Re: [CR] Bianchi speciallissima integrated headest

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli)

In-Reply-To: <ABB9B839EC6447D4BA69A0FB3FDC990C@kevinPC>
References:
From: "Bret Van Horn" <bret@workshed.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 13:42:10 -0700
To: kevin sayles <kevinsayles@tiscali.co.uk>
Cc: classicrendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] Bianchi speciallissima integrated headest


My '64 Team Issue headset, which looks like this:

http://www.bretvanhorn.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/DSC_0151.jpg

...requires an old set of VAR pin pliers ( http://www.sheldonbrown.com/var/pages/var0013.html). I've had a couple people tell me that Harbor Frieght carries a similar plier, but I did not find it at my local Harbor Frieght.

Subsequently, I took it to a local guy from the list here (the esteemed David Feldman), who has the hard-to-find VAR tool, to have the headset removed. Took him a week of dripping Kroil down the headset to get it free, but once he did, I believe he said he saw some Campy markings inside.

Up until that point, I'd been told it was a Bianchi headset.

Of course, I know very little of these things (I have yet a lot to learn), but that's what I know. I imagine many others will chime in with much more helpful information!

Bret Van Horn Washougal, WA USA

On Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 11:16 AM, kevin sayles <kevinsayles@tiscali.co.uk>wrote:
> Bianchi fans out there........what exactly is the type of headset used on
> these frames....is it a Campag based headset, or is it exclusive to
> Bianchi.......how would one go about replacing bearing races etc..?
>
> Have to say that, as a framebuilder who usually rides his own frames [not
> because I don't want to try anyone elses frame] that if I were in a position
> to buy one of these Bianchi Specialisima frames, with the integrated headet
> and naturally in 'Celeste' I would do so.......guess this sort of suggests
> that this is 'my favourite period frame'
>
> cheers
> Kevin Sayles
> Bridgwater Somerset UK