Help with old steel Bianchi

[TxDoc]

Found this collecting dust in a bike shop - any ideas of what model it is? Shop owner says it's from 1999, but I'm not 100% sure it is. I would like to know what model it is.

Wow!!! First of all, wow! This is one lucky find, good score!

Ok, I may need to go dig some old family photos out of the attic to answer

So anyway, let's see what I can remember on top of my head. Could be the campione model. In '99 I was riding a '98 alloro in celeste - with steel fork also celeste - but the geometry of the alloro was a little different. My sister bought a new Eros in 1999, which had eyelets for fenders/racks next to the rear dropouts, so that one you have is not the alloro and not the eros either.
On the other hand, in 1999 the campione was available in celeste and with large downtube and steel fork. I believe that the giro and the veloce in 1999 were celeste and something else, but both came with carbon fiber fork - so that's not it.
It could be one year older too: in 1998 the eros, alloro, veloce, and campione models were also available in celeste, with steel fork, and had a larger down tube already, so they could have had a mega tube pro sticker - although I am almost certain that mine did not. I think that was the year they made the silver Eros too.
One thing makes me think that 1999 is right, the Bianchi decal on the top tube near the head tube. In those years Bianchi used to place two decals on the top tube: for most models the model name decal was near the head tube and the Bianchi decal near the seat tube. In 1999 from what I remember a few models (Eros and Campione included) had decals placed the opposite way: Bianchi near the head tube and model name near the seat tube. I remember because at that time the decals were opposite on my bike (98) compared to my sister's (99).
Could be newer as well if it is the campione. In 2000 and 2001 veloce and giro were both stock with carbon forks - so that's not it again. The campione and the eros came with steel forks but the only one they made celeste was campione I think. Either way the Eros still had the eyelets on the rear - so that's not it. Campione is still a possibility for 2000.

1997 and earlier, the downtube was regular size from what I remember. 2002 and newer, most of them came with carbon fork, and the eros/veloce/SL models started the 'happy colors' years (red, yellow, etc) or those that were team celeste began to have yellow inserts, or black inserts, or other colors mixed in - mostly on the seat tube and top tube, near the seatpost. I bought a giro in 2001 which was bright yellow and had a carbon fork. The Eros was also yellow that same year I think.

So my bet would be that you have a Bianchi Campione, either 1998 or 1999 or 2000. 1999 is most likely because of the decals trick. Either way - I have the doubt that they might have replaced the decals because I don't remember the splash of color decals before 2002 (so the pink decals on the top tube and chainstays don't really look familiar) - and the model decal is missing.

If you want more info I can go dig out some old pictures one of these days and see if I forgot anything. Go to the bike forums http://www.bikeforums.net or even better to the Bianchi forum and ask there - I am sure there's going to be much more Bianchi-Wisdom and you may find out the right info. http://bianchi.com/community/forums/default.aspx
Good luck, and either way - GOOD FIND!

[Pedal Wench]

Wow!!! First of all, wow! This is one lucky find, good score!


Good luck, and either way - GOOD FIND!

Oh my goodness! A treasure trove of info -- THANK YOU!!!! I'm amazed, and so appreciative of your time to share!

Thank you! Even though I still don't know exactly what model, I feel comfortable with its history. Can't wait to build it up!

[TxDoc]

Can't wait to build it up!

Please please please... Campy only
Do a search on the Bianchi forums - I'm sure this is not the only one that came out with no model name on it, so someone else could have investigated this model before. I'd still bet on campione - but the purple/yellow striped decals are sort of throwing me off on this frame. I cannot remember seeing one with those decals for the life of me!
Good luck with the build!

[Pedal Wench]

Please please please... Campy only
Do a search on the Bianchi forums - I'm sure this is not the only one that came out with no model name on it, so someone else could have investigated this model before. I'd still bet on campione - but the purple/yellow striped decals are sort of throwing me off on this frame. I cannot remember seeing one with those decals for the life of me!
Good luck with the build!

Campy, of course! I had a classic vintage Chorus gruppo that I was planning on putting on a steel Colnago, but it might go to this one. Or, I have an EV3/Centaur that's much newer that I might just swap over to this one, since I rarely ride that bike. Decisions, decisions.

The one my BF picked up is the aluminum Team Replica that I've seen more often - same shaped decal, but in the yellow that matches the Pantani bikes.

[TxDoc]

Campy, of course! I had a classic vintage Chorus gruppo that I was planning on putting on a steel Colnago, but it might go to this one. Or, I have an EV3/Centaur that's much newer that I might just swap over to this one, since I rarely ride that bike. Decisions, decisions.

Let's see - a vintage chorus, is it a 90's chorus? I would put that one on the colnago steel. And the centaur is the black one correct? it fits the EV3 well, but... This one would look really nice with the silver veloce if you can find one - the one with the skeleton brakes. You may be able to get one at a very good deal - everyone upgrades the old mirage and veloce now to buy chorus or record, so the old groups are quite cheap. Then you can get nice mid-range campy wheels (vento or scirocco or khamsin or eurus), find some Bianchi tape - that is actually made by Deda but with the Bianchi logo - and this lady will look gorgeous!
And to add the final touch: there's still some San Marco ponza saddles in Bianchi celeste around ebay, and if y'all have a Bianchi dealer in the area they can find you celeste Bianchi carbon waterbottle cages - just too pretty!
Yes, I like to build Bianchi's - can you tell?

The one my BF picked up is the aluminum Team Replica that I've seen more often - same shaped decal, but in the yellow that matches the Pantani bikes.

Niiiiiceeeeee!!! (drooling) I liked those with the yellow stripes - very classy frames. In 01-02 they had several models painted completely in yellow - just awesome! I got a yellow Giro then - and I still have a yellow Eros now - love yellow!

Now you guys have to post pics when the bikes are built up. Or pics of the project - I posted my last bike build on facebook too, hee-hee

[Trekhawk]

Nice bike!
You really have a great stable of Italian bikes. I am sooooo jealous.

[TxDoc]

Nice bike!
You really have a great stable of Italian bikes. I am sooooo jealous.

Italian bikes are addictive, you cannot just buy one...

[Pedal Wench]

Let's see - a vintage chorus, is it a 90's chorus? I would put that one on the colnago steel. And the centaur is the black one correct? it fits the EV3 well, but... This one would look really nice with the silver veloce if you can find one - the one with the skeleton brakes. You may be able to get one at a very good deal - everyone upgrades the old mirage and veloce now to buy chorus or record, so the old groups are quite cheap. Then you can get nice mid-range campy wheels (vento or scirocco or khamsin or eurus), find some Bianchi tape - that is actually made by Deda but with the Bianchi logo - and this lady will look gorgeous!
And to add the final touch: there's still some San Marco ponza saddles in Bianchi celeste around ebay, and if y'all have a Bianchi dealer in the area they can find you celeste Bianchi carbon waterbottle cages - just too pretty!
Yes, I like to build Bianchi's - can you tell?

It would be a silver Centaur gruppo. I think I have to agree - the classic Chorus gruppo will be stunning on the Colnago - it's lugged and chromed, so it has a more vintage look. The Centaur gruppo will just get me on the road sooner with the new Bianchi, and it should look okay - gonna put a Chorus headset on it too. I'll post pics of it as it comes together (later this summer - still working on getting the frame home.)