So what’s up with Cinelli?
#51
Senior Member
"True" vintage Cinellis, i.e. before Columbus got them are really, really hard to get, and can get as expensive as used bikes can get. I remember stories that they were impossible to order from during lead-ups to the Olympics, because all the track athletes would jam them with orders for their track frames, which were reputed to be the best in those days.
Current Cinellis are owned by Columbus, i.e. the bike tubing guys. They seem like perfectly fine bikes, and they certainly aren't one of those brands that some giant conglomerate bought to slap on generic frames (vis: bikesdirect brands), but they just aren't quite as exciting as they were when they were actually owned by the Cinelli family.
I've personally seen a few new Cinelli Vigorelli road bikes and a couple track/SS bikes here (Seattle)
that said, they do make some attractive bikes at good price points. that on-sale $399 touring bike frame on their US site is looking a bit tempting...
Current Cinellis are owned by Columbus, i.e. the bike tubing guys. They seem like perfectly fine bikes, and they certainly aren't one of those brands that some giant conglomerate bought to slap on generic frames (vis: bikesdirect brands), but they just aren't quite as exciting as they were when they were actually owned by the Cinelli family.
I've personally seen a few new Cinelli Vigorelli road bikes and a couple track/SS bikes here (Seattle)
that said, they do make some attractive bikes at good price points. that on-sale $399 touring bike frame on their US site is looking a bit tempting...
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#52
Senior Member
Don't forget, Cannondale, Masi, Haro, Nishiki (this company always was a decal company), Diamondback, Raleigh, Schwinn, Mongoose, GT, Fuji, Rene Herse, Holdsworth...the list goes on and on. In regards to Cinelli, they are no longer owned by Columbus, the brand name was sold to Gruppo S.r.l. in 1997, so technically Cinelli is also a decal company, but like Cannondale and a very few others they have stayed close to the original roots, in fact you can buy a brand new Supercorsa. Supposedly the Gruppo company kept the Supercorsa true to its heritage due to its dream like ride, so it still uses Columbus SL tubing which I think they first started using in 1963. At some point some of the Supercorsas used Reynolds 531 in the early 60's as well, not sure what differentiated the two, why did one use Columbus SL and the other Reynolds 531, maybe someone with more knowledge than me can answer what that was all about. if you want to buy one, which you can only get as a frame and fork, but Adrenalin Bikes can put whatever components you want on it; see: https://www.adrenalinebikes.com/stor...ategoryID=5807 I've bought my Lynskey bike from Adrenaline Bikes and they are extremely knowledgable and great to deal with.
#53
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Whole bike. Unfortunately, after waxing the chain I removed the bike from the stand - clamped gently by seat post in Park 10.2 stand, leaned it up against the bike rack. But the wheels ended up sitting on the legs of the rack and the bike slipped back into the main pole of the rack. Did not think much of it but noticed some blue paint from the rack and some dirt and thought the hit had nicked the decal.
Washed the spot with some alcohol and quickly realized the spot was not just dirt. Performed the coin test and it was fine until an area of ~1-2 mm over that spot. The damn bike had cracked. A bike that I have had in ridable form for less than a week. Argh. 2 rides.
So now, I have a cracked bike frame. My fault 100%. Bad luck. Attempted to contact the Cinelli USA people through the suggested e-mail (info@cinelli-usa.com) but turns out that is a dead link. That is one thing that is up (or down) with Cinelli-USA.
Ended up contacting the distributor for Cinelli USA and was basically called a liar. He said that the damage must have come from some pressure being applied to that spot (not sure what he thinks would make such a small spot). A distributor calling new customers liars is what's up with Cinelli-USA.
Honestly, initially, if they had said that crap happens and recommended a good place to get the spot repaired and sent me some decals to cover the area, I would have been fine. Not looking for anything here. This was 100% my fault. But calling me a liar and telling me that they have frames being ridden by racing teams and having them crash and their bikes are fine and saying that he himself clamps the top tube and nothing happens, now makes me worry that the frame is somehow defective. Confusing customers and making them doubt Cinelli products is what is up with Cinelli-USA.
#54
Senior member
Beautiful high flange hubs. Looks like they could be Curtis Odom.
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#56
Senior member
You do know Curtis Odom is a forum member. I have a few of those hub sets laying around.
