Slial

Thanks for for pointers and heads-up Dan. Yes a membership is a great option too. Hadn’t thought of that yet but it makes sense to pay for the knowledge up front and perhaps establish some good vintage bike karma in the process!

qcpmsame 

Welcome aboard, one question though.

What is this, "Choosing One", of which you speak? We know not of this concept here, N+1 is the motto we live by.

If you haven't already checked the sites, Velobase Velobase website, Classic Rendezvous Classic Rendezvous website and Classic Lightweights Classic Lightweights, they have a lot of good information about most any marque you can come up with.

Bill

Slial

Bill,

Considering the vast quantity of amazing bikes and my track record in other hobbies, I don’t know what I was thinking when I typed that...I fully recognize that finding one will simply be futile.

qcpmsame 

Now you're talking our language, resistance is futile and escape is impossible. I thought that a single C&V ride would suffice, now its two completed and two on my workbench to get done. I'm a sick man, need another drink, errrrr, bike

Bill

Slial

Got a look at an early 80s Cinelli today, Campagnolo Record group. Very very nice bike.

Pros:

-it’s a Cinelli with 3 dot lugs
-it’s a beautifully made bike
-Campagnolo Record Group (mostly)
-it’s Ferrari red
-it’s local enough (not in Europe!)

Cons:

-it’s a repaint, albeit a good one I think
-it has some road rash in a couple of spots
-price seems a little high for entry level Campagnolo, but I could be wrong
-brake calipers and levers are not Campy

Wildwood 

it does NOT have to be old
to be
Classic Lugged Italian



and several storied builders have offerings.

example = https://www.bottecchia.com/en/modelli/leggendaria

Slial

Totally understood...that does get back to my personality and affinity for vintage things. I certainly appreciate and won’t rule out new offerings (as long as they aren’t made in China).

ltokuno

There's Battaglin too:
https://officinabattaglin.com/produc...s/marosticana/

Danmozy66

i.e. I think it was only $2 to be honest!

Slial

Of all the bikes currently available (locally and online), and trust me I’m doing my best to be as patient as possible and NOT rush, I have whittled then list to a sort of manageable 3 or 4 bikes. But honestly, choosing from here seems completely futile! Original and ready to ride condition vs vintage restoration, earlier bike with correct (but likely inferior performance) components vs slightly later full Campy, etc.

I do feel confident I couldn’t go wrong with any, but choosing remains a challenge! This is where buying 2 or 3 to start would be awesome, but my wife would go completely mental.

Wildwood 

Spouse going completely mental = It helps prepare them for your old age eccentricities.

SJX426 

I often think I am mental. I think it is because of my wifes comments. I don't let it get in the way. An example is my De Rosa build, https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-rosa-pro.html. She doesn't know it exists. But then it is easy to hide amongst the herd
P1000599, on Flickr

If I could afford it and it was my size, I would not hesitate on that Cinelli. Nearly everything I want on that one. Chrome lugs are my downfall along with being Italian. Bright color doesn't hurt either.

BTW: Record is hardly entry level. It was the top of the line back in the day!

Slial

Agreed on the Cinelli. My reference to “entry level”
was on another bike that happens to be in Europe. Lovely original paint and components, 60s vintage. The entry level refers to the fact that some period correct components are likely considered to be inferior to the Campy stuff that came later (70s and beyond). Then my head starts swirling with deciding what’s best...said 60’s all original bike, 70’s fully restored Galmozzi, that Cinelli pictured above, among a few others. If I already had a couple of bikes it might be easier...but looking for a first makes choosing one over others more challenging!

3alarmer 

...Cinelli bikes get repainted all the time. The paint and chrome on them is ephemeral, like a lot of Italian bikes.
After I touched up mine in spots, I clear coated the entire thing (except the chrome) in 2 part urethane, because I want to ride it and now worry about it.

I have no idea what you mean by "entry level Campagnolo". That was more or less top of the line for Campy when that bike was made.

Brakes and levers are often changed out on 70's/ 80's bikes to take advantage of modern dual pivot calipers and more comfortable, ergonomic levers.
I've done the same myself on a couple of bikes, and plan on doing it on a 70's Colnago Super I'm in the process of putting back on the road. I'll use Campy levers, but remove the branding on dual pivot caliper brakes.

...new people used to start threads like this all the time ten years ago. They tend to like the shopping experience. I have a cousin like this, and she drives me nuts. Can't buy anything without checking out every possible alternative option. There are a lot of fine bikes out there in the used marketplace. Some of them are bargains. Tire kickers never get to ride them. Sometimes, you just have to take the leap and see what happens. Chalk it up as how you learn.

Good luck.

Slial

Totally fair points...

The entry level comment, and apologies for the inadvertent oxymoronic reference, regarded Record or Nuovo Record on a bike that was made in a period when Super Record was available. My bad if that was poorly worded.

As for the shopping exercise, I suspect I’m more than a tire kicker in the eyes of sellers, but agree that waiting for the “perfect first bike” might disappoint regardless of the eventual outcome.

SJX426 

Slial Which one isn't a bad choice! If you get one the right size, play with it for final setup, you may turn into a flipper because most will not be as good!

Now that I have for Italian bikes, I can start riding them in rotation to see which, if any ends up being a favorite and why. It may not be the ride. It might be the drive train. Don't know till you do it.

Slial

Good point. Might be best to have a few cocktails, lose all my judgment and just commit to 3 bikes! I just don’t have a great place to hide the 2 extras, but it would be awesome to have a pair or trio to tinker with. In defense of that argument, most modern higher end bikes cost as much as 2 or 3 of the vintage bikes I’m entertaining!

robertorolfo

This.

OP, pick one (I'd say the one you are least likely to find for sale again anytime soon) and start riding it. You will not know what is "perfect", or what you really want, until you start riding (and wrenching). What kind of riding are you intending to do? Where? Do you plan to do a lot of mechanical work yourself? Some of us enjoy working on bikes as much as riding them...

Slial

Yes hoping to do much of my own tinkering and mechanical stuff in addition to riding as often as possible. My riding will be in the Northeast.

robertorolfo

Ok. Urban, rural, suburban? All weather?

Slial

I would say suburban and urban, yet pretty unlikely i will ride in our Winters up here. Not so much for me but for the bikes!