My guess is that the production volumes on these were so low that the fork blades were just shortened 700C ones. Would you consider getting a longer fork and having it shortened? Reason I ask is that I might just have one lurking around somewhere off a Bianchi of about that era, Bianchi tubing and Gipiemme (or just possibly Bianchi) branded dropouts.
The Krono I had long ago was made of Columbus/Bianchi tubing (the one with a green decal) that a frame builder told me was seamed tubing similar to the later Cromor tubing. I have had several frames in this material (I used to be nuts about Bianchis; totally gone off them now) and they all rode very nicely, probably more so than the Reparto Corse SLX tubed frame I had. That was the bike that put me off Bianchi with its shoddy build quality, bad paint and bad chrome.
Hugh Thornton
Cheshire, England
From: David Allan Feller <daf33@cam.ac.uk> Subject: [CR] WTD: 650c fork for Bianchi Krono To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Thursday, 17 June, 2010, 13:57
Dear all,
My friend just purchased a mid-80s Bianchi Krono which requires a 650c front fork and wheel. We have the wheels, but would prefer a fork more in keeping with a vintage build. So are all we've found are modern carbon forks. He will use one for the mean time, but if someone had a lead on a Bianchi, Columbus, or butted steel fork of the appropriate size and type, we would be highly interested in talking to you!
Thanks,
David Allan Feller
Cambridge, UK