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Location: 3961 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA MAP

Volunteer days are back, in a new format! They're the second and fourth Saturdays, on a smaller scale. See our Eventbrite site at bikex.eventbrite.com for details and to RSVP. Grab your spot and join in on the wrenching for good! See the event calendar for more events and volunteer days.

Donate bicycles and parts by appointment. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and details of what you have. We have specific drop-off times on Wednesday and Friday and other times by special arrangement. We'll let you know if we have a need for your items and get you drop-off details.

The Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange is a Section 501c(3) non-profit organization.

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I just finished work on this 1988 Canadian Bianchi Brava. It came into the Bike Exchange quite dirty and with a dent in the top tube. I really worked at cleaning it using both white polishing and rubbing compound in an attempt to reduce the craquelure in the paint.

I did improve things but was not able to eliminate it completely.

Featured Bike: 1988 Bianchi Brava with Columbus steel tubing
Featured Bike: 1988 Bianchi Brava with Columbus steel tubing

I made a device to roll out the dent out of a piece of 2x2 maple I had in the shop. First I drilled a 1” hole through the maple then sawed it in half.  I put it over the top tube held in place with rubber bands and clamped it in a vise. I then rocked the frame back and forth while increasing the clamping pressure until I got most of the dent out. Then a light touch with a ball-peen hammer finished the job. Upon inspection, the top tube was bent about 1/4" as measured from one end to the other so I supported both ends and applied pressure to the middle and gradually straightened it.

Featured Bike: 1988 Bianchi Brava with Columbus steel tubing
Featured Bike: 1988 Bianchi Brava with Columbus steel tubing

Next, I filled the remaining divot in the frame with successive coats of primer and filler. Then I resprayed the entire top tube with Rustoleum Yellow industrial paint, which is a pretty good match for the rest of the frame. The original paint has a very fine sparkle in it but you have to look closely to see it. 

The only mechanical change I made was to replace the original Biopace chainrings with a Shimano 105 53-42 set from the shop. The rear has a Shimano 600 24-13 tooth freewheel.

Featured Bike: 1988 Bianchi Brava with Columbus steel tubing and Shimano 105
Featured Bike: 1988 Bianchi Brava with Columbus steel tubing and Shimano 105

I debated what bar tape to install, but in the end, chose the yellow because it was just such a nice complement for the frame color. The yellow bottle cage was the icing on the cake. If the new owner wants to tone things down, black bar tape would also be a great choice.

The bike weighs 22.25 lbs. complete with 105 pedals. This beautiful and light bike is ready for many more years of adventures riding off into a matching sunset!