1980s Cinelli "CX" ???

I am not familiar with the Cinelli "CX" model. Does anyone have any information about this model? These photos appeared on a recent France ebay listing with the statement, "it can be a CINELLI CX, impossible to know because the sticker is missing". 58cm. Notice that the top tube and downtube are crimped; tubing is Columbus SLX. You can click on photos to enlarge them.

I found another reference to a CX, in 56cm, which stated, "This is a very unusual Cinelli road frame from I think is from the early 80s. The lugs all have the Cinelli winged symbol as does the rear brake bridge and fork crown."

NOTE: From Cinelli this response, "Hi Angelo, I spoke to a few of my colleagues this morning and came to the conclusion with them that this frame is almost certainly a fake or unofficial Cinelli. We never used that lugset, but even more telling is the top tube with its “master” style shaping which is a give away that the tube is in fact not even Columbus but an Oria tube shaped by Silva. It is the tubing which makes us almost certain that this frame while certainly not a production model, is not even a prototype."


Note: subsequent to the above entry the following photo courtesy of www.hilarystone.com of another "CX" labled frameset:


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Merry Christmas! Cinelli Style

Chrome Cinelli circa 1969.

Photo: used by permission (click to enlarge)

Holiday Greetings from Cinelli

Cinelli Riviera

A CINELLI ONLY reader sent me several photos of a Cinelli he could not quite identify. After conferring with some of my more expert friends they confirmed it was a Cinelli "Riviera".

It's much rarer to see a Riviera than a Super Corsa. The Riviera, as can be seen from the text in the 1963 Ron Kitching catalog, was marketed (at least in England) as a bicycle "perfect for the beginner (that) can be used for all cycling purposes". The Super Corsa is described as the "replica of the machines used by the Italian professional road aces....".

There is also a twist in the Riviera story. The Garlatti company certainly made Riviera frames for Cinelli that were destined for export. However, Cinelli also made Rivieras for the Italian market that were better finished. Any additional information regarding these points would be welcome.

Photos: Cinelli Riviera lug details, click to enlarge.

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A Riviera decal on a 1960 Riviera frame (photo courtsy of Georg):

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Cinelli Laser at 100km TTT Chambéry 1989

Photo: via Filippo, original by "nztony".

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Cinelli Bivalent Hubs Close-ups

Thanks again to Stefan of www.speedbicycles.ch for giving me permission to use his photos.

The previous entry showed Stefan's 1968 Cinelli S. C. with bivalent hubs. Here are close-ups:




Courtesy of www.43bikes.com a photo with a wheel dismounted:

Note: The 1970 Ron Kitching Everything Cycling catalogue stated:

"Bivalent Interchangeable QR Hubs. As the name suggests the wheel will fit either front or rear. It is not dished and consequently it is a stronger wheel... The chain and freewheel and therefore the gear ratios remain undisturbed the whole time. For the rider supported by a service car it is only a question of how soon a spare wheel, and remember there cannot be any mistake as to which, may be obtained. For the non-supported rider a tubular can be changed in much less time -- particularly a rear. Initially designed for stage racing, a six man team needs only six spare wheels, where the advantages are obvious and time saving may be enormous, time trialling may also gain considerably from what may be described as the ultimate in quick release hubs. .... Remember -- here are the exclusive features of the Cinelli Bivalent Hubs- features which cannot be ignored by the modern racing man who insists on the absolute best in equipment. (1) Rapid and easy exchange of wheel - only five seconds (2) Rear wheel and front wheel or spare are all interchangeable. (3) Less broken spokes because of the wheels perfect tangency (4) Rear wheel is not dished and is therefore stronger and better balanced. (5) Front wheel offers less wind resistance. (6) Freewheel and chain are not disturbed and therefore gear ratios remain unchanged. (7) Easy replacement of the freewheel."

 

 

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1968 Cinelli S.C. with Bivalent Hubs

My thanks to Stefan of www.speedbicycles.ch for giving me permission to use his photos. Stefan's collection of bicycles is beautifully photographed.

