Spotted on craigslist omg!!!!
 

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/b...855350242.html

VINTAGE ITALIAN MYSTERY BIKE!!! - $1000 (The Goldest Coast) hide this posting

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bicycle frame material: steel
bicycle type: road
frame size: 56cm
make / manufacturer: Fellini
model name / number: SuperFantastico
wheel size: 700C
[Attn flaggers: though you perform a valuable service to CL, please note the date of this listing as well as its high quality and take that into consideration.]

For sale TODAY ONLY:

This rare and desirable vintage (possibly) Italian racing bike! It's time for me to start to whittle down my collection. I am open to reasonable offers but expect them to start at $1000.

Though we can't be sure of the maker, you'll have to agree that this vintage velo clearly has a continental racing heritage.

Photo 1:
Look at the racing physique of this bike, the swooping rake of the fork, the insouciant tilt of the handlebars. Eat your heart out, Ugo!

Photo 2:
Closeup reveals the gorgeous patina of years of loving use...perhaps sweat from the immortal Merckxx or Hinault dripped and caused it. (Really, 'The Badger' had notoriously acidic perspiration.) Cables are secured with the traditional 'bande d'electricien.' Note how the shifters are cleverly placed on the *top tube* rather than the traditional downtube, the work of a innovative, visionary fabricator. All the more reason to think that this is a true thoroughbred. And the lack of a headbadge only heightens the mystery!

Photo 3:
The rear dropouts are clearly works of art...note how carefully they are jammed into the stays and secured with a neat little dimple. The 'pie plate' of chromed steel prevents a careless shift from sending the chain into the spokes on a tough ascent--even the best riders can have a bad shift! (Right, Andy?) The maker of the rear derailleur is unknown, but the initials 'SIS' doubtless stand for 'Sylvestro I Stallone' or something equally Italian.

Photo 4:
The detail shot here shows the high-tech braking system of the bike, along with the uniquely textured tire, and a glimpse of the front wheel. These wheels are of chromed steel and weigh at least FIVE POUNDS EACH. It's a complete myth that you want a racing bike to be lightweight. Because this bike can go so fast, it needs these massive wheels to keep it tethered to the ground! And that super-smooth surface really aids in braking--on a wet day you can easily stop within a city block, as long as you're not going too fast.

Photo 5:
The rear cluster shows the placement of the seatstays, which are held in place by what appears to be a dab of a high tech cement, possibly JB Weld (or its Italian equivalent). Note that though this bike precedes the era of TIG welding, yet there appear to be NO LUGS! In fact it's a complete mystery what is holding the tubing together. What an exciting bike to ride!

'BMA/6' was evidently a racing association, devoted to new bike technology, Biciclettas....something something.

Photo 6:
And here we have the ultimate mystery of the bike, the seat tube decal obscured by the mists of time. You have to admit that the paint color and 'harlequin' graphic leave no doubt about the bike's Italian heritage. Traces of letters remain: an E and A are fairly certain, followed by an R and possibly a final S. Is it fair to point out that ALL THOSE LETTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THE NAME 'DE ROSA'???

But despite that tantalizing hint, we can't be sure of this bike's origin. All we can do is marvel at the survival of this priceless relic of a bygone age in cycling.

Not quite priceless though. I will take $1000.00.

Maybe.

(ps: confidential to 'Joey' re your offer of 'a g of blonde kief.' My sources suggest that you are talking about some kind of narcotic. I could not possibly entertain such an offer. However...what kind of quantity could you get? (Asking for a friend.)

:lol: Love the note at the beginning:thumb:

You'd think by now I'd learn to stay off the internet one day per year. :crash:

The closest this thing gets to Italian is a pizza stain on the handlebar tape.

"There's a sucker born every minute"
P.T. Barnum :D

I'm not sure why this ad is good only for April 1. I see ads like this all the time on CL, :).

Damn, you are a tough negotiator. Okay, for you only, I'll knock a hundred bucks off.

If horse dewdew were for sale, that guy would be a millionaire!-(

SHHHHH I've got tiger1964 hooked and ready to reel in.

Sadly he is not, but the horse dewdew idea is an intriguing one. Apparently you can get a much higher price if you brand it as 'compost.'

I remember that well! Though 'passed on it' seems a bit underplayed, as I recall you sent me a check for $5000 because that was the minimum at your "special bank" (???) and told me to send you back $3000 and keep the extra grand 'for my trouble.' Also there was something about your late uncle the Prince.

Anyway, I lost the check so if you could send another, the deal is still on.

Why not have delivery to your door, at 2.00 a mile it would still be a bargain. :lol:
Best, Ben

Listed by the same guy who's using his car for Strava.

XIAOMAN: Thanks buddy, I'll cut you in for a piece of the action.


oh crap is this posting or messaging

I always thought it was impressive that frames constructed like that rarely fell apart. The dropout join looks really sketchy. IIRC, the brake bridges would fail occasionally. I used to fix them for $5. Much more likely to fail on French bikes though, for whatever reason.

April Fool's joke?
 

Perhaps he thinks its funny also?

Because they actually get ridden a more substantial number of miles, perhaps? ;)

that could be, but also those French bikes were made by hand, so probably Friday afternoon had something to do with it. There is probably no hand work at all on the OP bike, mostly contact welders for the main tubes and spot welders for everything else.