I’ve had this bike frame for several years now and have been collecting parts for it. I pretty much have everything I need to complete the bike so recently I began putting a few things together to get it started. It could go pretty quickly and the only bigger task is to buld the wheels. Here is a list of the components I’ll be using:

   • Campagnolo Athena 11 speed gruppo

   • Athena 50×34 Crankset

   • Athena 12×29 cassette

   • Campagnolo Record Hubs

   • Campagnolo Record bottom bracket

   • Campy record headset

   • Deda Zero 100 seatpost

   • Deda Zero 100 stem

   • Deda handlebars

   • Brooks Swift Ti saddle

   • Mavic Open Pro rims, silver, 32 hole

   • DT 14/15 double butted spokes

   • Campagnolo Athena brakes and levers

   • Brooks leather bar tape

   • Continental Grand Prix 25c tires

Once again I am going for a bright looking bike, using polished aluminum wherever I can. The older Record hubs are 11 speed compatible so that was easy and the Athena gruppo is all nicely polished aluminum. The polished skeleton brakes were also an easy find but here is where it started getting harder!  You simply cannot find a modern Italian seatpost, stem or handlebars in polished aluminum. There are none made today! That was un-acceptable so I had to come up with my own solution to the problem.

Deda makes some light-weight and beautifully finished parts, but they are dark anodized and wouldn’t look quite right. My answer was to strip off the anodized finish to reveal the polished aluminum beneath. I do not recommend that anyone try this at home but here is what I did.  I applied spray on oven cleaner to the parts and with a non-abrasive cloth I was able to remove the anodized finish. It took several applications to remove the finish completely. It worked pretty well on the polished surface. I do not think it would work quite as well on a satin finish metal base. It is kind of un-nerving to take beautiful new parts and apply caustic chemicals to their finish. But the results speak for themselves. The finished post shown above (without seat clamp) is stunning! The same result for the stem and bars, a beautiful bright finish. The only thing I lost was the painted on Deda logos. Oh well, if they sold these parts in silver they could have kept their logos on the bike!

Original Bianchi 1983 catalog photo

Excerpt from 1983 Bianchi catalog:  “Sleek Italian styling and proven European components make this an excellent choice. Campagnolo Nuovo Record derailleurs, double butted Columbus frame, TTT stem and handlebars, Ofmega Compettition hubs, headset, crankset, pedals and seatpost, Mavic G-40 rims and Clement 100 psi skinwall tires complete this thoroughbred Italian.”

This was a low miles one owner bike when I picked it up in the summer of 2011. It was in original condition and pretty well cared for overall but was not rideable. It had rusty cables and dry bearings but was otherwise in pretty good shape! It was in for a complete rebuild anyway so these were minor issues. I would need to change a few things but I wanted to have a period correct bike, so in the end I would use most of the original parts but not all. Here is the final spec of the build.

• Campagnolo Nuovo Record derraileurs front and rear
• Campagnolo Record downtube shifters
• Ofmega Crankset and bottom bracket (Italian NR look-alike)
• Ofmega Headset
• Ofmega seatpost
• 3T stem and handlebars
• Modolo Corsa brakeset
• Campagnolo Record hubs
• DT stainless double butted spokes
• Velo Orange rims (Mavic clone)
• Regina 6 speed freewheel, 12 – 26
• Ofmega pedals with Christophe toeclips
• Brooks B-17 saddle (electric blue)
• Mopha tool roll

The original Mavic rims were changed to achieve the polished silver look that I prefer. I changed to Campagnolo Record hubs because I found a hairline crack in the bearing shell on the original Victory hubs. Luckily I had a spare set of Campagnolo hubs laying around! I ride Brooks saddles on all of my bikes so that was a must. The B-17 has a classic look and is pretty comfortable. Of course new cables, bar tape and toe straps were in order as well. With all of that the bike looks pretty fresh but is still vintage in character. It is not really a collectible model so I can use it hard and not be too concerned about abusing it but it still looks the part.

One thing I really like is the Mopha tool roll which attaches under the seat with a toe clip strap. It is made of oiled canvas and is very weather resistant. You can fit loads of stuff in it and things are much more accessible than in a seat bag. This one contains a spare tube, CO2 inflator with 2 cartridges, tire levers, patch kit, multi tool, 6, 8 and 10 mm wrenches, duct tape, spare master link and cables. You can take it off, open it up and lay it out in under 10 seconds!

