Damn straight its not a Masi or a Cinelli! Ciocc is one of the great Italian frames hand-built by Master Framebuilder Giovanni "Ciocc" Pelizolli and/or his apprentices. It is different, but certainly not lesser. Is a chianti superior to a piasano? No, it is a matter of personal taste.
Dating Cioccs can be tricky. Braze-on bits such as shift lever bosses, etc. were already present on Cioccs in the late 70s - possibly earlier. The braze-on front derailleur mount seems to have shown up on Cioccs imported to the States by Ten Speed Drive Imports around 1983-84.
Shimano stuff on a Ciocc? Ugh, not that I recall (1970s-80s Cioccs were typically built-up with Campy Nuovo or Super Record), but then again that is a matter of personal preference. I have Modolo Pro brakes with aero levers and Look PP65 clipless pedals on my otherwise Campy Super Record equipped pre-1983 Ciocc San Cristobal. Check out:
http://www.flickr.com/
Steve Whitting
"The Ciocc Cat"
Prairieville, Louisiana USA
Website at http://ciocc-cat.angelfire.com/
From: Tom Martin <tom@voimports.com> Subject: [CR] Ciocc- how to date? worthy of restoration? To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Date: Monday, October 26, 2009, 12:09 PM
Hello all:
A friend has been using a Ciocc as her daily beater/commuter/ farmers market bike for the past 10 years. It's covered with stickers, has a blackburn rack ghetto clamped to it, and has an all around theft proof looking 'patina'. I saw seatstay caps with 'Ciocc' and my jaw dropped....
It was a garage sale find.
There's interest in doing some restoration type work on it on her part. I'm not sure of the exact direction to advise: Concours d' Elegance level, or a period daily rider? Strip off the stickers and hang a bunch of Campag on it? Or just upgrade the generic singlewall alloy rim/alloy hub J&B wheels that are on it now? It's not a Masi or Cinelli, but it's at least made in Italy, and at least old enough for it to be included in discussions here.
How do I deterrmine a more exact age? Did Ciocc ever spec Shimano on their bikes? At what level, beginning when?
Tom Martin
Where I am gloriously embarking on another vintage time toilet. I just hope it's worth the effort.