Comments on: The Quiet Warrior: Cinelli Bikes and the History of Innovation http://www.ebykr.com/2005/11/cinelli/ Bicycle Artistry Sun, 20 Jun 2010 07:16:28 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Les Rogers http://www.ebykr.com/2005/11/cinelli/comment-page-1/#comment-164559 Les Rogers Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:47:18 +0000 http://www.ebykr.com/?p=21#comment-164559 I have a Cinelli Super Corsa numbered 6369 on bottom of bottom bracket. A great bike. Anybody know how to determine the manufacture date? I have a Cinelli Super Corsa numbered 6369 on bottom of bottom bracket. A great bike. Anybody know how to determine the manufacture date?

]]> By: jim vaughn http://www.ebykr.com/2005/11/cinelli/comment-page-1/#comment-140405 jim vaughn Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:05:45 +0000 http://www.ebykr.com/?p=21#comment-140405 I have had a 1970 speciale corsa, a 1981 super corsa pista, two bootleg racing rats, and now a 2005 unica. I have enjoyed all of them. I think they are very nice bikes. I will buy more Cinelli frames in the future... I have had a 1970 speciale corsa, a 1981 super corsa pista, two bootleg racing rats, and now a 2005 unica. I have enjoyed all of them. I think they are very nice bikes. I will buy more Cinelli frames in the future…

]]> By: Bobby Phillips http://www.ebykr.com/2005/11/cinelli/comment-page-1/#comment-129662 Bobby Phillips Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:09:09 +0000 http://www.ebykr.com/?p=21#comment-129662 I had a Cinelli it was gray in color and was a very fine machine. I won many of races on that bike. I just wish i still had it . Thanks,Bobby I had a Cinelli it was gray in color and was a very fine machine. I won many of races on that bike. I just wish i still had it . Thanks,Bobby

]]> By: Steven Maasland http://www.ebykr.com/2005/11/cinelli/comment-page-1/#comment-117978 Steven Maasland Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:07:29 +0000 http://www.ebykr.com/?p=21#comment-117978 I'm sorry that I must interject to state that a great deal of what is written above is totally incorrect. The least bit of detective work will show the following: a) By 1943, Cino Cinelli was a spent force in the cycling world. His best years were already behind him at that time. b) Cino did not found the Cinelli company, it was his older brother, Giotto, who did. Cino joined the company at later date following his retirement as a pro. It was also Giotto who was responsible for initial production of the handlebars and stems. Giotto later left the company to his little brother, when he took over his father-in-law's plastic stamping business. All of this can be demonstrated by a look at the Italian corporate registry books. c) Cinelli came very late to the idea of smaller wheels (most definitely not before the 60's) and did not build them into his company's bikes. The story about Coppi riding a Cinelli bike is tenuous at best and is not supported by any photographic or print evidence. The idea that Coppi tried a 20 inch wheel Cinelli bike is more likely from the realm of dreams. d) Cinelli never supplied bikes to any pro team. He was however a mover and shaker in the UVI (Italian cycling federation) and was therefore able to put many an amateur on to his bikes. He also supplied quite a few individual riders. e) Cinelli had no hand in the initial development of the bivalent hubs. He was the facilitator and the one who helped industrialize the product and marketed them, but he did not develop them. f) Cinelli did not develop Binda toe straps, but rather was the distributor of them. They were developed by Dino Bianchi. g) Cinelli did not develop Unicanitor saddles. Nitor was a separate company that was purchased by Cinelli. Nitor made the first plastic saddles which were marketed by Cinelli. They also made a microadjust seatpost. h) The Laser came out long after Cino had left the company, and Cino had absolutely nothng to do with it. Even if it might appear that I am downgrading the myth of Cino Cinelli, I believe that it is far more important to remember him for that which he really was. Cino was an incredible man and most defintiely one of the people most responsible in keeping the sport of cycling at the fore. In the early post-war years, he was a master facilitator in making sure that framebuilders and cyclists alike were able to make ends meet. He wheeled and dealed to ensure supply of components and acted as guarantor for many of these builders who otherwise couldn't get needed supplies. He then founded the pro cyclist association which he then led for over 20 years. The association looked after the best interests of the cyclists and protected them. He also campaigned hard to get support for the Rome olympics in 1960. He was also one of the very earliest people to believe in a true world market for high end bikes. Already in the 50's he was selling his products throughout the world. He was also the Italian distributor for many a product and in many ways could be considered as one of the godfathers of the business. He was, I believe, by the 70's, the largest independent supplier of tubesets, lugs, BB shells, fork crowns and all other framebuilding items. A true giant and man of vision! I’m sorry that I must interject to state that a great deal of what is written above is totally incorrect. The least bit of detective work will show the following:
a) By 1943, Cino Cinelli was a spent force in the cycling world. His best years were already behind him at that time.
b) Cino did not found the Cinelli company, it was his older brother, Giotto, who did. Cino joined the company at later date following his retirement as a pro. It was also Giotto who was responsible for initial production of the handlebars and stems. Giotto later left the company to his little brother, when he took over his father-in-law’s plastic stamping business. All of this can be demonstrated by a look at the Italian corporate registry books.
c) Cinelli came very late to the idea of smaller wheels (most definitely not before the 60′s) and did not build them into his company’s bikes. The story about Coppi riding a Cinelli bike is tenuous at best and is not supported by any photographic or print evidence. The idea that Coppi tried a 20 inch wheel Cinelli bike is more likely from the realm of dreams.
d) Cinelli never supplied bikes to any pro team. He was however a mover and shaker in the UVI (Italian cycling federation) and was therefore able to put many an amateur on to his bikes. He also supplied quite a few individual riders.
e) Cinelli had no hand in the initial development of the bivalent hubs. He was the facilitator and the one who helped industrialize the product and marketed them, but he did not develop them.
f) Cinelli did not develop Binda toe straps, but rather was the distributor of them. They were developed by Dino Bianchi.
g) Cinelli did not develop Unicanitor saddles. Nitor was a separate company that was purchased by Cinelli. Nitor made the first plastic saddles which were marketed by Cinelli. They also made a microadjust seatpost.
h) The Laser came out long after Cino had left the company, and Cino had absolutely nothng to do with it.

