RE: [CR]Bianchi Specialissima/Competizione seat tube ID

(Example: Framebuilders:Chris Pauley)

Date: Sun, 08 Jan 2006 09:00:41 -0500
From: "Edward Albert" <Edward.H.Albert@hofstra.edu>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, <Mark@bulgier.net>, <feldmanbike@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: [CR]Bianchi Specialissima/Competizione seat tube ID


FYI....I have an completely untouched dark red Specialissima someone brought into a local bike shop for trade. Anyway I believe it to date from 1965. The serial numbers seem to be in accord with what Mark notes. On the seat lug front is stamped 164609. Mark, do you think this indicates a 1964 date? Edward Albert, Chappaqua, NY
>>> "Mark Bulgier" <Mark@bulgier.net> 01/08/06 1:25 AM >>>

David Feldman writes:
> A customer brought an (I think) early 1960's Bianchi frame to
> me seeking a seatpost. There is a sleeve reaching from the
> top of the seat lug to @ 10-12mm below the bottom of the slot
> inside the seat tube.
> Inside diameter of this sleeve is 25mm. Was this a repair,
> or are all Bianchi frames of this vintage constructed in this
> way?

Most Specialissimas have no such sleeve and take 27.2 seatposts.

Sounds more like a Cinelli construction feature - though they take 26.2, not 25.0

Early 60s Specialissimas should have a serial number stamped in the top of the seat lug. I have seen several with 6-digit numbers starting with 160 to 164. What's yours?

Mark Bulgier
Seattle WA USA