Resto Mod Project introduction

So for quiet some time, I have been told that I should pen a book or start a blog and my default response has been, "I don't know what I would write about... 'cepting for bikes".  Well since I have recently completed a restoration project on a 98 Bianchi Campione that was undocumented,

I decided to blog about my mods and restoration of a recently rescued  '98 Bianchi Eros, therefor this is my Bianchi Eros resto-mod project blog.

Bit about me. I am a bike geek... not a mechanic, but somewhat handy especially when I am motivated and the project is worthy. I got started in cycling as an adult by the Greg Lemond's influence back in 1989 and have been an avid cyclist since. My first adult bike purchase was a Benotto, because that was the only quality bike brand I knew of other than Schwinn. I was very happy riding that bike around solo, but when I got introduced to group riding, I realized that extreme weight kills the vibe. I then upgraded from my 28 lb steel steed to a used and beat up Cannondale and I was fast and happy again. I forayed into three other Cannondales before getting a Ciocc SLX, and a Colnago Conic SLX

Those two bikes really whet my appetite for high quality road bikes built out with quality components. After a longish life hiatus, I returned to cycling to learn that all had changed. Everything was carbon, all drivetrains were 9 speed, 7 speed was obsolete and I purchase an Eddy Merckx Team SC and hung my Record 10 components and Deda finishing kit on it. I am a Campy man. The Merckx had a really different geometry that took some getting used to, but once I had adapted to the low bottom bracket and slack seattube, the riding experience on that bike was very rewarding.

I held on to it for quiet a few years while I simultaneously had a Bianchi EV2, then an EV3, then two EV4s. I even tried a Colnago EPS which I found too vertically stiff for my liking before going back to steel.

All those years messing around with the EV series Bianchi's led me to the conclusion that what I was really after was a steel Bianchi in Celeste... in my size! During a weird period in my life, I purchase a really crappy Raleigh Olympian that was converted to a fix gear, but needed a lot of TLC. I stripped, painted and enjoyed that bike as a fixie to the extent that I made a conscious decision to find the Bianchi of my dreams. As luck would have it, Ebay came through and I was able to find a 98 Campione in size 53. Even as the bike was tathered and rough in presentation, Record 10 components were once again put into service and I began getting the vision for a resto-mod. Since my Merckx weighed in at 15 lbs with tubi's, and that frame weight about 3 lbs, I set a goal for the Bianchi at 16 lbs. I replaced the chromoly fork with an Easton SLX superlight, that saved about 1.25 lbs and just went with carbon everywhere I could. As is is now completed with Zipp 303s, it weighs in right at 16 lbs and is a very sweet bike to ride. I will make this one concession, the carbon fork changes the ride characteristic a lot. It goes from Cadillac to Lexus... sort of. Meaning that the ride is still silky, but the response it different. Steel just communicated differently... the bike is livelier than you would expect, but it does have quick response and bat out of hell acceleration. On group rides, I really have to pay attention for the first few miles, because it almost feels twitchy. If I take my eyes off the line, I may drift to either side, but that feeling goes away, once I settle in. However, the feeling of slipping quickly into gaps in the peloton is always there. I do love that. One very interested thing about this bike is how much attention it garners, there is nowhere cycling oriented that I can go with this bike and not get complimented.

So, unto the Eros. This model always caught my eye, because it can be used for touring but has the same geometry as the racy models. Eyelets for racks and this frame is lugged with the MegaTube set downtube. Yay!!! The only thing I dislike on this model is the placement of the rear brake braze-ons on the top of the top tube. I am seriously considering relocating them to the 5:25 position. I was fortunate to find this on Craigslist for $125 with what looked like the original components. Additional features are a frame pump peg and 54cm top tube, we are good to go.

For this project I do have a weight goal of 18 lbs, but that is not as obsessive a focus as with the Campione. My primary goal is a clean restoration with paint and decals and a decent wheelset. I do plan to use it as a tourer/grocerie getter/townie/rain/training bike. So the list of to do's are as follows... not etched in stone (I could change my mind along the way).
1. Powder coat in pearl white... yes, I know. I will be very careful about the lugs and frame details.
2. Proper decal set, clear coated over. Eros sticker will be replace with breast cancer and alz ribbons.
3. Athena 11 alloy crankset with Ultra Torque, not Power torque.
4. Deda Blackstick carbon seatpost, but this could end up being a Deda 100 alloy post... not sure yet.
5. Specialized toupe saddle if I go with Blackstick or SLR titanium rails if I go with alloy post.
6. Deda 100 stem, Alloy or black depending on seatpost selection obviously. Newton handlebar
    ... I did consider going carbon flat bar with a riser, but Nah... save that for my fixie project.
7. Fork. I really want to stay chromoly here... however, I do have a full carbon 1" fork off an EV2, painted to match the frame would really stiffen up the front end
8. Full record shifters, derailleurs but keeping the Chorus Monoplaners on there.
9. Wheelset. I do have the original wheelset, so I could restore those or go with alloy tubis. Yeah, alloy tubis.

One important detail. the headset will be no thread whether I use the chromo fork or the carbon fork.

So that about covers it. First order of business, is the unsticking the stuck seatpost. I haven't really worked on it, but it will come out. I recieved my custom Bianchi Headbadge today and will order the decals this week. Stripping of components and powder coating will be done withing two weeks if all goes well. I appreciate feedback because it gives me ideas. I hope that my project is an inspiration as I would like to see more cyclist trying out steel frames. Nothing against carbon, but I think far too many people never try steel and would find it enjoyable. I do plan to flog this out on my group rides, so it will be a fast riding bike with a rear rack!