer until 1970 or so probably to keep costs down. Headset points out this is probably a middle of the road bike.

What size is the seat post?Campy dropouts?I beleive bikes built in the race department always used Campy dropouts.

BOB FREITAS mobile in Oakland,Ca USA just around the corner from Albert Eisentrauts shop

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/NITROBOBs-GARAGE/L-EROICA-2006/Saturday/DSCN0119.JPG.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1