Robvolz 

Sizing and price being equal, would you rather have a :

1972 Cinelli Road frame, equipped fully campy NR in damn fine condition?

or

1983 Cinelli Rd. foot frame with full campy 50th anniversary components.


here’s my thought processes. Cino Cinelli was still the master frame builder back in 1972.

campy Record/neuvo record are proven. Even though those components are readily available and no longer all that special, knowing that Cino himself probably made the frame says something.

By 1983 the company had been purchased by Columbus Tubing. He was still going to the office every day but I don’t know that it could be said that he actually built this frame.

the groupo, 50th Anniversary is supposed to mean something to me but it just doesn’t. The fact that they are numbered and supposedly limited is ********. That’s like saying a “Camry Limited” is limited.

How many do they make? Over 10,000? 20,000?


Both are in similar unmolested condition. And I’m also amazed at the lug work is virtually identical on both of them.

Which would you rather and why?

merziac

While I agree on the 50th thinking, it is one of the most highly rated, coveted, desirable gets in all of C+V, like it or not.

The answer would be to buy both and sell off the 50th, you could end up being in the black with both still in hand.

stardognine

I like your thinking here, free is always good. 😁

Back to the original question, of either/or, I'd go with the older '72, for the simple reason that, as you said yourself, it was at least possible, if not likely, that Cino himself laid hands on it. 😎

cudak888 

Which one do YOU prefer? Ask yourself that question.

You're the one who's going to own and enjoy the bike. Since condition is apples-to-apples here, the decision is 100% personal preference (unless there's a price difference).

-Kurt

merziac

Agreed but I would have a hard time letting the 50th go, I was just trying to solve @Robvolz's problem.

Very tough call to be sure, 72 or 50th, buy em all, sort out the bodies after the fact.

72 if I had to choose just one.

Bianchigirll 

I’d buy the ‘83 and sell the 50th group to buy SuperBee to put on it

jet sanchEz

I have a NOS 1985 Supercorsa framset and I've got a few Century finish parts that I think will look good on it....

cinelliguy 

1972, hands down for me. If you go 72' you should consider registering it here.

thecinelliregistry.com

Guy Apple
Redwood City CA

satbuilder 

I’ll stick with my ‘72

iab

I'd go the red one. And I must say I like the red offered in 1972 more than the red offered in 1983.

btw, Cino Cinelli never built a bike in his life, he paid a guy, Luigi Valsasina, specifically.

beech333

72. It is my understanding that they have a better value in general, except 50th campy is $$$. Once you remove the 50th Campy, the frame holds no interest for me.

Myself, I would rather own a Cinelli Model B. I've always found them to be more attractive. My thought on that is that by the late 60's/70's, I assume he really had nothing to do with building the frames, other than maybe periodic training. (This is not a fact and should not be taken as such. It is just my guess/opinion.)

jiangshi

I'd buy both, if they fit.

I think Campagnolo made 15,000 50th Anniversary groups.

An early number in good condition, even slightly used on a bike could be worth $2k.

I think they are ugly, but that's me. I've sold a couple of 50th groups, and passed on NIB groups.


Edit: '83 was the last year of the 3 holed lugs.That's sort of cool.

smd4

To me it’s a no-brainer. How many Camry LEs have you seen? How many Campy 50th LEs? If Cino didn’t build either, then there’s no contest.

bamboobike4

‘83 with 50th.

No special reason.

I had a ‘91 Camry LE. It was a great car. Had a Fujitsu radio that got recalled. Everything worked.

Drillium Dude 

I'd take the '72 because I already had an '83. I had a bike with Campy 50th at the same time, too, so perhaps that counts. Anyway, I'd want to see if the '72 weighed in less and felt sprightlier than the '83, which felt heavy and kinda slow. Honestly, it was one of the least inspiring bikes I've ever owned. Oh, and a headbadge - I want a real headbadge

Here's an old pic of it set up pretty much exactly the same as my other stuff - not much different from the way they're still specced today:



DD

Gary Fountain

But - gee - it really looks beautiful. That has to count for something, haha.

merziac

Really a shame when a fantastic looking and supposedly riding bike fails to deliver.

Doubt it would have suffered that fate with me, would have been the other way around, it would have found me uninspiring.

stardognine

I wondered about that, which is why I said "possible", lol. 😉 But still, a frame built by his company, while he was running it, is very desirable. At least in my book. 😎

Drillium Dude 

You're absolutely right, Gary - that beauty got me my asking price when I finally decided to sell it

DD

Gary Fountain

Hi DD. Haha, all's well that ends well! I would have been tempted by that beauty. It's a shame you didn't enjoy the ride but I do understand.

My absolute favourite bike is my 1985 Cinelli Supercorsa, but, It is 'pig' to ride due to it's extremely upright frame geometry. I will own it for the rest of my life. My devotion to this bike is most probably due to the journey I went through to buy it in the first place - but that's another story.

You've seen it before DD but It's difficult to pass up this golden opportunity to show it again:

merziac

Sometimes you just can't argue with Koolaid and perceptions.

smd4

If that bike is nothing but Koolaid, pour me another glass!

merziac

Exactly, drink up, chug, chug, chug, chug!