Bianchi TSX - re defining the ultimate buttery smooth superbike!
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- čas přidán 30. 08. 2023
- The Bianchi TSX - the last of the steel lugged superbikes made by Bianchi before the move over to aluminium then ultimatly carbon.
In this video we take a close look at and ride an epic Bianchi TSX from `92/`93, an ex Gatorade team bike (rider unknown) fitted out with the finest Shimano Dura Ace. Fair to say the ride left a big impression - but thats a Bianchi TSX for you!
Fast, stiff, responsive and the smoothest ride you`ll get form a top end period race bike, the Bianchi TSX is just plain awesome.
Also in the video is a random encounter with a Bianchi riding ex team rider who I bumped into but had to include as he was riding a super cool looking Bianchi Megapro - and we know I like those....
***NOTE - the Go Pro camera is getting worse and a replacement is en route
I like the explanation of big tires masking deficiencies in the rest of the bike.
Yep, and if its masking issues then what are they??? Dan
Highlight of my day when I see a new vintage velo video 😊
Awesome, Dan
Totally agree on that one
I have one of these Dan. Your assessment is so accurate. I have ridden many bikes but none match it for smoothness. Mine has campag chorus 8 speed with shamal HPW wheels . I use Continental GP 5000 tyres and it's like it floats above the tarmac. Ridden it 180 miles in the last 3 days and it ran like a sowing machine .
Had it from new as a frame only, bought the groupset and wheels and assembled it myself.
Thanks for putting this video up. Finding a nice second hand one is quite hard now.
He is off the bicycle 🚲 has a 8 speed in his video 📹
I agree about the gravel bike comment...
Seriously,who needs them??
You wanna ride gravel?Well...there is this awesome invention for the last 40 years or so... it's called mountain bike 🚲 or hardtail , you know, people...And you can ride it anywhere!😅
Greetings from Croatia from Kris 😎
Everything you just said, Dan
Gorgeous bike , Bianchi always make me warm and fuzzy inside
They just look right... Dan
Not really a road bike fan, but that looks gorgeous...
Another superb video! You are the best bicycle presenter on CZcams. Your knowledge is unmatched, and your enthusiasm infectious. You have got me wanting a Bianchi TSX!
You would not be disapointed, Dan
Been waiting for your next video to pop and what a surprise !
I share the same opinion as yourself regarding tire widths.
I also ride a handmade Italian steel road bike and find it to be one of the smoothest ride I’ve ever had ,on 23 mm
tires.
Looking forward to your next video.
All the best.
Yep, what gets me is how a 23mm tyre on that frame can feel smoother than a 28 on a similar steel frame, Dan
What a bike Dan can’t get on with the Shimano levers although super smooth Campagnolo all the way great stuff
Yep, just some ergonomic issues with the Shimano levers... Dan
Hi Dan I have 23 Corsa CX on my Basso Viper smooth ride on most all surfaces
The Basso Viper is seriously good bike - no surprise it feels good on 23`s... Dan
Great video as always, informative and fun. Love the butter metaphor at the end😂
I`d like to point out I did not eat all the butter... Dan
Hi Dan, another beauty!
At the moment I,m building a 1998 Pinarello Monviso , just respray it in metallic Red Ferrari, with Dura ace groupset. I will be very happy you to try it when the bike is ready, See you soon.
Nice bike - let me know how it rides, Dan
Stunning bike Dan👍
Thanks - and it rides better than it looks! Dan
I bought, and raced on, that exact same Celeste frameset in 1995 (it's last year of production on the Reparto Corse handmade line) It's a 59cm frame and was mostly built up with Campy 8 speed Chorus, with a few exceptions. The fork looked nice, but felt a little wimpy, so I replaced it with a fork with carbon blades and threaded 1" steerer. I used a ITM 140mm Eclipse stem and a ITM Pro 260 42cm bar.
I never liked Campy brakes in the new Chorus group because they didn't have quick releases, so I used some Shimano 7403 dual pivot calipers. American Classic two bolt seat post, and a Selle Italia Flite saddle. I didn't have a Chorus front derailleur, so I used an old Super Record one, from the 80's. I would race on 22mm tubs, and train on clinchers.
In the early 00's, I changed bikes, so the bike hung in my basement for years. In 2015, I pulled it out and changed the drive system to Shimano 7700 9 speed stuff that I had in my parts bin (I didn't have any more Campy wheels) I was surprised to find that my old Campy Super Record front derailleur shifted well with the front STI shifter.
PS I also have Celeste bar tape, and originally had the same bottle cages, but I discovered that the paint on the aluminum cages would wear off in two years, so I replaced them with tubular stainless steel cages.
PSS I originally started out with 8 speed Record indexed downtube shifters, but soon went with 8 speed Chorus Ergolevers.
Blimey, thats almosy a "Triggers Broom" scenario - guessing you liked how the frame behaved on the road, Dan
@@vintagevelos9517 The frame was listed as have a maximum weight limiter, for racing of 180 pounds. The first few years, I could carve corners in criteriums at 30 mph. After I went over that weight, the frame gave indications of not being happy carving turns anymore, so I was forced to change over to a Giant TCR frame, to race on. I still ride the bike today, without a problem, because I retired from racing in 2017, and no longer have a need to flog the bike.
