My refurbished tourer

[wafflycat]

Here's Gino, my refurbished Bianchi San Remo, who is my everyday/audax/tourer bike.

I've had him several years, getting him secondhand even then. I think that's he's probably about ten years old. He was the standard Bianchi Celeste, which I like as a colour. But frequent use saw his paintwork somewhat the worse for wear. Rather than get a new bike, I had the frameset refurbished as the bike just *fits me* so well, with Mercian doing the paint job. Whilst the paint job is ok, it's not *perfect* and for what I paid, I expected more towards perfection. Luckily the less than perfect bits are small & hidden from view. The colour in the photograph is too bright blue compared to the reality, which is distinct *kingfisher blue* flamboyant and rather luscious.

Gino has already taken me round bits of England & Wales, France, Italy and Germany, so he should do for many more years to come. He suits me well and he's what a bike should be: used.

 

[beancounter]

* That's * a * nice * looking * bike * but * I * don't * really * understand * the * use * of * asterix's * in * the * post *

* bc *

 

[John Ponting]

Gino looks pretty damn fine to me.



I'm sure it's somewhere on the forum but ... which raiser/extender are you using for the lights ? Do you find it acceptably rigid and shake proof ?

 

[Tim Bennet.]

I know the Space Bar extensions are really practical and lift the lights over a bar bag, etc, etc, etc, but . . .

. . . they are a tad ugly.

(No I don't have a better solution).

 

[wafflycat]

Gino looks pretty damn fine to me.



I'm sure it's somewhere on the forum but ... which raiser/extender are you using for the lights ? Do you find it acceptably rigid and shake proof ?

Minoura Space Grip. Lots of folk have posted that they find they rattle/work loose, but in all the years I've used mine (also have one as the light mount on my recumbent trike) I've never had any problems - been as solid as a rock.

 

[wafflycat]

I know the Space Bar extensions are really practical and lift the lights over a bar bag, etc, etc, etc, but . . .

. . . they are a tad ugly.

(No I don't have a better solution).

Yup, but they work and I haven't found a better solution either to bar bag/computer/lights space. And Gino is functional rather than drop dead gorgeous. I think he's lovely, but hey, I'm biased

 

[John Ponting]

thanks wafflycat - functional will do for me. I see another retail opportunity in the offing. I haven't visited the guys at the tri shop in Letchworth for some weeks.

 

[Domestique]

Nice looking bike
Are those wheels 26" or 700c ?

 

[wafflycat]

700

 

[mickle]

Now you just need to find a stem with 50mm more *up* adjust and to rotate the bars forward 6 degrees and it'll be finished.

 

[mickle]

It's very nice BTW.

 

[wafflycat]

Now you just need to find a stem with 50mm more *up* adjust and to rotate the bars forward 6 degrees and it'll be finished.

Why thank you But as it fits me fine as it is, I think 'll leave it as it is

 

[wafflycat]

It's very nice BTW.

Ta. It'll do me for many more years. Indeed if it gets to the point where I'm still cycling & it needs respraying again, I won't be coughing up the dough for a Mercian jobbie.. it'll be off to the local powdercoat place. I could have bought a new frameset for what was paid to Mercian..

 

[graham56]

very nice Waffles

 

[PANTANILOOKEYLIKEY]

A very nice looking bike, I'm sorry to read that you're not impressed with the paint finish. I had one of my bike's resprayed by the original frame builder last year, and was very unhappy with the end result. As he was up in Derbyshire and I live in Surrey and it was a real bind getting the frame up to him I've just had to put up with it. It's a bit hit and miss, a friend of a friend has just bought a Mercian which he is restoring I will let him know about the standard of their work so he wont fall into that trap! Enjoy your bike.