About Ebykr
Ebykr celebrates classic and vintage lightweight bicycles through provoking imagery and opinion. Let's roll together!
About Ebykr
Ebykr celebrates classic and vintage lightweight bicycles through provoking imagery and opinion. Let's roll together!
[…] Legnano framesets were often adorned with beautiful hand-painted finishes. This was for more than just aesthetics, too – it added an extra layer of protection against corrosion and rust. Bozzi and his team of outfitters equipped their best Legnano bikes with high-quality components from revered Italian brands like Campagnolo and Cinelli. […]
[…] of doers, including the chief quaternity of classic lightweight Italian bicycle builders: Cino Cinelli, Ernesto Colnago, Alberto Masi and Ugo De […]
[…] Cinelli has it familiar crest, Colnago its ace of clubs, Fuji its stylized mountain, Raleigh its phoenix and Schwinn its four-point star — but Legnano may be the only bicycle company whose headbadge depicts a sword-lofting warrior. The reason why is nothing short of amazing, predictable as it may be in the end. […]
[…] of doers, including the chief quaternity of classic lightweight Italian bicycle builders: Cino Cinelli, Ernesto Colnago, Alberto Masi and Ugo De […]
What type of freewheel bodies were used for the 1978 and 1979 freewheels? Which technology made the pedal rate of the 2nd highest gear[4th gear] the same as the lowest gear[1st gear] This technology was the best ever produced.
I have just completed a period-correct restoration of my 1970 Cinelli Super Corsa (type A), original silver with chromed lugs, original Campagnolo Nuovo Record Groupo, added Campy side-pull brakes in 1972, full Cinelli stem, handlebar, seat post, and headset. Sized by Spence Wolfe and ordered through the Cupertino bike shop. Delivered seven months later—November, 1970. SN 5153. My only concession to non-original parts is a modern chain and replaced the cracked Campy derailleur pulleys with Bullseye sealed bearing pulleys (manufactured in 1974, Burbank, CA.) Wide-flanged hubs, radial spokes on front wheel. Pleased to discover that I can buy modern tires (Continental Giro “28 inch”, 700×22). Vintage cotton-taped bars with twine finish and four coats of shellac—just like back in the old days. Rides like a dream, inspires dreams, and reminds me of past dreams. Such luxury…
I owned a Cinelli Ottomilano mountain bike from 1988 or 1989 which had columbus tubing and was equiped with shimano xt groupset, it did me well, even suffering a big dent to the top tube due to some klutz knocking a rock off a wall on to it…dartmoor!!! eventually i sold it in 1996 for £75.
You have got to appreciate history… it enriches the spirit to know where things came from…. its interesting how cinelli desined the infamous “death cleates”
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 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 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’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 own a Cinelli Aero and want to learn more about it. Somebody gave it to me. It is beautiful. Anybody have any info?
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.
HI MY NAME IS JAMES R. CHIARA AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY FANTASTIC EXPERIENCES WITH THE CINELLI SUPER CORSA PURCHASED FROM OSCAR WASTYN CYCLES IN CHICAGO IN JUNE 1973. RACED LOCALLY AGAINST ALL AGE BRACKETS AND WON ON MOST OF THE FLAT COARSES. THE BEST BEING THE BLOSSOM RACE AGAINST NATIONAL RANKED MASTERS FROM THE EAST, WHICH HIT AN UNBELIEVABLE TOP SPEED IN THE SPRINT OF 46.9 MPH ON THE CINELLI. THE LAST RACE WAS IN MONCELLO N.Y. IN THE MASTERS WORLD CUP FINISHING 9TH OVERALL AND WINNING THE PACK SPRINT COMPETING AGAINST SUPPOSEDLY MORE ADVANCED BIKES. AFTER THAT HAD IT PAINTED AT CYCLE ART IN CAL. AND PJUT ALL NEW SUPER RECORD PARTS ON IT. NOW HANGS WITH 26 OTHER BIKES IN MY BIKE ROOM. HAVE TWO LETTERS SIGNED BY CINO CINELLI HIMSELF FROM 1977 AND 1979 WHICH ARE TREASURED!
REPECTFULLY,
JIM CHIARA
[…] Added to the Gallery: A Photo Album of Cinelli Parts see also History of Cinelli Filed under Cinelli, Parts, cinelli, bicycle, bike, parts, components, gallery, photo, album, pictures, images by EBykr. […]