Even if it might appear that I am downgrading the myth of Cino Cinelli, I believe that it is far more important to remember him for that which he really was. Cino was an incredible man and most defintiely one of the people most responsible in keeping the sport of cycling at the fore. In the early post-war years, he was a master facilitator in making sure that framebuilders and cyclists alike were able to make ends meet. He wheeled and dealed to ensure supply of components and acted as guarantor for many of these builders who otherwise couldn’t get needed supplies. He then founded the pro cyclist association which he then led for over 20 years. The association looked after the best interests of the cyclists and protected them. He also campaigned hard to get support for the Rome olympics in 1960. He was also one of the very earliest people to believe in a true world market for high end bikes. Already in the 50′s he was selling his products throughout the world. He was also the Italian distributor for many a product and in many ways could be considered as one of the godfathers of the business. He was, I believe, by the 70′s, the largest independent supplier of tubesets, lugs, BB shells, fork crowns and all other framebuilding items. A true giant and man of vision!

]]> By: Alex Ketley http://www.ebykr.com/2005/11/cinelli/comment-page-1/#comment-117718 Alex Ketley Sun, 28 Oct 2007 03:20:52 +0000 http://www.ebykr.com/?p=21#comment-117718 I own a Cinelli Aero and want to learn more about it. Somebody gave it to me. It is beautiful. Anybody have any info? I own a Cinelli Aero and want to learn more about it. Somebody gave it to me. It is beautiful. Anybody have any info?

]]> By: Darryll Rasnake http://www.ebykr.com/2005/11/cinelli/comment-page-1/#comment-16975 Darryll Rasnake Tue, 30 Jan 2007 18:27:51 +0000 http://www.ebykr.com/?p=21#comment-16975 Thanks for the history and long live Cinelli! I had the opportunity to buy a beautiful 2004 Unica last season. It had been built up (incorrectly) and never ridden. But now the ride is unbelievable. Aluminum frame with carbon fork but not at all harsh. Smooth and comfortable are the best words to describe it. Plus unlike the myriad of Cannondales and Treks mass marketed and sold all around, this beauty really catched the eye. It is bright yellow with red tires, red pedals, and even a red seat. Stand out in the crowd, I say. I still have some upgrades (don't we always) but in the meantime I couldn't be happier. Thanks for the history and long live Cinelli! I had the opportunity to buy a beautiful 2004 Unica last season. It had been built up (incorrectly) and never ridden. But now the ride is unbelievable. Aluminum frame with carbon fork but not at all harsh. Smooth and comfortable are the best words to describe it. Plus unlike the myriad of Cannondales and Treks mass marketed and sold all around, this beauty really catched the eye. It is bright yellow with red tires, red pedals, and even a red seat. Stand out in the crowd, I say. I still have some upgrades (don’t we always) but in the meantime I couldn’t be happier.

]]>