1958 Bianchi, Lario. Campione d’ Italia

[juvela]

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integral headsets were widely fitted in the Britain of the interwar period and gradually faded out during the 1950's

Brampton catalogues offered all of their bits in detail, catalogues organized with different pages for locknuts, adjustable races, head races, fork crown races, etc.

ordering head parts from Brampton a bit like ordering a pizza

they were also fairly common in Italian products but tended to fade away somewhat earlier

Bianchi was distinctive in carrying their design even into the early 1970's on some models

also employed by French manufacturers but not with the prevalence of Britain

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the U-race design you mention in your post remained popular in Britain following the disappearance of integrals

Brampton (& probably TDC) offered non-integral sets with floating U-races; these take 1/8" ball

such sets came on many Brit cycles of the "boom" era; one adherent was Dawes

parts of a Brampton U-race design


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[non-fixie]

In a moment of weakness, I sprung for a 1958 Bianchi, Lario. Sport Tourist model.

View attachment 1948793

Being quite familiar with these moments of weakness I can fully understand this acquisition. Such a beautiful bike! One only lives once ...

 

[dnc1]

Stunning, I bet it'll be a joy to ride too!

 

[cyclingday]

I just received a copy of the 1958 catalog, from the fine folks over at Velo-Retro.
The Lario model was second, only to the top of the line racing model.

So a bike for the guy who wanted all of the sporting benefits of the race bike, but in an around town kind of package.
One thing that I noticed in the specifications, is they list the wheels with quick release axles and chrome steel rims, and the wheels on the bike in question have the yellow label Fiamme alloy rims with Bianchi initial nutted axles?
A bit different, but still a bonus one way or the other.
Maybe part of a deluxe package that came with the generator light kit?

 

[cyclingday]

The Lario, has landed!

I loosely put it together to give it a go, and see how it feels.
Super quick handling, with that sporty little handlebar.
I can tell it’s going to be a blast to zip around town on.
It’s pretty smooth right out of the box, but it’ll really be tight once it gets a full, fit and finish service.

 

[Jesper]

My educated guess is that the "Lario" name was used due to the the area being steeped in cycling tradition (not just racing) as well as historically being a vacation spot and area of much cycling in a recreational sense. As pointed out in a previous post the Lake Como general race course was not used until 1961. It is one of my favorite races and first won by the "Red Devil" himself in 1905. A bike bearing a name related to racing victories is generally reserved for a bike of the same discipline and would (normally) not be put on a more tourer style bike (even when sharing the same frame as the racing version; racing victory decals are another thing as @juvela pointed out, and it matters not if a win has not been had for decades since bragging rights never die and wins can continue to be plastered on bike frames forever). In this case the Lake Como area was a great cycling area for touring around the lake and surrounding hills. So I doubt that the name was based on racing history whether built in the 50s or 60s. One place in Italy I would still like to get to visit and cycle.

As a side note, '57 IL Lombardia winner Diego Ronchini went into the bike business like many other racers; have one of his early 70s frames somewhere 'round the shop.

(Maybe named it "Lariosaurus" after the lake monster, but shortened to "Lario".)

 

[Jesper]

I just received a copy of the 1958 catalog, from the fine folks over at Velo-Retro.
The Lario model was second, only to the top of the line racing model.

One thing that I noticed in the specifications, is they list the wheels with quick release axles and chrome steel rims, and the wheels on the bike in question have the yellow label Fiamme alloy rims with Bianchi initial nutted axles?
A bit different, but still a bonus one way or the other.
Maybe part of a deluxe package that came with the generator light kit?

Lighting may have been a factory option as well as QR's, your bike may not be from '58, or features could be a mid model year change between catalogs. Yours may be older given that the Sport mech was around for a half decade or more before 1960.
I much prefer that blue to the Bianchi flagship color(s!).

 

[cyclingday]

Yep, I’ve been thinking those same thoughts.
The seller was the one to identify it as a 58 model, and since I have no clue, I figured I’d go with that until proven different.
He’s an Italian bike shop owner in Italy, who deals in vintage Italian bicycles, so all I can do, is go with his assessment until I get better educated as to what this bike is, and is not.
But, one things for sure.
This thing is cool!
And it rides think a Cheetah chasing a rabbit.
It’s amazing that it has survived in such good, condition all these years.
Those grips should’ve been toast a long time ago, and that little one piece handlebar with the integrated brake levers probably got changed out by just about everyone who ever bought one of these.
Fenders never lasted long on a bicycle like this, so to still have everything intact is really something of a miracle.
I’ll definitely continue to try and research this model, to find out more about it, but it’s pretty obscure over here.
I’m sure there are folks over in Italy that are very familiar with it, that can fill in the blanks.
Until then, I’ll just familiarize myself, with what it’s like to enjoy the ride, on one of these little Italian sport models.
Arrivederci!

 

[Jesper]

@cyclingday Sounds like you were dealing with Antonio (his site is Art Bikes). If same guy he is great, and certainly gets in some interesting finds. I have dealt with him directly in the past, but have not been in touch the past couple years. I got my Gerbi from him for a very good price considering shipping. I assume your bike was very well packed if the same person.

That is a fine and fun looking bike. I will say that I am not a big fan of the Sport mech and have used an early Gran Sport when faced with the former model. It probably has a lot to due with the gear sizing because I could not obtain proper chain tensioning and my best effort was tweaking the position of the rear axle as a means to alleviate the problem. Thusly, I have at least one Sport unit sitting unused for decades.

 

[cyclingday]

No, the guy I got this bike from is named Mario.
But he did pack it very well.
I had my concerns, coming from so far away, and needing to pass through customs.
It landed in New York, then was shipped to Los Angeles.
One thing that surprised me, when it was delivered, was the generosity that my local postal worker showed.
I had been out all day, when the first attempt to deliver it was made, so I found the ubiquitous door tag saying that I’d have to pick it up at the post office the next day.
Always a bummer to miss that initial attempt at delivery, because it just means more jostling around for that precious cargo.
Though, not a big deal to go get it the next day.
But, that night, I got a knock on the door from the mailman, and he said, that he was heading in for the night, but just wanted to make one last attempt to deliver it, before he went back in.
Awesome Dude!
I offered a tip for such thoughtful service, but he refused, saying that he was glad to do it, as he didn’t want to move that big box any more than he had to.
Cool guy!
USPS at your service!