Barely ridden for some years after being brought over from the owner Sarah’s homeland of Germany, this fabulous late ’80s Bianchi mixte sports/tourer has just been subjected to a complete rebuild in the DRC workshop. The elegant lugged steel framed bike runs 2×6 speed Light Action Shimano SIS drivetrain with an eye-catching Ofmega chainset and, after a thorough clean, the newly reversed Uniglide sprockets pull the new chain very well which is great news as NOS Uniglide cassettes are very expensive these days – and the bike’s particular model of rear hub is unsuited to a Hyperglide freehub upgrade.
Note also the original Dia-Compe centrepull brakes, with matching levers that bolt directly into the ITM moustache bars and new Kool Stop Salmon pads which have transformed the brakes along with the obligatory new cables. I also added a pair of period correct New Old Stock SKS mudguards, new Pletscher kickstand, new Italian leather saddle and (almost) matching bar tape, elegant grey cable housing, and a shiny new Dutch chromed bell. After her first test ride Sarah seemed very pleased with the results, the bike now works as good as it looks…
Beautiful! I have the Bianchi Sprint, think its from the 70s, and I love it to bits! Nothing beats a classic vintage bike.