Mystery CL bike with Cinelli crown fork
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Mystery CL bike with Cinelli crown fork
This bike caught my attention when it appeared on the Denver CL today (link). Not my size so I'm taking a pass, but I was wondering what the crowd thought the make was.
Frame is a repaint without decals, and I don't recognize the head badge and expect that it's a one-off.
I see Campy dropouts, fender eyelets, over the BB cable routing, brazed-on cable stop on the chain stay.
It doesn't look like a Cinelli or Windsor to me. Anyone with a guess?
I wish it were about an inch bigger, I'd be sorely tempted.
Frame is a repaint without decals, and I don't recognize the head badge and expect that it's a one-off.
I see Campy dropouts, fender eyelets, over the BB cable routing, brazed-on cable stop on the chain stay.
It doesn't look like a Cinelli or Windsor to me. Anyone with a guess?
I wish it were about an inch bigger, I'd be sorely tempted.
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The forum has had this head emblem previously - may have even been the same machine.
Cannot recall if it was identified.
One possibility might be a Torresini product such as ItalVega. The combination of crown, lugs & seat stay treatment is consistent with this maker for this period. Looks to be an early '70's "boomer."
wrt "Cinelli crown" - keep in mind that several manufacturers produced full sloping crowns so not all are Cinelli.
See nothing Cinelli-esque about the frame and agree it is definitely not a Windsor.
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The forum has had this head emblem previously - may have even been the same machine.
Cannot recall if it was identified.
One possibility might be a Torresini product such as ItalVega. The combination of crown, lugs & seat stay treatment is consistent with this maker for this period. Looks to be an early '70's "boomer."
wrt "Cinelli crown" - keep in mind that several manufacturers produced full sloping crowns so not all are Cinelli.
See nothing Cinelli-esque about the frame and agree it is definitely not a Windsor.
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Last edited by juvela; 10-15-18 at 10:37 PM. Reason: addition
#3
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Columbine
Columbine ??? One from the early 70's.
Columbine Cycle Works
Davis sloping fork crown used on a lot of frames and bikes in the UK including Raleighs.
The castings were really cobby and required a lot of work to clean up.
I used them because I liked the graceful appearance better than Chinelli style crowns. It took me several hours to rework this one to thin it down. This is my off road treking bike.
Classic Cinelli sloping fork crowns.
verktyg
Columbine Cycle Works
Davis sloping fork crown used on a lot of frames and bikes in the UK including Raleighs.
The castings were really cobby and required a lot of work to clean up.
I used them because I liked the graceful appearance better than Chinelli style crowns. It took me several hours to rework this one to thin it down. This is my off road treking bike.
Classic Cinelli sloping fork crowns.
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Last edited by verktyg; 10-15-18 at 11:28 PM.
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Looks like the rear derailleur could read Pat 81 ?
Not that we know the rear derailleur is original but this might give some insight into the time period
Not that we know the rear derailleur is original but this might give some insight into the time period
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The above paint scheme, chrome rear stays and rack eyelets would be consistent with an Italvega Nuovo Record, circa 71-73 or possibly a Gran Rally which shared similar characteristics, both with Columbus main frame tubing only. They appear to have painted over any chrome on the seat tube, technically it could also be a Super Record circa 1974-76 but lacking the seat tube chrome sections and that model didn't have rack eyelets. Looks like there is a hint of a brake bridge for an original center pull brake on the rear which would be consistent for the above two models. I agree with Juvela that the lugs and fork crown are very consistent with a Torpado product. If the OP could inquire, the seat post should be a 27.0 mm. Would be interesting to see if the stem and bars (if original) are Cinelli oval badged and shield badged respectively (campione del mundo or giro d'italia). A pic of the underside of the bottom bracket would be helpful to see if it has a 4 digit or *xxxxxx* 6 digit serial number and size identifier stamped on the lug between the chain stays.
The bike is handsome as it appears, well kept, and the upgrades to a triple Campagnolo NR crankset are interesting. May not quite be worth the $650 asking price due to lack of info on the frame (A Super Record or Super Speciale with full Columbus tubing would better). I'm not convinced the bike was repainted because there are a few Italvegas in a subtle light blue metallic that I have seen - I have a Super Speciale in that color and have seen at least two Super Records in a similar color, but all three have chrome stripes on the seat tube and Italvega decals of the era were notoriously fragile.
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It's hard to tell from the photos in the ad, but it could be a Torpado product.
Looking at the pics at full resolution and considering the rough appearance of the paint on the head tube, I'd say it's most likely a repaint.
The only thing that's making me think it might be something other than an ItalVega is the seat stay caps. I don't think I've ever seen an ItalVega with those long, flat caps. Long, scalloped ones, yes (like on the Superlights and Super Speciales). If anyone has an example of those caps on an ItalVega, I'd love to see a pic.
Verifying the bottom bracket threading and presence of a serial number would help clear things up a bit.
Looking at the pics at full resolution and considering the rough appearance of the paint on the head tube, I'd say it's most likely a repaint.
The only thing that's making me think it might be something other than an ItalVega is the seat stay caps. I don't think I've ever seen an ItalVega with those long, flat caps. Long, scalloped ones, yes (like on the Superlights and Super Speciales). If anyone has an example of those caps on an ItalVega, I'd love to see a pic.
Verifying the bottom bracket threading and presence of a serial number would help clear things up a bit.
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It's hard to tell from the photos in the ad, but it could be a Torpado product.
Looking at the pics at full resolution and considering the rough appearance of the paint on the head tube, I'd say it's most likely a repaint.
The only thing that's making me think it might be something other than an ItalVega is the seat stay caps. I don't think I've ever seen an ItalVega with those long, flat caps. Long, scalloped ones, yes (like on the Superlights and Super Speciales). If anyone has an example of those caps on an ItalVega, I'd love to see a pic.
Verifying the bottom bracket threading and presence of a serial number would help clear things up a bit.
Looking at the pics at full resolution and considering the rough appearance of the paint on the head tube, I'd say it's most likely a repaint.
The only thing that's making me think it might be something other than an ItalVega is the seat stay caps. I don't think I've ever seen an ItalVega with those long, flat caps. Long, scalloped ones, yes (like on the Superlights and Super Speciales). If anyone has an example of those caps on an ItalVega, I'd love to see a pic.
Verifying the bottom bracket threading and presence of a serial number would help clear things up a bit.
The long scalloped "Biconal" caps appeared on the 73-76 Superlights and Super Speciales (basically same frame, Superlights had drilled components) and were Pearl White, mist green, mist blue metallic, and mist silver.
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#12
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Interesting badge on your trekking bike @verktyg - looks like Slovene flag detail to me
Last edited by Kekec1965; 08-12-20 at 03:53 PM. Reason: change text
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