In a message dated 11/10/03 12:23:30 PM Pacific Standard Time,
jeremylieberman@earthlink.net writes:
> Just wondering why it is mostly older Cinelli's which receive the "magic
> carpet ride" accolades and not so many other period Italian makes?
> Certainly other makers had the ability to braze tubes up for a soft ride,
> no?
The "magic carpet ride" didn't have to do with "soft" so much as the right blend of stiffness, road compliance, "roll" and probably a few other things. Some bikes are comfortable, stiff, roll extremely well, handle very predictably at high speeds and...just want to GO! Like a hound straining at the leash. I don't think I'd describe Cinellis as having a particularly soft ride. There were plenty of "frail" bikes that then that did have the "soft"ride, but no stiffness. There are also a lot of "classics" that have poorly matched head angles and fork rakes.
Some integrated headset Bianchis I've had, (or have) do have the magic ride.
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA