Vintage Bianchi Road Bike Models

Bianchi is one of the oldest and most prestigious bike manufacturers in the world. Edoardo Bianchi founded the Italian company in 1885. It has a rich history of innovation, quality, and style. Bianchi bikes are known for their distinctive celeste color. It is a shade of light blue-green that has become synonymous with the brand. Bianchi bikes have also been ridden by some of the greatest cyclists of all time. Some of them are Fausto Coppi, Felice Gimondi, Marco Pantani, and Jan Ullrich. But what makes vintage Bianchi road bike models so special? And which ones are the most iconic and sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts?

In this article, we will explore the history and features of four of the most classic vintage Bianchi road bike models. They are:

• The Tipo M
• The Specialissima
• The Campione del Mondo
• The Centenario

The Tipo M: The First Modern Road Bike

The Tipo M was one of the first road bikes to use a chain-driven rear wheel and a smaller front wheel. This made it more stable and efficient than the previous penny-farthing design. Bianchi introduced the Tipo M in 1895. It was an instant success, winning several races and setting new records. The Tipo M was also the first bike to feature the Bianchi celeste color. It was inspired by the sky of Milan.
The Tipo M was a simple but elegant bike. It had:

• A steel frame
• Wooden rims
• Tubular tires
• A single-speed drivetrain

The Tipo M was also very light for its time, weighing only 10 kg. The Tipo M is considered the ancestor of modern road bikes and a milestone in the history of cycling.

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The Specialissima: The Bike of Champions

The Specialissima was the flagship model of Bianchi from the 1950s to the 1980s. It was a high-end racing bike that was designed to meet the needs of the professional riders. Bianchi made the Specialissima of lightweight steel tubing, with a lugged construction and a sloping fork crown. The Specialissima was equipped with the best components available at the time. Like:

• Campagnolo derailleurs, brakes, and hubs
• Cinelli handlebars and stem
• Brooks leather saddle

The Specialissima was the bike of choice for many legendary cyclists. Some of them were:

• Fausto Coppi, who won the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia on it in 1949 and 1952
• Felice Gimondi, who won all three Grand Tours on it in the 1960s and 1970s
• Eddy Merckx, who used it to break the hour record in 1972, setting a new mark of 49.431 km

The Specialissima is one of the most iconic and revered vintage Bianchi road bike models. It is a symbol of the golden age of cycling.

The Campione del Mondo: The World Champion

The Campione del Mondo was a special edition of the Specialissima. Bianchi created the Campione del Mondo to celebrate its riders’ world championship victories. The Campione del Mondo had a distinctive paint job. It had:

• A white head tube and seat tube
• A rainbow stripe on the top tube and the seat stays
• A gold-plated head badge and a gold-plated Campagnolo groupset

The Campione del Mondo was first introduced in 1953, after Fausto Coppi won his second world title in Lugano, Switzerland. Bianchi produced the Campione del Mondo until 1986, with each year corresponding to a different world champion. Some of the most famous Campione del Mondo models are:

• The 1956 model (Rik Van Looy)
• The 1965 model (Tom Simpson)
• The 1973 model (Felice Gimondi)
• The 1982 model (Giuseppe Saronni)

The Campione del Mondo is a rare and valuable vintage Bianchi road bike model. It is a tribute to the glory of Bianchi riders.

The Centenario: The 100th Anniversary

The Centenario was a limited edition of the Specialissima. Bianchi released the Centenario in 1985 to commemorate its 100th anniversary. The Centenario was a masterpiece of craftsmanship and technology, with a steel frame that was hand-made by master frame builder Gilberto Colombo, and a titanium groupset that was custom-made by Campagnolo. It had a unique paint job, with a dark blue color and gold accents, and a special head badge that featured the signature of Edoardo Bianchi.

Gilberto Colombo produced and numbered only 300 units of the Centenario, signing each one. It was a very expensive and exclusive bike, costing around $10,000 at the time. This bike was the ultimate vintage Bianchi road bike model, and a collector’s dream.

Conclusion

Vintage Bianchi road bike models are more than just bikes. They are pieces of art, history, and culture. They represent the passion, innovation, and excellence of Bianchi, and the achievements, emotions, and stories of the cyclists who rode them. Vintage Bianchi road bike models are a treasure for bike lovers, and a joy to ride, admire, and preserve.