My recommendations

I will post in this section the products which I consider to be the best and why.

Let's start with the tubulars cement or glue. I used to glue my tubulars with this one and I'm happy to see that it's still being produced. I'm talking about the Velox Tubasti, mastice gutta. Never had problems with it and in my opinion a bit better than the Vittoria glue. On top of that it's one of the cheapest on the market!

I'm also recommending strongly all the Veloflex products, both tyres and tubulars are fantastic. How to legally dope your bike! Veloflex might be slightly more expensive than the competition, but they are still manufactured in Europe and they supply many many professional cycling teams under white label. Veloflex offers the tyres which give you the closest sensation to drive on tubulars! Tubulars are still ahead in my opinion in terms of comfort and precision, but having Veloflex tyres on your rims is the best alternative to tubulars... Have riden many years Wolber, Vittoria, Continental and Michelin, but Veloflex takes it all.

If you want to fine tune your bike, then PMP is your best choice. I'm using their products since 1998 and I just love them. The titanium seatposts are great, not only they look very good on a bike, but they also filtrate a lot of the road vibrations, even when you have a very stiff frame. PMP offers a wide range of products, quick release skewers and bolts are a must.

Using Silca Pompe pumps for almost 20 years, I strongly recommend them! They are reliable and strong, those ones won't let you down!

If you are looking for something exceptionnal, then the Marresi cycling shoes are for you. Made from leather in Italy, they ally a beautiful vintage look and a pure italian style design.

Not a vintage one but probably one of the best cycling apparel manufacturer around these days, namely MEM. Made in Italy, which is getting rare...

SCI-CON s.n.c., established in 1980, had been the first company in Italy which recognized the cycle bags and accessories field as an available commercial area with a certain expanding future. For almost 20 years the company has been projecting and manufacturing bicycle travel bags and under-seat bags. I really recommended those product for their great design, ease of use and durability.

Bianchi Mega Pro XL

Bianchi Mega Pro XL 1999

This bike needs no presentation. It’s a Dedacciai SC61.10A aluminium frame from the year 1999, to commemorate the one used by the professional team Mercatone Uno from Marco Pantani in the year 1998.
The frame came with its Bianchi Carbon fork, not the Time one like on the Team’s issue bikes and 1998 bikes. My intention was to create a team replica bike as ridden by the Mercatone Uno squad in 1998, thing which is not so easy for different reasons: For example finding a round ITM handlebar can be very challenging! I also replaced the original ITM Big One stem by a no name one, since the Big One didn’t have a great reputation in terms of solidity… The pedals are Look ones since I don’t use Time.
In the next future I will replace all bolts and skewers with PMP titanium ones.
Here below the listing of the components and the pictures. Enjoy!

- Bianchi Mega Pro XL frame from aluminium SC61.01A tubing made by Dedacciai. The size is a racy 51x54 cm. The paintwork matches the one from the Team Mercatone Uno 1998.
- Bianchi carbon fork, painted.
- PMP titanium seat post, Bianchi edition.
- Selle Italia Flite titanium saddle, embroided Marco Pantani limited edition.
- Bianchi alloy seat post clamp.
- No name yellow stem, 120 mm, a copy of the ITM Big One.
- 3ttt Ergo Power 2 round “Italian” handlebar, 42 cm.
- Campagnolo Record headset.
- Campagnolo Record 9s ergopower levers from 1998.
- Elite Ciussi Inox water bottle cage.
- Campagnolo Record carbon bottom bracket.
- Campagnolo Record crank set, 9s in 170 mm length, chain rings 53 and 39.
- Look PP296 pedals, red.
- Campagnolo Record brakes.
- Campagnolo Record 9s front derailleur.
- Campagnolo Record titanium 9s rear mech.
- Campagnolo Record 9s chain.
- Echowell Echo cyclocomputer, red.
- Campagnolo Shamal titanium HPW 9s aero wheels, for tyres.
- Campagnolo Record 9s cassette, 13-23.
- Vittoria Corsa CX tyres, 23 mm section Mario Cipollini King Lion limited edition, yellow.
- Bianchi celeste handlebar tape.

Impressions:

Bianchi Mega Pro XL Pictures

Front view of the Bianchi Mega Pro XL, here with black Campagnolo Shamal 9s wheels.

De Rosa Planet Pictures

Outdoor shot of my De Rosa Planet 1998 with Veloflex Pavé tyres.