#58
[QUOTE=Johnk3;21404384]
Damn, Im looking at cicli barco custom frame right now and the XCr frames have a starting price of 4000 eur ;(
That price is actually a tad lower than when I was asking a US distributor of Barco (which I believe I got quoted for $3900). XCR tubeset back about 3 years ago was $600, so now it's $888 eh.
The base price for Barco's TIG welded XCr frame with a stainless steel curved traditional fork, and one paint color is 2620 euros. You get a choice of brushed stainless or polished finish, and internal or external rear brake cable routing for the same price. Direct mount brakes adds 120 euros, the Viva fork with carbon steering tube adds 250 Euros, the name plate and Italian shield, extra paint colors and shipping (170) each add something adding up to 3330 euros. I don't think I could have spent any more on the frame if I tried. It's a total bargain. I just got the completed bike back from my LBS this afternoon. I will post some photos of the finished product soon.
I have direct mount brakes on the front and back. The Viva fork with the carbon steering tube is their own invention. You can also get it with a steel tube for 100 less.
Cicli Barco also offers a lugged XCr frame with stainless lugs for about 140 Euros more. They have 6 different stainless lug styles for the fork.
The base price for Barco's TIG welded XCr frame with a stainless steel curved traditional fork, and one paint color is 2620 euros. You get a choice of brushed stainless or polished finish, and internal or external rear brake cable routing for the same price. Direct mount brakes adds 120 euros, the Viva fork with carbon steering tube adds 250 Euros, the name plate and Italian shield, extra paint colors and shipping (170) each add something adding up to 3330 euros. I don't think I could have spent any more on the frame if I tried. It's a total bargain. I just got the completed bike back from my LBS this afternoon. I will post some photos of the finished product soon.
I have direct mount brakes on the front and back. The Viva fork with the carbon steering tube is their own invention. You can also get it with a steel tube for 100 less.
Cicli Barco also offers a lugged XCr frame with stainless lugs for about 140 Euros more. They have 6 different stainless lug styles for the fork.
#59
Steel is real
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In the past Cinelli made frames of Neuron,Foco and Genius tubing, those can be found on ebay but those are nearly 2000$
#60
Steel is real
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#61
Newbie
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#63
Sunshine
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#64
Newbie
Well, I'm no metallurgist, but Xcr is cold-drawn from a billet, instead of rolled and joined along a seam. Have I done a side-by-side ride comparison? No. Wil the properties of the two be different? Probably so. Buy and ride what you like.
#65
Sunshine
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Here is a chart with numbers, what is a 'worse' number that exists due to the seam?
...or is the seam basically invisible once the tubing has been butted and there is no downside?
#66
Newbie
A "worse" number appears to be the hardness. Even a metal bike can be too harsh. Like I said, buy and ride what you like. Seems that 953 is your thing, and that's just fine.
#67
Sunshine
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I don't have a 953 frame, and no it isn't my thing.
#68
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SLX is my thing. Thankfully my Super Corsa is made of it.
#69
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Late to the thread here. Original Cinellis (pre the Columbo buy out) are very much the "Ferrari" of the bike world - handmade, Italian, Iconic.
Cinellis in my experience ride a bit more harshly than a comparable Masi or Nago. The selection of tubes and the seat cluster may have something to do with that.
I have no opinion on the current issue Cinellis, at least the marque is still out there !
s/n 1183 below. The 2nd pic is a very rare "Ridotto" with smaller wheel size. BTW Cinelli serial numbers are ... meaningless.
/markp
Cinellis in my experience ride a bit more harshly than a comparable Masi or Nago. The selection of tubes and the seat cluster may have something to do with that.
I have no opinion on the current issue Cinellis, at least the marque is still out there !
s/n 1183 below. The 2nd pic is a very rare "Ridotto" with smaller wheel size. BTW Cinelli serial numbers are ... meaningless.
/markp
Last edited by mpetry912; 10-26-23 at 08:46 PM.
#70
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Ahem...So are "non"-original(?) Cinellis. I assure you, my 1989 SC is also handmade, Italian, and iconic. And in some ways, better than the "original."
Last edited by smd4; 10-27-23 at 07:00 AM.
#71
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Cino says your was "before the fall"
I will buy lunch for the first person who can identify who that is in the 2nd pic
/markp
I will buy lunch for the first person who can identify who that is in the 2nd pic
/markp
#72
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#74
I was going to guess Luigi or Mario
#75
Senior Member