Bianchi Volpe winter project

[tedhodson]

I bought this frame and a bag of parts from my local bike co-op last week. The lot contains the original everything except the seatpost, saddle, and wheels. I've been looking for a Bianchi Project 5 or 7 for a long time and I think I'll like this one even more. I thought it was a touring frame but some research says that it was more of a hybrid with drop bars, I guess the BB drop dimension will shed some light on that. The only slightly disappointing thing is that the fork isn't built with a nice crown. I think it will be perfect for easy rides through the countryside and multi-use trails.




A funny feature are two M5 bosses in strange locations, one on the side of the downtube and one on the seat tube above the water bottle bosses. Apparently they are for a shoulder strap! I'll make a new leather strap.






Originally painted pinkish orange, I'll try to strip just the blue rattle can paint off and hopefully save the original paint, otherwise a repaint. I had a pink Bianchi road bike a long time ago and may paint this pink if I can't save the original finish.





The components are perfect for this project, all in decent shape and my favourite shifters. I'm going to use this Nitto moustache handlebar and a dirt drop stem. Might have to cut a bit off the quill. I'll also build wheels and have to decide on either this B72 saddle or an Avocet touring saddle. Anyway, really looking forward to taking my time, I have all winter to work on it.

 

[tedhodson]

I tried some weak paint remover but it ate into the original paint, so I'll sandblast it and repaint.




I also started cleaning up the parts. I rebuilt the pedals and cleaned up the dust caps.

 

[Lickskillet]

I love Bianchis. It seems they always took left turns making random styles of bikes not just all road bikes. This is gonna be really cool!

 

[tedhodson]

I love Bianchis. It seems they always took left turns making random styles of bikes not just all road bikes. This is gonna be really cool!

Thanks. That's true, they had high end lugged mountain bikes into the 90s, the Project series of hybrids, and the one I wanted most in the mid 90s - a cyclocross frame/fork.

 

[dirttorpedo]

Very cool. I thought Sheldon Brown described the early Volpe's as CX / Touring / Adventure bikes. Although I bought an early 90's hybrid frame and built it up as a drop bar gravel bike similar to a Volpe.

 

[tedhodson]

I finally got some momentum on this project. I stripped and sanded the frameset. I was a bit surprised by the lumpy brass here and there. I'll file and sand the worst areas before painting.





Washed it with lacquer thinner, primed and painted it Krylon pistachio. I didn't mean to match my patio furniture.

 

[dirttorpedo]

I finally got some momentum on this project. I stripped and sanded the frameset. I was a bit surprised by the lumpy brass here and there. I'll file and sand the worst areas before painting.

View attachment 871949

View attachment 871950

Washed it with lacquer thinner, primed and painted it Krylon pistachio. I didn't mean to match my patio furniture.

View attachment 871951

Looking good. Decided against pink, eh.

 

[tedhodson]

Looking good. Decided against pink, eh?

yes, I chickened out. If I had found the right orange-pink colour I would have but figure this pistachio is in the spirit of pink or celeste. I have some dark blue generic Bianchi decals that will suit the pale green frame.

Very cool. I thought Sheldon Brown described the early Volpe's as CX / Touring / Adventure bikes. Although I bought an early 90's hybrid frame and built it up as a drop bar gravel bike similar to a Volpe.

Adventure bikes is a great name for a bicycle category.

 

[tedhodson]

I finished painting, decaling, and clearcoating. The headset and bb are the original Tange and SR parts. Brakes are the original Shimano cantilevers. I have Suntour XCpro hubs and some new Sun rims but no spokes yet. I'm hoping my local bike co-op has a calculator and stock of spokes. I also need a 26.6 mm seatpost but might ream it for 26.8.

 

[tedhodson]

Here's my parts cleanup station for this bike, mostly they are in good shape and need cleaning and buffing. I used scotchbrite on the cranks and started rebuilding the pedals.



I've read you all talk about rubbing rusty chrome with aluminum foil so I tried it out on one of the pedal spindles. I don't understand why but it works.