Gonzobuster

Dear Steel Experts,

Giving in to a long-standing desire, I bought a steel-framed vintage road bike manufactured by CILO SWISS a couple of days ago.

Ever since, since the previous owner had no details on the bike, I have been trying to identify the model doing internet research and talking to dealerships. However, I have yet to find a convincing answer - it's obviously not possible to browse old catalogs online ...

I hope the following photos will be helpful to you:


My new CILO Swiss


Handlebar








My goal is to gradually improve the bike over the winter months. I can't wait to call in some favors from a friend who owns a bikestand.

Happy to receive your feedback on the bike. I hope there's room for such a thread in this forum.

Thanks in advance!
.
P.S.: There is only one dent that bothers me. Should it?

bikemig 

I'd be worried if the ding is the result of a front end collision but that does not look to be the case. It is a drag but steel can be pretty forgiving. I am not sure of the model but this is a quality bike and well worth fixing up as long as you are confident that the ding does not affect the integrity of the frame.

Is there a tubing sticker on the bike? Is that a tubing sticker on the downtube near the shifters?

With a chromed fork, forged drop outs, and nice windows on the lugs, this is a high end bike. The shimano arabesque is a quality component group. The mavic clincher rims are also very high quality.

Gonzobuster

Thanks a lot for your swift response.

From what I can tell, the integrity is not affected in a serious manner. You never know, but this is what I have been told by a mechanic.

Indeed, I intend to re-build it with the help of this forum (and the guy who owns the bikestand).

Thanks again.

Gonzobuster

For what it's worth, the first thing I purchased is a new bottle cage so I can get rid of this awful plastic cage from Giant.

https://steel-vintage.com/classic-bottle-cage-detail

Is it okay to post links to online shops? If not, please let me know and I will delete it.

SJX426 

I almost bought one several years ago. Probably should have. Yours has those nice long pointed lugs. Really nice bike.

I avoid bikes with dents but this would be difficult to turn down if the price was right. It should not be of structural concern. If the top tube is hit near that location, it could fail. Don't lean it up against a post in that location! It might be a candidate for having the tube rolled. If so, it would be minimized and the tube would be a little stiffer. Not enough to be of any concern, however.

Yes it is alright to post links as you did. I opted for these that have a history with C&V but updated a bit. Goes well with my red bike.
https://www.amazon.com/Ciussi-Elite-...153866&sr=8-43
P1030566 on Flickr

Gonzobuster

Beautiful, indeed.

tricky 

Gonzobuster do you have larger pics? These are hard to see. Larger, close up pictures of all the lugs (head tube, fork crown, bottom bracket, seat cluster, rear dropouts) helps with ID. Serial numbers sometimes also help.

Gonzobuster

Will try to upload them from my home computer.
The number on the bottom bracket has 5 digits, if that's of any help.

Gonzobuster

T-Mar

HT almost certainly stands for High Tensile tubing. Derailleurs are early 1980s Altus, which is consistent with the tubing level, suggesting the 600EX crankset is an upgrade by a previous owner. Hubs also appear to lower level that 600EX. On the positive side, the frame exhibits above average workmanship for its level. Sorry, I don't know the model name.

The dent is a fair size and while the odds are that it won't cause an issue during normal riding, it does significantly increase the probability of the tube buckling in the event of a head-on crash.

Gonzobuster

Thanks a bunch, very helpful analysis.

As regards the dent, I have learned to accept it. For now.

Wildwood 

there is a facebook group for Cilo
https://www.facebook.com/cilobikes/


you probably saw this history online.
https://diaryofacyclingnobody.com/th...the-bike-shed/

tricky 

I couldn't figure out what HT stood for. High-tensile. Duh. Agreed on the workmanship and build techniques. Real fork crown, investment cast lugs, lug cutouts.... That is probably the nicest made high tensile frame I've seen.

Chombi1 

Maybe you can try pulling out some of that dent with a paintless dent puller. The DIY ones used on car bodies. (The ones that use hot glue). Anything to lessen it can improve buckling resistance by a bit, plus improve aesthetics.

merziac

Nice!

can you post some more full on larger pics of the whole bike, mainly driveside plz?

This would be very nice with a complete group to match the crank, fits the frame aesthetic very well IMO.

Gonzobuster

Thanks, yes.

Gonzobuster

Helpful?

merziac

Gonzobuster

Yes, tx.

Bolsters my view of this being worth sorting out and elevating with a good build.

Like I said, adding matching derailleurs to the crank would really make this pop imo.

Gonzobuster

My wife will take it to a workshop today so we can finally know whether the seatpost will be movable or not.
When I saw the bike this morning, I noticed the brilliant paint again. It would be a true disaster if they couldn't save it.

Gonzobuster

We will try Ammonia now, stay tuned. Any recommendations as regards the application? Syringe?

Gonzobuster

Voilą:




😍

gaucho777 

Oh, no! Glad the post is out, but that seat tube looks mangled. Did the "mechanic" do that? Someone with more framebuilding experience will have to weigh in if the frame can be put back into shape.

Gonzobuster

That was my proactive wife in my absence

She only wanted to help.

Gonzobuster

And ... I managed to bend the seatpost lug back to a position where I cut put the bolt back in:

Gonzobuster

Can anyone tell from this picture if these rims have tubular tires on? I just ordered clinchers ...