Bianchi is one of the oldest and most celebrated bicycle brands in the world — but not every bike they built was destined for racing glory. The 1968 Rekord proves even their modest lineup has a story worth telling.
This Rekord sits at the low end of Bianchi's late-'60s range, with a high-tensile steel lugged frame and budget-conscious components: a Valentino "Vellox" rear derailleur, Grand Sport "shoebox" front derailleur, Suntour 14-24 five-speed freewheel, and Universal 42-52 tooth cottered steel cranks. Universal Model 61 centerpull brakes handle the stopping, while a 3TTT aluminum stem and chrome steel bars with vintage plastic tape give it a period feel. The wheels are a practical mix — a Weinmann rear rim laced to a Campagnolo high-flange hub, a Ukai sealed bearing hub up front — both wearing 27" tan wall tires. A vintage Italian chrome bottle cage finishes the build. Fully equipped, it weighs just under 28 pounds — unremarkable today, but genuinely competitive when the Schwinn Varsity was pushing past 40 pounds.
The paint is remarkably well-preserved for a bike of its age. Touch-up work in dark green isn't a perfect match, but it did the job — rust scraped, naval jelly applied, history protected.
The 1968 Rekord won't top anyone's list of exotic Italian lightweights. But sometimes the everyday bikes deserve the most love.
