Silver02M5

The paint appears to not be original, but not sure.

Bottom bracket with serial number.

Dropouts.

Rear brake bridge

Braze-on cable guide. Three dot painted lugs.

Three dot lugs.

Seat post clamp area.

Sticker head tube badge.


Hello, I need some help in identifying my frame. I was originally thinking that it was of unknown origins with a Cinelli bottom bracket, but I recently noticed that it has a Cinelli stamped brake bridge. Can someone help me with identifying the make, model, and approximate year of the frame? Any help is greatly appreciated.

smd4

I don't know enough about earlier Cinellis but that second set of water bottle braze-ons seems highly unusual, and the braze-ons themselves look different. Early versions of my 1989 vintage didn't even have them. This might help explain the repaint. The "Flying C" logo is from 1979; New lugs without the holes were designed in 1982, the same year the sloping fork crown got the logo. I'm guessing that the serial number indicates it's from 1983, perhaps using up older lug stock.

repechage

paint by Joe Bell was incorporated into the RS graphics, but not fully sure on the very latest version designed by House.

bikingshearer 

My best guess is it is a 1983 Cinelli SC, repainted. The serial number is consistent with the system Cinelli introduced in 1980, with "83" indicated the year. (Strong people have lost their minds trying to make sense out of the pre-1980 serial numbers - they seem to have been randomly assigned.) In that year, it would have had the new "Flying C" graphics, not the style you have (which I much prefer, FWIW). I have also never seen that shade of green on a Cinelli - a basic, shiny green similar to what Schwinn used to call "Campus Green," but nothing that olive-y.

Here is a prior BF discussion of Cinelli serial numbers, which has a bunch of good info. In post #2, iab lists the two best resources for dating Cinellis, especially the link to Velo Retro's Cinelli timeline. These resources will tell you a lot.

If yours is a 1983 Cinelli, that would be about five years after Cino Cinelli sold the company and about three years after master builder Luigi Valsasina retired. That also appears to be the yeat they went from a 26.2mm seat post diameter to 27.2mm

Here is what Sheldon Brown had to say about this era of Cinellis:Here's the link to St. Sheldon's Cinelli comments. The article is at least 20 years old, so take the dollar figures with a grain of salt, but the general comments are still valid. Yes, it's one man's opinion, but it is one the most well-informed opinions you will find. Beware - even though he died - what is it? 10 years ago? 15? - his website is still a fantastic reference for all manner of bike info and it is easy to spend an hour or six rummaging through it.

Welcome to the Cinelli club cult.

mpetry912 

it is a Cinelli, built in the Columbo shop, serial number dates it to 1983. Unusual color.

The lack of chrome points to a possible repaint.

/markp

jiangshi

It's as pointed out above, a 1983 Cinelli, certainly repainted and second, non matching, water bottle bosses added. Wong decals applied for for 1983, but it's a real Cinelli.

smd4

Exactly. One man's opinion. And when he says stuff like this, his credibility diminishes.

bikingshearer 

Ask and ye shall receive, at least this time. Don't get too used to it.

Here is the same silver 1965ish 64cm Cinelli from Post #143, with the new Ed Litton fork. I also changed the wheels from Chorus to Record 10sp hubs (still on Mavic Open Pro rims, but all-silver in a nod to repechage's sensibilities and, truth be told, my preference), the cassette and chain, the headset, the brakes (same mismatched Tektros, just newer and shinier), and the left ergo shifter because the old one decided it would shift onto the big chainwheel but not stay there. Except for the left ergos shifter, none of the swaps were strictly necessary and did not effect much if any change to the bike, but since I had to strip it down to frame and fork anyway and I had the parts, what the heck. There isn't a single original part on it with the possible exception of the seat post bolt and precious few period-correct parts. But it rode great on the shake-down cruise, and I have no doubt it is back to being the bike I reach for a significant majority of the time.

iab

14 years since my last "new" bike. Nemo with Ekar. My apologies for being off topic.

Nemo01 by iabisdb, on Flickr

northbend 

^ I REALLY like this one, iab ! Very pleasing to the eye.

What can you tell us about the wheel set?

iab

Generic. I use a forum guy, Psimet Wheels. My ask was silver, 32 holes, 3 cross and Ekar compatible. He sources everything. They ain't light like my off-topic carbon wheels, but they ain't bad either. I wanted a silver build and it is not easy. I ditched the Ekar crank for eeWings from Cane Creek. I know a guy there and got them on the cheap. Got an Ekar-compatible ring out of the UK. Had to strip the black anodizing. Ritchey for the rest.

The color is called Sugar Paper. "Semi-custom". I thought it was the prettiest one Cinelli offered.

iab

It is taking the place of Pinky. I call it New Pinky. Pinky will be at the Madison swap for those interested.

Umberto Dei 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Rooney 

I'm certainly no authority on Cinellis. I measured the seat post again today and got readings ranging from 26.01 to 26.45, which makes sense for 26.2. I may have originally only measured one or two spots, resulting in the 26.0 listed. I should have been more thorough as I know seat posts aren't uniformly their stated diameter. I don't recall seeing a size stamped when the post was removed for cleaning and new grease.