[CR] Bianchi fork steerer length

(Example: Humor:John Pergolizzi)

Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:06:18 -0500
From: <paul.ozzello@b2b2c.ca>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] Bianchi fork steerer length


Hi all,

I'm interested in a late 80's Bianchi but the fork steerer just seems too long. The seller's bike has a 57cm frame with a fork marked 59.

http://gallery.me.com/ugyved#101825

I have several vintage Bianchis from the 70s and the frame size always matches the number stamped on the fork.

I've mostly gotten the run-around from the seller:

"there's no other bike like it" "I got it from a racer who got it from a racer" "don't buy it if you don't trust me" "As you well know a C-Record headset is taller"

he then proceeds to send me a picture of the frame when it had a mishmash of campy/shimano parts, and a shimano headset stacked full of spacers!

Could a fork this long have actually come stock on this bike? Could the fork be safely cut to the appropriate length? I haven't seen many Bianchis like it so I'm assuming it wasn't sold in North America. I know it's a bit off topic but it would have been the perfect frame for a C-Record build. What is such a frame worth?

If anyone has one for sale, I'm interested!

Paul Ozzello
Montreal, Quebec
Canada