Re: [CR] Cinelli bikes and their parts

(Example: History)

From: <rudy43norvelle@comcast.net>
To: gpvb1@comcast.net, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Cinelli bikes and their parts
Date: Mon, 01 Aug 2005 21:06:23 +0000


Spence received his Cinellis as framesets. Then you as the buyer specified the components. At the time I bought mine, the components I got were the "In" components for the local racing scene.

Rudy Norvelle in Kind of hot San Jose


-------------- Original message --------------


> Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 14:54:29 -0400

\r?\n> From: "kohl57@starpower.net"

\r?\n> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

\r?\n> Subject: Re: [CR]Cinelli bikes and their parts

\r?\n>

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Original Message:

\r?\n> -----------------

\r?\n> From: rudy43norvelle@comcast.net

\r?\n> Date: Mon, 01 Aug 2005 18:27:57 +0000

\r?\n> To: chasds@mindspring.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

\r?\n> Subject: Re: [CR]Cinelli bikes and their parts

\r?\n>

\r?\n>

\r?\n> "My Cinelli SC which I purchased from Spence Wolf in 1969 Has TA

\r?\n> Cottered/Cotterless Cranks Mafac Top "63" Brakes with Weinmann levers. The only

\r?\n> Campagnolo items were the hubs, derrailuers, seat post, bottom bracket (part of

\r?\n> it) and head set. Also the Pedals. Of course that was before Campagnolo had

\r?\n> brakes so that part doesn't count.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Rudy Norvelle

\r?\n> San Jose, CA"

\r?\n>

\r?\n>

\r?\n> So where and how did Spence Wolfe get his Cinellis? Were these bought from the

\r?\n> factory as frame sets and fitted it out in his shop with his choice of

\r?\n> components?? If so, we're back to framesets which is not quite germaine in

\r?\n> discussing STOCK components for complete machines supplied by the factory.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> I am sure someone could buy a Cinelli or Masi framset and put on a Sears Free

\r?\n> Spirit "gruppo" (threading issues aside) but it still doesn't jibe with the spec

\r?\n> sheets, catalogues and photographic evidence that there were lots (like

\r?\n> zillions) of totally Italian component'd bikes out there during this period.

\r?\n> They were the rule not the exception. The idea that this is something unusual is

\r?\n> patiently absurd.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> I think it would be accurate to say that the ONLY country in the world (aside

\r?\n> perhaps from Japan of which I am even more ignorant) that produced every single

\r?\n> top-end cycle component from Columbus tubing to Binda toestraps to Campagnolo

\r?\n> derailleur to Universal brakes to REG waterbottle cage etc. etc. c. 1965 to the

\r?\n> end of the CR Period was indeed ITALY.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Britain loses out because of the derailleur issue and France is

\r?\n> disqualified because of the frame sets (I think). A PX-10 is 100 per cent French

\r?\n> manufacture (except maybe for the Brooks saddle, many had Ideale) except for the

\r?\n> tubing. I don't know of any top-end French racing bike of this era with French

\r?\n> lightweight tubing.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Peter Kohler

\r?\n> Washington DC USA

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Whoa there, pardner. Put your six-guns down for a moment.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> AFAIK, the vast majority (nearly 100% maybe?) of the top-line Cinellis only came

\r?\n> into the US as framesets. (I'm sure the tifosi (Cinoscenti?) will correct me if

\r?\n> I am wrong). Remember, these are contract-built framesets. No big bike factory

\r?\n> was pumping them out. They were then either sold at retail as framesets, and

\r?\n> built up by the end user, or built up into complete bikes by the retail shop.

\r?\n> Spence sold A LOT of them, and was perhaps the only source for them at first, so

\r?\n> many were built his, um, preferred way.....

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Bottom line: youse can build one up any way you see fit! Ain't no such thing as

\r?\n> a 100-point correct one, IMO.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Greg Parker

\r?\n> Dexter, Michigan