Babyldn’s 1988 Bianchi Grizzly is a Stunner

Situated in South East London, Babyldn is a community bike shop by day and a custom bike shop by night. Founder Marlon’s rider portraits and retro builds have caught my eye on Instagram for a while now, and the latest stood out as something exceptional, stopping me in my tracks. The reimagined late-1980s Bianchi Grizzly features an unexpected mix of components and looks to strike the ideal balance of comfort and playfulness.

It’s quite a premium rebuild compared to the typical bikes that roll out of Babyldn’s garage, but it serves as a testament to nearly 40-year-old steel bikes still having tons of life left and deserving to be taken seriously. The frame was fully stripped and repainted by Mario Vaz Finishes before receiving a deluxe parts kit that includes Paul levers and brakes, Ultradynamico Cava 26 x 2.1″ tires, Velo Orange Klunker handlebars, a Brooks C67 saddle, Dura-Ace hubs laced to Sun Rhyno Lite rims, a BLB front rack, and Nitto UI-12SSB stem, among other notable bits. The icing on top is a 10-speed Dura-Ace rear derailleur with a one-off carbon cage to make it compatible with the 36T Shimano XT cassette.

In Marlon’s words, the Grizzly is, “A luxurious comfy cruiser. A premium city commuter. Old frame with that super new bike feel.” He says he’s over the moon with how it all came together, and it’s easy to see why. If you’re interested in seeing more builds like this one, find Babyldn on Instagram.

Further Reading

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Dispatch

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