Okay, the tweaking is mostly done and I’ve been riding this bike a bit when weather permits. I’ve probably done about 200 miles on it so far. I like the ride but it is different than some of my other bikes. It is amazing how much difference 1 cm in top tube length can make. This Bianchi has a 57 cm top tube length compared to the 58 cm of most of my other bikes. It is a little shorter coupled, and has a little racier geometry (steeper angles).  The steep frame angles make this bike quick handling if a little twitchy but the larger 28c tires seem to add some stability back. These tires also give the bike a very comfortable ride! I’ve been riding on rough road surfaces to simulate conditions I will face at L’Eroica and it seems to handle that very well.

The finished bike is now L’Eroica ready! Click on the pics below for a closer look at the details. It will face many more shakedown rides and events this coming year because I will need to get more saddle time on this bike.  I will also need to test some of the vintage clothing and gear that will be used at the big event such as leather gloves, shoes and helmet (yes thats right). All equipment and clothing must be period correct for L’Eroica. Watch for future posts on the L’Eroica equipment that I will be using. You will either be amazed or shocked!!!

Previous posts on this topic:

Dreaming of L’Eroica

The L’Eroica bike

Progress on the Bianchi

Building a worthy set of wheels

The Bianchi enters the home stretch

The finish of the build, the beginning of the adventure!

Vintage cycling gear

This early season ride is on a route that I thought I had ridden before but as it turned out much of the route was new to me. It started in Foothill Ranch and wound through the back hills to Anaheim before dropping down to the coast. There was a long out and back section through Camp Pendleton after which we turned inland and back to the finish. I have to credit the route designer Willie with creating a unique and often car-free itinerary through what can be a congested area.

There appeared to be more than 30 riders to start the day. It was nice to have a good group of people to ride with. Riders were pretty much staying together until we reached Control #3 on the coast. After that things seemed to get much more spread out. I rode with my friend Richard from Utah frequently, but he is a little faster rider than I am and would soon leave me behind. Luckily I seem to be a better navigator than he is so I would often reach the next control before him. He would take a wrong turn and put in some extra miles and then come in behind me. We repeated this scenario several times during the day.

The weather ranged from fog to sun with temperatures finally topping out near the 70 degree mark. It was so nice to be out of the freezer and riding in the sun again. At the end of the day we totalled 127 miles on the road with a stated 8000 ft of climbing (as per ridewithgps.com). There seemed to be a little less climbing to me but there were many rollers so I guess those can add up. Total ride time was 9 hrs 19 min with about 8 hrs 21 min on the bike. Urban route like this with lots of traffic signals can add quite a bit to your ride time. All in all it was a good day!

For a vintage bike rally you need vintage cycling gear of the same period as the bike you are riding. My L’Eroica bike is a 1983 Bianchi so I will need to put together a kit appropriate to that bike. Now, I was riding bikes in 83 but I dont have any of my gear from that era. It was mostly crap anyway and if I still had it I would probably just throw it out. The gear I need will have to be functional and look good which means it needs to be new or near new, and there is also the “style” factor to consider since I’ll be riding in Italy. No problem, I’ll just go down to the vintage bike store and buy some new cycling gear, right?

As it turns out I have been keeping an eye out for this gear for sometime now and have a pretty complete kit assembled already. Santa filled in some missing items on my list this Christmas so I am all but set. The “kit” is still a work in progress and I may make some changes, but this is what it looks like today.

Helmet:  I found this on ebay, it is made by Kucharik, probably from the early 80′s but it is the right size and has the right look. It is actually pretty well padded and should offer some protection in case of a mishap. It is does not measure up to modern standards of protection so I will keep this in mind when I ride in it but I think it will work okay!

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Jersey:  There are lots of wool jerseys available so this was an easy find. I often wear wool jerseys anyways so I am quite comfortable with this choice. This is one I’ve had for some time and I may well use it. It’s design is simple and clean and fits the period. More importantly, the weather in Chianti in October can be quite variable and a wool jersey is a great choice.

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Shoes:  Here is a new item for the kit from Santa! Leather cycling shoes from Quoc Phan, made in England. They are of a classic style, made for toe clips and are very comfortable! Mine are numbered #194.

