In a message dated 11/10/2003 8:13:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,
classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
> Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 14:05:51 -0800
> From: Jan Heine <heine93@earthlink.net>
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [CR]Is it only late 60's early 70's Cinelli's that get the
> magic allday ride acholades?
> Message-ID: <a052106a2bbd5bb5138f7@[66.167.136.41]>
> In-Reply-To: <3FAFF439.EDD01816@earthlink.net>
> References: <410-2200311110201826818@earthlink.net>
> <3FAFF439.EDD01816@earthlink.net>
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> The different seatpost diameter (26.2 mm) indicates that the seat
> tubes were different - unless they brazed in a sleeve to reduce the
> diameter. What did other Italian bikes in the 1950s use?
>
> I think it is the downtube decal that makes them ride differently!
> Seriously, you look down and see that classic decal, and you think:
> "I need to go faster to do this bike justice." Unfortunately, when I
> tried to test my feeling that my Cinelli SC from 1972 or 1973 was
> faster than my race bike (Marinoni Columbus SL, Campy SR), and
> entered it in a time trial, this was not borne out by fact. Of
> course, I also had not been training due to an accident, which had
> put my normal racing bike out of commission in the first place.
> --
> Jan Heine, Seattle
>
I went down and measured seatposts on bikes I have that apply. A late 50s Torpado post measures 26.2, while one from (I think) the early 60s measures about 25.7! Interestingly, my Torpado pista model, believed to be from about 1975, also has a 26.2 seatpost. The 65 Cinelli is 26.2, of course.
The part of this conversation that eludes me, is the talk of the possibly "magical" (special) Columbus tubing used on the 60s Cinellis, but mine is made with Reynolds tubing! Is this one then, not of the magic classification? It's still in pieces, so I have yet to experience the ride for myself. Same goes for the two old Torpados, but the pista bike feels really stiff and responsive ... then again, that's not really comparing apples to apples.
Ciao,
Mark Agree
Southfield MI