on 3/29/02 9:34 AM, NortonMarg@aol.com at NortonMarg@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 3/29/02 7:05:37 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> ojv@earthlink.net writes:
>
> << (it'll have to
> wait for winter) and a 50's/60's Bianchi with the integrated headset that is
> currently being repainted after a lot of work repairing/prepping the frame &
> fork (still looking for the proper graphics if anyone can help). When
> finished, I'll build it up as a fixed gear with nutted hubs. >>
>
> http://ourworld.compuserve.com/
> LLoyd's lists transfers for Bianchi. I have a couple of word's of caution
> regarding your intended use of the bike.
> 1) If you measure the bb height, it's probably around 10.25". This is a
> little too low for a fixed gear depending on the terrain where you intend to
> ride. With 170 cranks, it's likely you'll be touching pedals. I commuted to
> college on a Frejus track bike with a low bb (about the same height) and with
> 170s on it, there was a series of turns on a down hill that, once committed
> to a line at speed, the pedal was scraping everytime it came around.
> Fortunately, not enough to get the rear wheel airborne
> 2) I had a Team issue Bianchi road bike that (unknown to me at the time of
> purchase) had been raced at the San Jose track, as a track bike, for a number
> of years. The bike felt really soft. One day when the bike was up in the
> stand with the rear wheel removed, I noticed the right chainstay (the one
> with the two deep dents in it?) moved really easily compared to the other
> one, and far more easily than a "fresh" bike would. I concluded that years of
> fixed gear racing strain does very bad things to SL chainstays with deep
> indents on each side. It's your bike to do with as you please, but Bianchis
> are such lovely road bikes with a really low bottom bracket, that I would
> suggest you make a "fixie" out of something else.
> I raced a Bianchi at Nevada City in 1972 or 3, and at the bottom of the
> "hill" I grounded a pedal and bounced the bike what felt like a foot in the
> air. I managed to not crash (quite some wild looks of horror on the faces of
> the spectators that I saw!) pointed up the court house hill in top gear,
> trying to get one foot back into a double strapped pedal and change down for
> the climb. With quite an adrenalin rush to improve my coordination while
> gravity rapidly slowed me down.
>
> $.02
> Stevan Thomas
> Alameda, CA
> Opinion: So I'm a track bike purist. If you want a fixie, get a proper track
> frame and put a brake on it. Don't braze derailleur hangers on track frames
> and drill them for two brakes either!
> _______________________________________________
Stevan and all-I of course agree that high bb are highly desirable. Many low
end "track trainers" now and in the past are road frames with track
dropouts. For a few years track and road bikes were both spaced 120mm. My
track bike was built in the mid '70's (on advice from the coach) with a gear
hanger and drilled for two brakes so it could triple as a criterium racer,
track racer, and fixed gear trainer. That bike was adequate enough to win
over $2000 cash on the Hellyer track in '81. Labling this mediocre roadie
forever as a trackie. Can my bruised ego heal now?
If your used Team Bianchi came from Paul M. I probably saw those dents
installed.
T. Shaw
Santa Clara,Ca. (originally from Oakland with family in Alameda)