I have one of those also. The engraving does look to be early 80's. I've never seen it in any catalog either. I've assumed that Tour was as in tourist. Since the most faimiliar models are Giro d'Italia and Campione del Mondo, not just Giro and Campione, I would think they'd have called this one Tour de France if the meant to refer to the grand tour.
I guess this is as close as Cinelli came to a touring bar in the CR era. At least I've never seen a classic Cinelli randonneur bar. Has anyone else?
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA
> From: Chris Kvale <chriskvalecycles@gmail.com>
\r?\n> Subject: [CR] Cinelli handlebar lore
\r?\n> To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
\r?\n> Date: Friday, April 24, 2009, 1:50 PM
\r?\n> Sometime in the l980's, I think, Cinelli made a
\r?\n> handlebar labeled "68" and
\r?\n> "TOUR." The bend is similar to 63 and 66, but
\r?\n> the reach is about half a
\r?\n> centimeter longer than the 63 and the drop is between the
\r?\n> 63 and 66.
\r?\n> This bend does not appear in any of my old Cinelli
\r?\n> catalogs; I've only seen
\r?\n> three--two of which I sold and the third is on one of my
\r?\n> own bikes. TOUR for
\r?\n> Tour de France? Chris the tourist?
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Chris Kvale
\r?\n> Minneapolis, MN USA