This Cinelli is serial number 4274, made with Columbus tubing finished in cromovelato Mars red. It is equipped with a set of Cinelli bivalent hubs. Cinelli introduced this hub system in 1961 in which the front and rear wheels where interchangeable, and the freewheel remains on the bike during a wheel change. Read about Cino Cinelli's logic in creating these hubs:
Article (click to enlarge) courtesy www.classicrendezvous.com

Other components include Cinelli bar/stem, Unicanitor saddle, Fiamme red label rims and Clement Criterium Seta Extra Cappuccetto Roso tubulars.

Seat tube c-c 59cm, top tube c-c 57cm, weight 10.2kg

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Cinelli with Chrome Rings on Seat Tube

Regarding the previous entry in which there are Cinelli images in the 1963 Ron Kitching catalog, this comment was left: "Also, never seen a Cinelli with chrome seat panels?........Bianchi's yes." If you look closely at the catalog you will see the Super Corsa with four chromed rings on the seat tube.

Courtesy of Jack we have photos of a circa late 50s/early 60s Cinelli Super Corsa in bronze color with these types of bands. Note the oil port on the bottom bracket.

Photos: click to enlarge


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Cinelli in 1963 Ron Kitching Catalog

My thanks to Gordon C. for sending these scans from the Ron Kitching (England)catalog of 1963.

The Super Corsa is listed as having the main triangle in Reynolds 531 and the fork and stays in double butted Columbus. The colors available are listed as Grecian WHITE, Mars RED, IVORY, and Olympic YELLOW.

The Pista model is constucted with the same tubes as the Super Corsa; reinforced round fork blades are used. It is available in two colors: IVORY or Powder BLUE.

Also listed are the Riviera and Corsa models; see images for details.

Photos: click to enlarge (you can click 2x)


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Viale Monza, 10 Milano; 60+ Years Later

This was the door that lead to the original CINELLI headquarters.

Thanks Matteo via G.S. GUCCILIFE

Photo: click to enlarge


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Ten Speed Drive Imports Cinelli Catalog

1980s catalog made by Ten Speed Drive Imports based in Florida. At that time Ten Speed Drive Imports main distributors of Italian cycling products from Campagnolo, Cinelli, Nisi, & many other marques. My thanks to dale Brown for the images.

Photos: click to enlarge


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Cinelli, Il Grande Ciclismo

Matthew B. writes in with, "Another piece of documentation worth pointing out is the Cinelli "Il Grande Ciclismo" product poster from the early 80's. It featured a tight crop of one of these black/gold machines."

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1987 Cinelli "Golden Black", Cinelli Design

Another bit of black Cinelli bike history has arrived courtesy of Mark A.

Mark writes, "In 2003, I saved a few pictures of a Cinelli like this that I saw on the Internet, said to be from 1987. This is a copy of the text I saved.":

Cinelli 1987 “Golden Black” with 1981 Black Campagnolo Super Record
"The Golden Black was evidently an exhibition bike or a design study, never meant to be ridden. The frame is not noticably different to the standard Cinellis of the same period, but the attention to detail and the groupset are extraordinary. This Golden Black was purchased by a collector in Germany and never ridden; price unknown. The Super Record groupset dates from 1981, but the frame itself was built in 1987. The frame bears no serial number; it has only a gold plate stating it was built in February 1987 (I'll give you one guess how many were made in Feb.'87!). The highly modified Super Record components must have been delivered in pieces, specially prepared, and stored in anticipation of a limited production run. The total number of units produced is unknown."

ed. note: In this article about the "confused" Cinelli, Cinelli discusses how in 1983 the Cinelli name/logo on the seat tube was covered by the crankset. That is also the case with the two black Cinelli's I just wrote about (here and here) previously. On the bicycle in the above photos you can see that the Cinelli name has been moved so it is now visible above the crankset which would be be consistent with a frame made later than 1983.

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