1990 Bianchi Sika

Canuckbiker

BoTM Winner
Brodie Fan
I’d like to share another bike from my collection. Found in a dumpster in 2019 in this sorry state:
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I’ve long been a fan of celeste green Bianchis ever since riding a friends in the late 80s which helped turn me into a bike junkie for life. That bike road like nothing I had ever ridden before. I’m a big vintage road bike fan as well and a well sorted celeste green Bianchi will always get me to do a double take. Finding a celeste green Bianchi 90s mountain bike was a pretty amazing score that day, I’d always thought the Super Grizzlys looked pretty sweet BITD. This Sika model seems to be a 1990 unit, looks like it was found pretty much all stock with LX.

It's a pretty unique frame in my collection with the lugged construction and 1” steerer and Ritchey Logic steel tubes. The Klein MC went on first. It was collecting dust with no 1” bikes to use it on at the time. I had bought the MC combo unit in the 90s second hand, it did not suit my 87’ Ritchey which I had picked it up for but was well used on my vintage road bike for a few years during the 90s. I have never seen a 1” MC unit without the brake noodle, can anyone comment here? Is this unit rare? I wish it did have one.

This Bianchi has seen many different builds over the last couple years but I believe this setup may be where it will stay. All my other bikes are well built up the way I like them and I do not see myself going M900 XTR on them. I had a crankset, bottom bracket and brake levers (not the 8 speed pods though). The brake levers were picked up cheap at the local vintage swap meet without shifter pods last fall. I had 7 speed XT pods which suits me fine. The cranks were picked up for $10 last year without rings and needed lots of polishing, added the XTR decals.

I had bought an M900 RD just because I had to have one but it was on another bike. Recently decided to get brake calipers and a FD then move the RD over to the Bianchi, go for as much M900 XTR on the Bianchi as I was willing to justify (it’s a bit spendy for my budget). The fancy wheels came off a 95’ Cannondale. Some may wonder if this Bianchi Sika frame is worthy of M900. To me it 100% is. Lets’ face it, M900 looks perfect on any bike it’s put on. This 1990 MTB seems to have been released right around when geometry was getting racier. The handling on this Bianchi does not take a back seat to any of my rides. It really has an amazing ride. Gotta love steel!
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Thanks all for the feedback. Thought I would included a couple updates because bikes are never really done ;) .

Ritchey grips, better shape XTR brakes c/w the 2nd gen pad holders and NOS pads c/w correct straddle cable, much nicer XT headset and slimmed down front cable hanger. Also, I lowered the MC quill a bit to where I normally have it, it was set at the wife's height. She's a non-cyclist but this Bianchi is her favorite bike when she does get out. Kinda surprised me as it 90s stretched out but she loves the ride
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Couple changes made recently, firstly I had to remove the Klein MC1 as it was needed for an actual Klein build and managed to grab an excellent condition silver Syncros Cattleprod and lightweight Kona bar for pretty cheap. The silver stem actually suits much better I think especially with the silver seatpost.

Not sure why I waited so long to fit amberwall tires, I think they really brighten it up especially with the black rims :cool: 😁

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Man you’ve got that looking stunning - everything looks so classy and elegant and good one with the cattle prod
I’ve a soft spot for Bianchi (I have 3 and sold 2)
Thanks to Marco @RetroRider_IT ive a beautiful Celeste Nth in Columbus genius tubing with matching forks and ITM stem. Collecting parts before I make a build thread
 

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