Super Corsa No. 2814

My thanks to Jonathan who writes in with, "I've just finished restoring my 1974 Speciale Corsa frame number 2814 and I'd love to feature it on your Cinelli only blog which I really enjoy.  (N.B. My frame may be a 1975 - I'm not 100% certain so any advice on this would be appreciated)

When I bought the frame last year the paint was quite worn but was generally sound, it was however missing the original fork. I wanted to recreate a fork as true to the original bike as possible so I managed to source an original sandcast Fischer-made Cinelli sloping fork crown and drilled fork tangs and entrusted the frame restoration and fork rebuild to Neill Shankland at Atlantic Boulevard in Bury. Neill sourced the Columbus tubing for the fork and steerer and oversaw the frame and fork work, rechroming work, paint, wheel rebuild and other polishing work. Decals exactly matching the original ones on the frame were supplied by Greg Softley in Australia.  I deliberated over keeping the yellow but decided to go with classic Cinelli silver in the end. The paint used was an old Porsche silver but with the metallic flake replaced with a very fine grain - the finish is fantastic and is a good match to the silver used on Cinellis in the early '70s.

I rebuilt the bike using much of the original Nuovo Record groupset that came on the bike but stripped every component down to the last bolt and refurbished everything.  The original wheels were missing so new wheels were built using 60s-mid 70s Fiamme red oval logo rims which were NOS and needed a lot of polishing work, the spokes are Robergel trois etoiles, again NOS. I picked up the lovely early 70's high flange Record hubs in good condition.  Any parts badly worn were replaced like for like with NOS or VGC period correct parts - the Unicanitor saddle, Cinelli 1R stem, Giro D'italia bars and Nuovo Record pedals with strap loops and Bindas for example. I've tried to keep everything as period correct as possible the only concession being the Clement Criterium Tubulars which are from the early 80s but i want to ride the bike and was worried about reliability of anything older."

More photos can be found here.

Reminder: I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components. I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com

Sophisticated Lady

Comments by seller:
"The bike dates from 1978 -79 and was a model called Sophisticated Lady and was a proud creature of Gianni Gabella and everybody loved that. Was made basically one man and woman style and I do not believe were made more 5 couples. Making was incredibly long: every single bolt was disassembled and then coloured anodized on an opposite color of the frame which also had a non-production color and then reassembled. Simple idea but nobody did never again as far as I know. Everest alloy Cassette, Campagnolo Super Record 6 speed group, Regina chain, Fiamme alloy tubular rims- tires never glued, Cinelli VIP saddle and matching handlebar tape. The bicycle came from a late 1970's NYC trade show."

Reminder: I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components. I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com

Centurion Cinelli Project, Part III

Thanks to Eric for photos of a Centurion Cinelli Project frame (note: the fork shown is not original to the frame).

Another reader had previously written in with, "A guy who worked at a Centurion dealer in California in the 80's said that these prototypes were brought to dealers to try to drum up orders for the coming Equipe."

Eric included this information: "I'm the friend of an owner of # 62, as stamped on the BB shell. In 1984 Bill had broken his Centurion Frame while touring (not sure which model) and took it back to Santa Rosa Cyclery in Santa Rosa California, the shop that he frequented. Since his broken model was the top of the line Centurion from a previous year, the warranty department at Western States Imports offered him what was going to be their top of the line bike for the upcoming year. The blue Centurion - Cinelli Project bike is what arrived at the bike shop in the coming weeks. Since the bike was built in Italy he decided to stay with the theme and built it up with Campagnolo components, save a few things that he was comfortable with and had found to be outstanding parts, like MA-40 rims and a SunTour freewheel."

Reminder: I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components. I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com

A Pair of Cinellis

John writes, "I am the original owner of the Super Corsa from Spence Wolfe.  The frame has been repainted 2 times.  CycleArt did the last  paint job in 1983  and added braze-ons, which make it look really clean, but no longer  “authentic” The chrome was painted over as it kept pitting no matter how much I tried to keep it clean. One of my team mates who ordered his Cinelli at the same time requested no chrome!    This machine has traveled through Europe racing in local events and time trials, plus touring.  It is restored with all the Nuovo Record components and Mafac brakes. The saddle is an Ottusi Spence ordered for me in 1964 and I still ride it!  I ride on clincher wheels with the original NR hubs, but still own my Cinelli - built red label Fiamme front tubular. (Cino looked at my bike on a visit there and saw my front wheel has pretty bad…a Nisi. One of his workers built me up a brand new wheel in less than an hour!) and a Wolfe soldered rear yellow label Fiamme tubular wheel, but too expensive to run those these days!"  Note: 1963, serial number 8888.

"The Mod B Cinelli was given to me and was in poor condition regarding the paint.  So I slowly restored the frame’s chrome, paint, and decals to the exact colors and decal arrangements.  It is a small frame so I do not ride it, and I assembled a hodge-podge of Campy parts of various eras onto it.  Interestingly, I made it into a 5 speed, which made it a unique machine.   A new Brooks Pro saddle goes  well with it.   It is mostly Nuovo Record, but has a C-record seat post and an Ibis Ti-stem from the 90s.  Will eventually sell it as it needs a good home on a shorter rider!"  Note: 1965-1966, serial number 5481.

Reminder: I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components. I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com