Re: [CR]Altenburger Cinelli

(Example: Books)

Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:14:01 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
From: "Marc St. Martin" <marc.stmartin@earthlink.net>
To: ridingrabbit@earthlink.net, classicrendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR]Altenburger Cinelli


Hi Marie,

I'd like to see you bring it to Cirque next year exactly as you found it. Don't take anything off or put anything on. Just lightly dust it.

Regards,

Marc St. Martin Livermore, California USA

-----Original Message-----

>From: marie autrey <ridingrabbit@earthlink.net>

>Sent: Nov 13, 2008 9:09 AM

>To: classicrendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>

>Subject: [CR]Altenburger Cinelli

>

>Okay, I took the plunge and bought the Altenburger Cinelli on Ebay last week. Probably paid too much, but I made so much money in the stock market that week that it doesn't matter. (This is sarcasm).

>

>Questions:

>It measures out as a 58 cm, c-c, with a 58cm top tube. This is the same as the Mexican Benotto that I ride every day, and both bikes have the same stem extension. However, the Cinelli came with a miserable little stub of a seatpost the length of my thumb, whereas the Benotto shows 8 inches. Were bikes sized differently then? Is there a reason why I shouldn't get a longer seatpost and swap them out?

>The saddle that came with it is a plastic butt-buster labelled Grand Prix. It has a thick molded shell with a couple of holes down the center, and bizarrrely enough, a tension screw under the nose, a la Brooks. I'm not going to subject my precious epidermis to this ugly thing, but what would be appropriate?

>The headset is marked Cinelli, Milano, and has no wrench flats; just holes for a very small pin wrench. Where can I find such a tool? Park and Third Hand came up empty.

>

>There is no tubing label, just a 'Modelo B' sticker. It has a flat crown, brazed on shifter bosses, bizarro down-and-back rear dropouts, and fastback stays. The head lugs are chromed, and nicely thinned. All the Altenburger parts are anodized a very pale green to match the frame paint, a thin metallic green over silver primer that reminds me of my brother's Hot Wheels cars from 1969. Enameled head tube badge, enameled stem badge. The wheels were rebuilt at some point with modern rims (27'') and spokes, but the ancient Pirelli tires, which are as hard and cracked (not to mention the same gum color) as your third grade eraser. Both derailleurs work well, but the bottom bracket and headset bearings are quite stiff and possibly brinnelled. Glendora Bicycles in New Jersey (feedback 0) performed a spectacularly honest sale, and went to absurd lengths to ship this bike safely. I would do business with them any day of the week.

>

>Shower me with our wisdom, guys.

>

>thanks,

>marie autrey

>ridingrabbit@earthlink.net

>Decatur, Georgia (little country town enveloped by Atlanta)

>USA