A few months ago I acquired a 57cm Bianchi Campione del Mondo that I believe to be from the early 1960s, serial number 201-533. This gorgeous masterpiece was Bianchi’s top model back then, created in the late 1950s to commemorate the World Championship victory of Fausto Coppi in 1953 at Lugano, Switzerland. I bought it from an older gentleman in the East Village, NYC, who said it had belonged to his brother. It was bought new in 1960 and rode it in several races in Italy and France around that time.
Monthly Archives: June 2016
My Second Hand-Built Bicycle
I completed this frame last summer when I was between jobs. Like the first frame I built, I used vintage lugs and traditionally-sized steel tubing. The size and geometry of this frame was based on the famous Bridgestone RB-1, of which I owned a 1990 edition, and which had the best handling characteristics of any steel road bike I have ever ridden.
Read on to see more of the build process and results!
Vitus 979 Restoration
It’s been a while since I’ve updated the ol’ blog, and a whole bunch of bikes have passed through my workshop since last fall. First up is this gorgeous Vitus 979. This particular example was purchased “new old stock” about ten years ago from the back stock of a Manhattan bike shop. The logos and paint have been professionally removed to expose the beautiful raw silver of the underlying aluminum, which I hand-polished to a nice shine.
Read on to learn more about the Vitus 979! Continue reading