It sems that former Eric Clapton bikes are in season at the moment, for hard on the heels of the classy Condor just bought by a CR List member, now comes the "Ex Eric Clapton" 1980 Cinelli Super Corsa bike.
It's item No 6538624806. on UK ebay.The bike, it is claimed by the seller, was given to Mr Clapton by none other than the President of Columbus tubes, Mr Columbo in early 1980. The bike is kitted out with Campag C Record equipment. At the moment it stands in the upper £800 bracket with one bidder and over two days to go. The same bike was put up for sale some weeks ago, but failed to find a buyer.
The matter that strikes me as curious in the considering the two bikes is that the 1973 Condor is a 60cms and the early 80 Cinelli is only a 57 cms. it was fashionable in the 50s to ride large frames with the bars and saddle pushed low down, but I thought that fashion had expired by the 70s. As far as I can remember there was only 1" difference in the frame size achieved by using both the traditional English formula for calculating a frame size, and then the Italian CONI formula.
As for other pop-stars who ride bikes I think that Elvis Costello rides a Bob Jackson, Mike Harding a UK star folk-singer rides a Bespoke, and a Speedwell, and John Helliwell, leader/saxophonist of "Supertramp" rides a Corima Monocoque, a TVT Carbon 92, a 1972/73 Masi Gran Criterium (made in the States by a member of this List perhaps), a Raleigh Record Ace.. and will shortly add a Vitus 6061 aluminium/carbon steed to his stable.
It's a little ironical that in February of this year, a similar model Condor bike, equipped with good quality gear, came for auction on UK Ebay. It didn't have the same striking finish as the recent model, but nevertheless it had the same lugs. I was the high bidder with £200 on the board.. but it hadn't reached its reserve. I had to leave for France a day later and only learned six weeks later that the seller had relisted the bike and advised all previous bidders of his lowered reserve price. I recall it went for around £260 !!
Norris Lockley.. Settle UK