Adam’s Bianchi Boardwalk

While not a bike we assembled, Adam submitted the story behind and photos of his Bianchi Boardwalk because he sourced so many parts from our web store. We're thrilled to be able to support cyclists around Canada and abroad with parts for projects like this, and we think this one fits our build vibe just right and turned out great!

This bike has been with me for a little over 5 years now, though the only things it has in common with the bike I rode home that first day are the frame and seatpost. Year after year, it’s been the subject of never-ending tinkering and part swapping. I’ve done my best to avoid filling my apartment with bikes, and as a result this Bianchi has had to take on a lot of roles. From weekly farmers’ market pick-ups and party-pace cruises to get ice cream, to long days on rolling back roads of Nova Scotia and overnight bikepacking trips, this Bianchi is down for it all.

While I hesitate to ever call a bike ‘finished,’ there isn’t much that this bike leaves me wanting (except maybe a dynamo light setup…).

Without further ado, let’s dive into this bike:

Wheels

Velocity A23 rims laced to Velo Orange hubs, wrapped with Ultradynamico Cavas. If you squint your eyes, this wheelset looks pretty similar to what the Boardwalk came with stock – 700x38 tanwalls and all-silver wheels. Where they differ is the sealed cartridge bearings, supple sidewalls, and the flat-free convenience & comfort of tubeless. The Cavas are particularly nice for rides that start on asphalt and end up on gravel.

Drivetrain

New Albion Crankset: Nothing really flashy here, this crankset is made from the same mold as the Sugino XD2 according to Rivendell. Brass self-extracting dust caps play nicely with the brass bell up top. 46-34 chainrings give about as much range as I could ever need on this bike. 

MKS Pedals: These are some nifty hybrid pedals that take a TIME ATAC cleat. The self-cleaning interface is nice for muddy or snowy rides. These pedals also always ‘hang’ the same way, so knowing which way to flip them for flats or clips becomes second nature. 

Shimano parts-bin front derailleur: One of the last original parts was an Alivio 3x front derailleur, which I could make to work, but was never quite right. It also always interfered with the rear fender. No such drama from this 105 derailleur. 

Shimano RD M786 rear derailleur: Probably the most modern-looking thing on this whole bike. It’s a 10-speed mountain derailleur on a hanger extender, shifting an 11-speed, 11-42 cassette. Thanks to friction, it works – no muss, no fuss. The clutch is a nice-to-have feature that keeps things a little quieter and leaves a few less chips in my chainstays.

Rivendell Silver Shifters + Gevenalle Audax Pods: These shift levers were one of the first things I updated on this bike, and they’re still here today. Though they’re stated to be compatible with 8, 9 or 10 speeds, the Gevenalle mount allows them to have a little more ‘throw’ than they normally get in a bar-end. Infinite compatibility and simplicity make them a delight to ride with – free yourself from the tyranny of groupsets and indexing!

Braking

Tektro CR-720 Cantilevers: I think these have been unfortunately discontinued, which is a shame (Truly - C&L). If they ever need to go, Dia Compe has me covered (Long Live Dia-Compe! - C&L).

Tektro RD-340 Levers: Most of Gevenalle’s brake/shift combos are based on these levers from Tektro. They’re more suited to modern bars than vintage aero levers, with a bit more of a platform for your hands.

Hangers: Nitto front and rear – elegant, sensible, functional.

Cockpit

Nitto FW-33 stem: 4-bolt faceplate makes for great holding power on rides where I’m decidedly under-biked. As the Boardwalk has a pretty short head tube, I actually had the stem cut down to get the right fit.

Nitto Dirt Drop RM013 handlebar: A little more flare than the randonneur models, and a little closer to ‘modern’ compact bar shape. When positioned correctly, the ‘HEAT TREATED’ sticker will advise the rider to ‘EAT TREAT.’

Crane ENE Bell: A lovely, polite ding that sits comfortably on the bars & doesn’t get in the way of anything strapped to the bars.

Brooks C15 Carved Saddle: I rode with a C17 for a while, but ultimately found it a little wide for how ‘forward’ my position on the bike was. Someday I might give one of the leather models a go, but the durability and ambivalence to water makes the Cambium line very easy to live with.  

Original seatpost, 26.6mm: Probably a Kalloy. Thankfully haven’t really had a need to replace this, since 26.6mm seatposts are few and far between (Thompson has one, but only in black).

Fenders & Rack

Velo Orange Hammered Fenders, 45mm: Great coverage and having most of the holes pre-drilled made installation relatively straightforward. There have been a few adjustments over time to dial the fit in, but they’re rock-solid and quiet. Dents and scrapes blend into the hammered finish as well – a nice bonus for a bike that spends as much time in the city as the country.

Nitto M12 Rack: A great size for carrying a dry bag, supporting a handlebar bag, or strapping a tin of baked goods to. Also provides a bonus fender mount for a little extra security for full-coverage fenders, as well as threaded mounts for lights. 

Odds & Ends

King Cage bottle cages: Great hold, good looks. 

Friendship Bracelet: for good vibes

Though the tires that came spec’d on the Boardwalk were 38s, I’ve had the chainstays dimpled to more comfortably clear a tire, fender, and any mud that might show up.

That’s it! I love that this bike has become a mix of old looks, and new functionality.