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

1969 Cinelli with "Alpine" Gearing by Spence Wolfe

My thanks to Don Martinich for writing in with, "I just wanted to let you know I have a vintage bicycle site which focuses on racing from the 50's to the 80's. It has a page devoted to my family's Cinells including the S.C. my wife bought in 1969 with a Spence Wolf alpine set up and TA cranks. It's spent most of it's time indoors since it was new and is in excellent condition.

Tt wasn't a custom order, but, a Spence-buildup in-shop item. Two components that stand out are the crankset and the rear derailleur. The crankset is a Specialites T.A.'Criterium' with cottered aluminum alloy cranks. The rear derailleur is a Campagnolo Nuovo Record modified by Spence for alpine gearing. The bicycle has all original finish, decals, and components with the exception of the clincher rims. (The original Fiamme sew-up rims have been saved.) The hubs are wide flange Campagnolo Record. The pedals are the classic Campagnolo Stradas. Bars and stem are Cinelli. The centerpull brakes are Universal. The seatpost and bar shifters are also Campy. The bike is now in the care of our son, Anton."

Pictured above is Kathy Martinich's 1969 Cinelli (photos by Don Martinich).

Don's website is www.velovecchio.com

Don also has this photo of Spence and Lillian Wolfe at their Cupertino Bike Shop. They only dealt in quality lightweights and became West Coast (of U.S.A.) importers for Cinelli frames for many years. Spence was also a bike mechanic of "guru" stature and collaborated with the Phil Wood company on their component designs.


I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components.

Thanks for stopping by.

I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com

1963 Cinelli SC

This 1963 Cinelli (serial number 1193), owned by David White, was imported through Spence Wolf's Cupertino (California) bike shop. It includes a number of rare items -- an early Wolf "Alpine" rear derailleur adpatation on a Campy Record; a TA Criterium crank; MAFAC Top 63 brakes; Paturaud toe clips; Mephisto clincher rims.

Photos: click to enlarge

I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components.

Thanks for stopping by.

I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com