Now I hadn`t considered build weight limits as really having an effect - what did you spot? Dan@@billkallas1762
other than the crappy camera, another amazing video here. sooooo entertaining and fun!
i think that the world tour teams are doing quite a bit of research to figure out what size tires to ride and which are fastest ;)
Ah, the fastest tyres... remove sponsors and the need to re-invent the wheel and the fastest tyres are 19mm tubs at 160 psi ridden on the track - everything after that is adaption for road conditions and personal fatigue... Dan
52/42 and 11-21 is actually usable where I live. In fact, I do very well on my 2000 Allez Pro with Ultegra 6500/6501 with 53/39 and 11-21. I'm 63, and such tall gears are no longer my favorite setup, but I haven't come across a climb I couldn't do. But like I said, it's pretty flat here. If this TSX were mine, I'd change the small chain ring to the smallest the mech can accommodate (probably spec'd for a range of 16, so a 36) and leave the cassette as is. Popping on a bigger cassette would spoil the vintage, real-man aesthetic and create bigger jumps.
To be honest I`m a bit lazy on shifting to the small ring and tend to stay "sur la plaque" whenever possible, 21 then hurts a bit, Dan
@@vintagevelos9517 When I ride that bike, I do find sur la plaque to be quite a workout, even on the flats. Since most of my riding is at around 16-20 mph, I'm on the 39 a lot.
Great video Dan, quick question. I have a neuron Bianchi with the same brake cable routing in the top tube. Instead of have the cable outer running the whole length, is there a way to shorten so it only goes to the 2 entry and exit points……purely for weight saving?
Not that I know of - I`d leave well alone as the weight saving would be minimal, Dan
Will maybe just settle on higher a quality outer cables say DA when it’s time for re cabling. Thanks for your thoughts Dan …..John 🙂
l love my vintage Bianchi (about the same vintage as yours, but a little more "patina")
They suit a little patina, Dan
Where did you get the handlebar mount for the GoPro? I’m struggling to get a proper and reliable one.
I stick to the gopro in house stuff - it works fine, just the camera just fails a lot... Dan
Very pretty bike Dan. Your feelings about smoothness remind me of my late husbands insistence on driving vintage Saab 99’s. Although entitled to a brand new modern car every year with his job, he couldn’t bear them because he ‘felt he was driving an eiderdown’, the Saab, always sporty and willing, was, yes, ‘butterly smooth’ but surface readable. Is this your choice for Eroica?
Sounds like your husband was a driver rather than a motorist. There _is_ a difference. Cars and bikes today have gone too far into soft and cushy, which is OK on a long interstate/motorway drive or a workday cycling commute, but boring otherwise. My serious road bikes wear 25, 23, or 21mm rubber. You know, as God intended. My favorite cars to drive are BMW E46 models, a bit newer than the Saab 99 but still very much cars for people who actually like to feel something when we drive.
Oh well done for driving a ‘proper’ car! I must confess my husband died 20+ years ago so would probably have moved on a bit if still around today. Myself, I am always driven these days but feel uneasy in undue cushiness.
Got to love a classic Saab - 99 or 900, 9000 left me a bit cold.. alas the Bianchi misses out on the time cut for L`Eroica by around 6 years - `63 Legnano this time, Dan@@berenicebaker7191
My 1986 Bianchi brava is definitely not buttery smooth like your Bianchi. I’m in the market for a nice top class bike. What would you recommend from Colnago or de Rosa in the early 80’s?
Alas a big difference between a Brava and a TSX - plus what tyres are you running? Dan
@@vintagevelos9517 I was running 23s but am now running 25s. It’s an ok ride but definitely not buttery soft as you mentioned. What would you suggest in a Colnago or de Rosa that I could enter in L’eroica that is mid to top of the range? By the way, nice L’Eroica video, really enjoyed it.
Can`t go wrong with an early `80`s Colnago Super on 25mm tubs, Dan
Ah... Buttery Smooth.... A term that only seems to exist in the cycling industry 🤣
Nice bike though. Always coveted my mate's Concorde PDM TSX back in the day.
My Colnago Master Olympic on 23mm Vittoria Corsas shakes me around a bit on Cornish chip 'n seal roads! It's "engaging" 😂
Nothing up with an engaging ride - the Bianchi is just outstanding for its ride quality but I`d go for the megapro for more fun or the 7 Eleven Merkz for wildness, Dan
What rims?
Hmmm.... some sort of Mavic GP if I remember, Dan
I ride Pennsylvania "chip and seal" which is some the worst road surface that is not cobbles.... and steel Pegoretti handles it great... ride 25c clincher tire.... the cycling world is mostly marketing. Back in the day I lusted after that Bianchi TSX but could only get a Cannondale... which was NOT smooth...
The TSX is just unlike anything else (including more regular Bianchi`s), Dan
i have a bianchi brava 1987 it has 105 set and wheels its black
Nice.... Dan