Knickers:   I have had Swobo wool knickers for years and they are great to ride in. They have been durable and comfortable with a real leather chamois. I can ride in these all day long!

Gloves:  Really, is there any other type of glove you could ride in for a vintage event other than a classic leather glove with a crochet back?

Canvas bag:  Many people might not think of this item but a Camelback would be as out of place at a vintage rally as a carbon fiber bike would be. For a long event which is partly held on dirt roads you may need to take a little more than you can fit in your jersey pockets. This is the ticket!

Sunglasses:  I usually wear Raybans when I ride but I am looking for some vintage glasses with green colored round lenses. If I can’t find vintage ones I will look for new “retro style” glasses.

Here is the new acquisition in my project line-up. I’ve got several bikes in the works ahead of it but this one may get merged in to the queue ahead of some others and fast tracked a bit. I hope to have it up and riding and be doing some business on it by mid summer 2012. It was built to order for me by Moots Cycles in Steamboat Springs Colorado with a couple of special requests that I wanted included in the construction. I ordered the frame from Cyclepath Bicycle Shop in Portland Oregon, perhaps one of the best and most knowledgeable bike shops I have ever been in! They accommodated my needs and got the frame to me in just a few weeks. It is so nice to do business with real cycling professionals!

This bike was designed as an all around performer, but it is reasonably light weight and has 4 inches of rear travel which puts this bike firmly in the “Cross Country” category in my book. I intend to build it up as an aggressive use sport bike. I don’t race anymore and I favor durability over the lightest weight components but I am also shooting for a 26 lb bike as an end result. That should prove to be a challenge since I also shun carbon fiber components. I will keep a list of the selected parts as I acquire them along with occasional progress pics of the build. Later when all is complete I will write it up in the classic bikes category.

The spec so far is as follows:

• Thomson Elite Seat Post
• Brooks Swift Ti Seat
• Thomson Elite Stem
• Easton EA70 Aluminum Handlebar
• Tru-Vativ X-9 Crankset & BB

My last high-end MTB was a 1996 Voodoo Canzo Ti. I raced it for 5 years in the roughest conditions and it gave me over 20 podium finishes. I put more than 11,000 miles on that bike over the years and riding it was like riding with an old friend. In 2010 I finally broke the frame and thought I would have to retire the bike, but I found a builder who could make the repair and the bike is once again rideable. I treat it kindly now and just take it out occasionally but it still looks and feels good to ride! It is a 25.5 lb bike with 4.5 inches of rear travel and 9 speed XTR. I hope to try to match the quality and performance of the Voodoo with the Moots.

The bike is now essentially complete and except for some minor adjustments it is good to go. I am quite pleased with the way it rides, it feels crisp and tight. It handles quickly but seems stable at higher speeds. Acceleration seems good even with the 28c tires. I’ve chosen a set of Ene Ciclo Gran Compe tires from Velo Orange, partly for their vintage look but also for their size and relatively light weight. They give a smooth ride even over rough pavement due to their size and lower inflation pressure. The Campy NR drive train works nicely but has limited gear range as you might expect from a 12 speed. I have never ridden with Modolo brakes before and these seem adequate if not great, but they will stop the bike. The Brooks B-17 saddle (in blue) is new and will take some time for it to break in. I have my own secret method of accelerating that process and in a couple of hundred miles it should be “well seasoned”.

There will be few accessories on this bike, no computer, no mirror or other items to clutter it up. I did find a tool roll that fits nicely under the seat. It is made by Mopha and has a old school look but is full of all the modern things that I will need; tools, inner tubes, tire patches, inflator etc. Oddly, there are virtually no black components on this bike although I wasn’t specifically trying for that look but it looks good. I do like a brighter looking bike and my choices of preffered parts led to that result. I did add a little accent color to some of the components for some highlights. A little Bianci blue on the crank, seat post, brakes and derailleurs adds some definition to those components.

After a little more testing, I will take this bike on some bigger rides. Maybe I’ll do some centuries or populaires to really get things dialed in and to get familiar with the bike in all conditions. This is not going to become my “A” bike but it will get ridden. That way when the big event comes, riding this bike will not be unfamiliar and all of the bugs will be worked out.

