Bianchi Project Nth - columbus

[ibbz]

Thanks to Eef I now have this wonderful frame.
It’s a Bianchi Nth from 1993 (I’ve been told).
differers from Dario Acquaroli race winning bike slightly - the rear drop outs.
steel is Columbus Genius Nivacrom.
there’s some history of Bianchi Project Nth in a Catalan website which has some photos and a review of a Columbus Max framed example.
I plan to build a replica of Dario’s race bike.

I know he has a M900 group set. But not sure about the:
Rims
Tyres

I currently have:
Celeste Bianchi Flite Ti
Celeste Nth grips
Ritchey WCS Prolite handlebar (champagne as pictured on his)
Headset is XT threaded
I also have a Celeste AHead stem but I believe stock may have been ITM Ti threaded.



So let the collecting begin.
So let the collecting begin.

(pictured next to my mystery Columbus Genius Italian frame forks package)

 

[kingoffootball]

Nice! I've never been that taken with Columbus Max frames, but a Genius Nivacrom is very interesting ...... and two is just greedy Is the Venturi frameset the one that was for sale on BLB?

Are you going for as close to the race bike as possible or are there some components you have already decided to change? Based on the thread in Chat, are you planning to put rigid forks on it?

 

[ibbz]

Nice! I've never been that taken with Columbus Max frames, but a Genius Nivacrom is very interesting ...... and two is just greedy Is the Venturi frameset the one that was for sale on BLB?

Are you going for as close to the race bike as possible or are there some components you have already decided to change? Based on the thread in Chat, are you planning to put rigid forks on it?

Thank you!
That Venturi is the one from BLB - I have been pondering it for ages and when I eventually got a brief of the size I thought it would be better if I bought it and if I do sell it on it’ll stay on the forum.
That deserves a white stem and appropriate parts which I’ll get to - I am curious to know more about it - it looks fillet brazed but I’m no expert - if anyone can identify it or the welds I’ve put a post up in 97 retrobike chat forum.

as regards the Nth - I was pondering matching forks or a silver Pace RC30 with ITM Ti stem and other Italian parts (bar the group set which would be XT) but I thought it’d be a challenge and fun to build a replica of the Race bike and then get someone to dress up in the stylish tie and suit Dario has to mimic the picture!

what do you reckon ?

 

[kingoffootball]

I don't think I could have resisted that Venturi myself if it had been a little bigger. It looks fillet brazed to me. I would say a fillet brazed stem would be a great match, but they tend to be a bit pricey I think.

Regarding the Nth, I think the fairly small diameter tubes match a more delicate curved fork (like the Ritchey Logic as I mentioned in chat) that's how my rigid Scapin is set up (Scapin rigid forks which are curved and relatively narrow legged). I saw the ITM titanium stem wanted advert ... I do actually have one, but it's needed for my Aende, hence I didn't reply. I've seen some others go for pretty cheap prices though, so hopefully you'll find one soon.

 

[ibbz]

I don't think I could have resisted that Venturi myself if it had been a little bigger. It looks fillet brazed to me. I would say a fillet brazed stem would be a great match, but they tend to be a bit pricey I think.

Regarding the Nth, I think the fairly small diameter tubes match a more delicate curved fork (like the Ritchey Logic as I mentioned in chat) that's how my rigid Scapin is set up (Scapin rigid forks which are curved and relatively narrow legged). I saw the ITM titanium stem wanted advert ... I do actually have one, but it's needed for my Aende, hence I didn't reply. I've seen some others go for pretty cheap prices though, so hopefully you'll find one soon.

You’ve made my mind up - it’s what I really had in mind - a white fillet brazed stem, something resembling the Zinn ones.
I remember you were keen on the Venturi and the small (for you) size had put you off.
I had been looking for a Scapin but apart from a couple of examples on eBay I haven’t seen many. It was you who introduced me to them and to a love of Italian MTB’s! Thank you

And thanks for your advice and ideas concerning forks - makes sense, so apart from sourcing a Mag 21 for a replica race bike it’ll be the Genius or Ritchey which I’ll try and find.
I’ve only spent a few days looking for a Ti ITM - ones I’ve seen are too long and very expensive, so I’ll see.

 

[ibbz]

I’m pretty much stuck
I’ve bought some lovely Ritchey Logic forks in black (and reserved some Tange Switchblades)
For now the Ritchey will go on with a Ritchey Scuzzy headset.
ive abandoned the Acquaroli replica idea as wasn’t keen on suspension forks.
Stem will be the Celeste Ahead which came with the frame
I’ve found some purple Onza por copses which I like. (With WCS grips as baxk

I’m pretty much stuck on which cranks
Which wheels and which group and seatpost

1. My ideal build would be with champagne Ritchey WCS Seatpost (to go with the Ritchey forks and bars)
Ritchey WCS hubs on WCS rims.
M900 group set
But the Ritchey stuff is rare and hard to come by (in good condition) so will have to change tact.

2. my other idea was to have black Seatpost (to go with the black forks)
And perhaps a black chainset

I was thinking black Shimano XT M730 cranks
Black XT Seatpost
With M735/M737/M900 mixed group
XT hubs with Ritchey vantage / OCR Rims (or mavic 231 CD)

3. OR silver M730
Or M737 cranks
Silver Seatpost with wheels as above

Tyres would have to be amberwall


any ideas thoughts etc ?
Will post pics as soon as the headset is in

 

[ibbz]

Forks sorted - I have a Ritchey Logic fork but will be getting a Tange Switchblade soon! So the Tange will go on.