Total cost of the bike:

• Ebay price of the 1983 Bianchi, $598.00
• New rims from Velo Orange, $90.00
• Tires from Velo Orange, $85.00
• Brake and Shifter cables, $28.00
• Brooks B-17 saddle, $100.00
• Kool stop brake pads, $10.00
• Cloth handlebar tape, $12.00
• Mopha tool roll, $38.00

Grand total for the L’Eroica project bike:  $961.00

Previous posts on this topic:

Dreaming of L’Eroica

The L’Eroica bike

Progress on the Bianchi

Building a worthy set of wheels

The Bianchi enters the home stretch

Apparently about 60 or so other people thought it was a good idea as well. The ride started in Forest Grove Oregon, about 20 miles outside of Portland. The actual temp at the start was 38 degrees on my thermometer but who’s quibbling over a few degrees. It was generally a good group to ride with, there were a few newbies but also many PBP anciens. The pace was brisk but not over the top and I was able to stay with the “B group” for much of the early part of the ride. For this short distance there were few controls, 2 were manned and 2 were informational. I had ridden much of this route on previous rides and that time it was wet also. I wonder what it would be like to ride these roads on a warm sunny day?

It pretty much rained all day, finally letting up in the last half an hour or so. The route was pretty much through rolling farmland with no real climbs but it was a fun route to ride! I stayed warm if not dry, but warm and wet is better than cold and wet in my book. The event finished at the Verboort Sausage Festival, a well attended local food event. All day I had imagined myself at the finish eating sausage and drinking beer but when I got there it was a very long wait to get in to the food area. I decided to forego the pleasure of sausage in exchange for dry clothes and headed back to the car. All in all it was a good day in spite of the weather.

My official ride time was 5 hrs 17 min, with about 4 and 1/2 hours on the bike.

The Bianchi is nearing completion, most components are mounted and have been tested on the work stand. Shifting, brakes and alignment are are dialed in and should be good for a test ride. Of course some fine adjustments will be required later. I still need to find a set of tires that I like for the intended use. This bike will probably need at least a 28c tire to be suitable for use on gravel roads but I may have to test several tires before I get one that I like. Actual tire sizes can vary from the stated size but I would like to get the largest tire that will fit in the frame. That should give it best ride on the bianca strada (white roads) of Chianti. For testing purposes I have put on my SPD compatible pedals, but rest assured that the finished bike will have toe clips and be “period correct”, as required at L’Eroica.

I have a Brooks B-17 saddle to install which I will pre-treat with my “secret process” to shorten the break-in period. I also have a tool roll that attaches under the seat but outside of that there will be few accessories to put on. In the spirit of L’Eroica this bike will be pretty minimalist, just a water bottle and tool kit. All that will be left to do is to tuck a baguette under my belt and hit the road!

Previous posts on this topic:

Dreaming of L’Eroica

The L’Eroica bike

Progress on the Bianchi

Building a worthy set of wheels

The Bianchi came stock with wheels built from the following components: Campagnolo Victory hubs, Mavic G-40 rims and straight guage steel spokes. The hubs are in good shape so even though I have a set of Campy Record hubs on hand I will re-use the Victory hubs. The Mavic rims are in nice condition but I have never liked anodized rims. Mavic doesn’t make anything like the G-40 anymore but I did find some rims from Velo Orange. They are a polished box section rim that is very similar to the Mavic. I think they will be a good choice and keep the bike looking more original than any other replacement rim. Finally, the spokes: The original spokes are okay but they are rusted and pitted; same with the nipples. I will replace these with new DT double butted SS spokes and brass nipples. I have lots of DT spokes on hand so I just have to cut them to the right length and thread them.

For the rest of this episode click,  The assembly goes quickly and the wheels true up nicely. To finish them off I was able to find the correct Mavic decal for the rim. This is not to misrepresent the rim but to keep it looking original. I left the Velo Orange decal on the rim as well. The wheelset looks great, they have that classic style but are essentially a modern sport wheel. The box section rim with 36 spokes should be very durable and the polished aluminum really helps to brighten up a bike. It is a big improvement over the original dark anodized finish.

After putting in the Velox rim strip I reinstall the original 14 – 26 freewheel and put in the skewers and these are ready to go. I won’t be able to test them for a while yet but I am sure they are good to go. I still need to select the proper tire for these; I may go with Continentals.

Previous posts on this topic:

Dreaming of L’Eroica

The L’Eroica bike

Progress on the Bianchi